President Duterte is backing the country’s environment secretary to keep the precious watersheds “off limits” to destructive mining operations. Environment Secretary Regina Lopez affirmed that the closure of mining operations in watersheds was non-negotiable, adding she has the support of the President on protecting this natural resource. “It would take a miracle to convince me to allow mining in watersheds because as far as I know it’s against the law. It’s against social justice, it’s against the Constitution to allow any kind of extractive industry inside the watershed,” Lopez said in a Palace press conference.

Kabiling, G. D. (2017, February 10). President backs Lopez on closure of mine operations to protect watersheds. Manila Bulletin, p. 2.