Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina Lopez has told small-scale miners and local officials of Camarines Norte that small-scale mining needs to stop for now and encouraged them instead to plant bamboo and mangroves as alternative source of livelihood. “Small-scale mining is illegal, and you don’t want to be caught or have the Ombudsman bar you from public service forever. I cannot help you if it is illegal,” Lopez told Camarines Norte officials led by Gov. Jonah Pimentel, who accompanied a delegation of small-scale miners from Paracale town during a dialogue at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) central office recently.

Peñones, F. Jr. (2016, December 14). 'Plant bamboo, mangroves'. The Manila Times, p. A7.