Candidates'
Stand On Issues

Okay lang mag mina, basta may disiplina!

Ang laki ng ating mga natural resources dito sa Pilipinas. Dapat siguro lalo na in these difficult times, we should take advantage of that. However, we have seen some of the disasters that have happened when it comes to mining, ay kailangan natin talagang iwasan yan. We have sufficient regulations and we have sufficient monitoring, but hindi nasusunod. That's always the problem; we have the laws but we are not able to implement them, we are not able to fully enforce them sometimes...When it comes to open-pit mining, I think I'm a bit wary about that.

Presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Saturday night said the government “should encourage” mining in the country as long as firms are “responsible enough” in doing their business in the country.

He formed a soil and gave [us] breath because he wants us to be part of the universe that he created. But, there’s but, we call it a responsible mining, meaning do not destroy the environment. Do not destroy the earth,

Ang open pit mining, magiging vulnerable ang ating fishing industry, ang ating mga farm land, sinisira thousands of hectares. It will not be productive, but it will be a burden in the future generations... Am I in favor of mining? Depende po. Hindi dahil winagayway na sa'tin ang pera, papayag na tayo. Tingnan muna natin ang kapakanan ng ating kababayan... to some extent, I am in favor of open pit mining, but we should balance it with a proper environment regulation.

Our Mining Act is really profit-driven, really for the interests of the businessmen... I will call for the repeal of the existing pro-capitalist laws because it should be for protection for our people and our environment.

Ipapawalang-bisa ko [moratorium on new mining agreements]. Para sa akin, Boy, napakahalaga pagdating sa usapin ng environment na binibigyan at ine-empower ‘yung mga maapektuhan. Gusto kong sabihin binibigyan ng mekanismo ‘yung mga stakeholders na pinapakinggan ‘yung boses nila.