The Philippines has suspended a third nickel mine in less than two weeks and again warned miners not to violate environmental laws, the cabinet secretary overseeing mining told a radio station.
Regina Lopez, secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, told the Manila station DZMM on Saturday a suspension order was slapped on Friday on Berong Nickel Corp’s mine on Palawan because of a spill that affected corals.
Palawan, in the southwest Philippines, has become popular with tourists in recent years. Lopez said while the spill was not intentional, company authorities “really need to get their act together”. She described Palawan as “the number one (tourist) island destination in the entire planet”.
A top official of unlisted Berong’s stakeholder DMCI Holdings Inc said on Sunday he was not aware of the suspension order and the spill incident.
“Sorry, I am not aware. Will check tomorrow,” Isidro Consunji, chairman and CEO of DMCI, said in a text message to Reuters.
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