ANILA, Philippines Environment Secretary Gina Lopez believes it's time to change

the Philippine Mining Act since she said it's an "unfair" law that is "skewed towards
the mining sector, and not towards our people."

"We have to change that.... Sabi [ng mining companies] they're giving to economy.
What? Out of P35 billion net, P29 billion pumupunta sa mining company, only P6
billion goes to the country, and out of that P6 billion, kaunting-kaunti [ang]
pumupunta sa komunidad, like almost nothing," Lopez said in a DZMM interview on
Tuesday morning, July 12.

(We have to change that. Mining companies say they're giving to the economy.
What? Out of P35 billion net, P29 billion goes to the mining company, only P6 billion
goes to the country, and out of that P6 billion, a very small amount goes to the
community, like almost nothing.)

Environmental groups have also called on policymakers to repeal the Mining Act of
1995.They want a law that would protect the rights of Filipino mining workers, local
communities, and state interests. (READ: TIMELINE: Philippine mining laws and
policies)

Lopez, a known anti-mining advocate before her appointment as head of the

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), again reiterated on
Tuesday that she is not against the mining industry, but she's against the suffering of
people in mining communities.