MALOLOS CITY—Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje reiterated the primacy of national laws against anti-mining ordinances passed by 40 provinces in response to the proposed new mining executive order that will be signed by the President.
This developed as Governor Joey Salceda of Albay reiterated his opposition against mining in the country noting that it is a “mistake,” while cause oriented groups said that mining operation is a way of international companies in plundering the country’s natural resources.
“We stick to the primacy of the national law over local ordinances,” Paje told journalists participating in year-long enviromental investigative reporting fellowship led by the Washington-based International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) held at the Astoria Plaza in Ortigas last week.
However, the secretary said that anti-mining ordinances passed recently by 40 provinces will remain until declared illegal.
He said that it will require a competent agency to render such ordinances illegal.
The said ordinances were passed in response to new Executive Order to be signed by President Benigno Aquino III.