Isko Moreno to push for responsible mining, wants extracted resources to be used in local production

Instead of exporting  the materials extracted from the country's mines, presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko" Moreno said Monday he wanted it to be used and processed locally should he win the May elections.

At the Catholic e-forum, Moreno said the government must protect the environment, conduct responsible mining, and produce industries that will allow the Philippines to sell products to other countries.

"'Wag na natin ilabas 'yung mina. Mag-produce na tayo ng industriya to create, anong tawag diyan, added value. 'Yung tayo gumawa na ng mga pabrika. For example, let's just say, bakal or stainless for that matter. Meron tayong nickel, meron tayong ibang bagay, black sand na baka naman pwede dito ninyo na gawin 'yan," he said.

(Let us use the resources here. Let us create industries. We should establish factories. For example, let's just say, steel or stainless for that matter. We have nickel, we have other products such as black sand,  maybe we can have the production here.)

"Tayo hindi lang tayo nagbibigay ng raw material (We don't just provide raw materials). We are now being competitive in the world. Selling and delivering products already. We must go in that direction," he added.

The Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer was asked about his platforms regarding the protection of the environment, particularly mining.

"Kasi I agree with you kapag minina lang nang minina, kapag wala na mamina iiwan na 'yan, bulagsak na. And that I think is worth worrying," he said.

(I agree with you that we should push for responsible mining because there are those who would unabashedly extract materials and would just leave it when the resources run out. And I think that's worrying.)

Moreno previously said he will support the responsible extraction of minerals to further improve the shorelines of Manila Bay as long as environmental rules are observed.—AOL, GMA News