MANILA - Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said Tuesday she served notice to operators of dozens of mines, asking them to explain why their permits should not be canceled for operating in watersheds.

The “show cause” orders were given to 37 mines in Mindanao, 27 in Luzon and 11 in the Visayas, Lopez told reporters.

Lopez on Feb. 3 recommended the closure of 23 mines, 15 of which are in watersheds, and the suspension of 5 others following an industry-wide audit of compliance with environment laws.

• READ: Eco-warrior Lopez takes on Philippine mining giants

Lopez said her move was a “gift of love on Valentine’s Day to the Filipino public.”

“Water is life, and by saying, by today, doing show cause to all mining companies that were granted MPSA, there should be no mining in watershed areas,” she said.

An MPSA or Mining Production Sharing Agreement sets conditions for mineral extraction in specific areas.

Lopez made a case against the proposed Tampakan copper and gold mine in South Cotabato, which has the potential to be the single biggest foreign direct investment in the country.

The project will damage a land area as large as 700 football fields and will generate only 2,000 jobs despite its $5.8-billion price tag, she said.

Last week, Lopez and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez agreed to a multi-stakeholder review of the industry after mining companies accused her of not observing due process.

The two cabinet ministers co-chair the Mineral Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), an oversight body.

• READ: Miners hope for due process in multi-stakeholder review

“I have rocked the boat,” Lopez said, adding she had the authority under the law to close down or suspend mines.

Lopez said it would be “almost impossible” to restore an area to its original state after mining.

“You kill the watershed, you kill life. You kill the river, you kill agriculture, you kill the drinking water,” she said.