MANILA – Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said Thursday she was seeking a “way forward” with miners, as she maintained her stand against irresponsible mining.

Lopez said she would work together with mining companies on "area development" using their social development and management program (SDMP) funds.

The environment chief said she saw a nation “divided” between millions who are against destructive mining and thousands who fear loss of livelihood if many mining operations are shut.

“I offer you my integrity and my non-negotiable commitment to truth, to service, and the common good,” Lopez told the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA).

“I’m willing to work with mining companies that don’t adversely affect human life,” she said.

• WATCH: ‘You killed the mountain,’ Lopez tells miners

Lopez has riled the mining industry by ordering the closure or suspension of 28 mines and threatening to cancel up to 75 contracts.

The CA heard several oppositors during a marathon hearing on Lopez’s nomination on Thursday. CA members will reconvene in an executive session on March 14.

The oppositors, including mining industry leaders, scientists and indigenous groups, questioned the long-time environment activist’s qualifications and argued that she was biased against mining.

Senator Panfilo Lacson also questioned Lopez for including “social justice” as a criteria in her decision to close down several mines.

Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Sato told Lopez that if she felt that the current mining law favored corporations, she should have asked Congress to amend it.

“I am passionate about what I am doing but I am not subjective,” Lopez said, adding, “I am not changing the law, I am enforcing it.”

ENVIRONMENTAL 'RAPISTS'

Miners are not the “environmental rapists” that Lopez portrays them to be, and the industry is among the country’s most “misunderstood,” said Chamber of Mines vice president for legal Ronald Recidoro.

“We oppose the confirmation of Ms. Lopez as she has shown herself unfit and unqualified to be the government’s lead regulator,” Recidoro said.

He warned that Lopez's decision could spawn costly legal disputes, similar to the one between the Philippine government and the German builder of NAIA Terminal 3.

"Cancelling contracts without due process and changing rules in the middle of the game frightens away quality investors," he said.

Several Manobo tribal leaders told the CA they were not consulted on the mine closures, which would affect their livelihood.

"Kami po ay maka-kalikasan, nakatira kami sa aming ancestral domain. Kami ang may ari, kami ang may alam, kami ang may karapatan mag-decide kung ano ang dapat gawin sa aming lupain," Datu Benjamin Tindogan said.

(We are pro-environment because we live in our ancestral domain. We own the land, we know the land, and we have the right to decide what to do with our domain.)

Tindogan said alternative jobs offered by government would not match benefits from mining companies, including P18 million in annual royalty fees per mining company, scholarships, and health benefits.

CONCILIATORY TONE

Lopez struck a more conciliatory tone on Thursday. While she acknowledged that she could get “emotional” at times, her moves were “backed up by law every single step of the way.”

“I don’t wanna fight with people. I just feel that we should not kill the resources for our future,” Lopez said.

“Whatever I did is not arbitrary, it is backed up by law,” she said.

Lopez said she was willing to work with mines that comply with safety laws.

Lacson said he was impressed by Lopez’s presentation on Wednesday, but her response to subsequent questions were “wanting.”

“I want to help you get past these confirmation hearings that’s why I’m telling you this,” Lacson said.

“I don’t want you to suffer the fate of [Foreign Affairs] Secretary Yasay,” Lacson said, referring to Perfecto Yasay, whose appointment as foreign secretary was rejected by the CA on Wednesday.