MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed a new mines bureau director to oversee the implementation of mining projects in the country, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said on Monday.

MGB said Duterte designated Mario Luis Jacinto as MGB director in his Presidential Directive No. 002. Jacinto will replace Leo Jasareno.

As MGB chief and Department of Environment and Natural Resources undersecretary, Jacinto will have the authority and supervision over the organization and operations of the Environmental Management Bureau.

Jacinto, a former chief of the regional and Davao City environment and natural resources office, will also assist Environment Secretary Gina Lopez in reviewing mining permits.

The President has taken a tough stance on mining, saying all mining contracts would be reviewed. He said he will not ban mining as long as it followed environmental protection standards.

READ: Duterte: Do mining right or get out

The President also backed Lopez on the crackdown on unsafe mining practices.

READ: Duterte backs Gina Lopez on unsafe mining crackdown

Lopez earlier said the DENR has suspended four mining operations in Zambales and three more in Palawan due to unsafe practices.