MANILA - A Cabinet oversight body will push through with its review of outgoing Environment Secretary Gina Lopez's audit of the mining industry, even after lawmakers rejected her appointment, an official said Thursday.
The Mineral Industry Coordinating Committee met on Thursday to discuss the terms of the review as well as those who will lead it.
Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin said he hoped a replacement for Lopez would be named soon.
A shortlist of potential review team members and terms of reference for the review are expected within the month.
Lopez led an industry-wide audit during her 10 months in office and ordered the closure or suspension of 28 mines, threatened to cancel 75 contracts and banned new open-pit mines. -- report from Michelle Ong, ABS-CBN News