MANILA-- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Wednesday it was seeking the compliance of mining firms closed by its late chief Gina Lopez.
Some 13 mining firms were audited by the DENR and were given corrective measures so these can be allowed to operate again, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said.
"Iyong mga napunta samin sa DENR, dumaan na ito sa audit team, mayroon na silang recommendation," Cimatu said in a forum ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte's 5th State of the Nation Address.
(Those assigned to the DENR were already audited and given recommendations.)
"Mayroong iba naka-comply na sa corrective measures, mayroong hindi pa. So yung ibang hindi pa, itutuloy naman nila iyong compliance nila before they can be allowed to open," he added.
(Some complied with the corrective measures, others not yet. So for those that have yet to comply, they have to do so first before they can be allowed to operate.)
Cimatu said the audit came following mining firms' appeal to resume operations.
Lopez, during her short stint as environment chief, ordered the closure of 23 mines and suspension of five others over non-compliance with environmental laws.
While 13 firms were reviewed by the DENR, the 14 others were audited by the Office of the President, Cimatu said.