In a speech at the golden anniversary of the Philippine Mines Safety and Environment Association and the Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference at the Manila Hotel, the President assured mining leaders that with Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun at the helm, she feels the industry is in good hands.
"Our awardees tonight are concrete proof that you can have mining, you can have jobs and you can have concern for the environment at the same time," Arroyo said.
The policy shift, according to her, occurred shortly after she appointed Neri and Gozun whom she described as open-minded and modern in their approach to mining policy.
She said that to really develop the economy and create a stronger republic, "we need to change our system, to institute true reforms in our way of politics and our economy. And among the reforms I recognized we need to do is the reform of our mining policy."
She emphasized that it has been her administration’s policy to promote responsible mineral resources exploration, development and utilization to enhance economic growth in a manner that adheres to the principles of sustainable development.
"I’m aware of the big demand for copper, gold and nickel and their great potential for creating jobs. And after all, creating jobs is the most important means of fighting poverty," she said.
Neri, she said, has a good micro-economic program that could supplement the macro-economic gains she had made in the first half of her administration.
The President said that although historically, the country’s economic development has been slow compared to its neighbors, "it should be a source of pride to us that in the last two and a half years, we did better than our neighbors."
"The first six months of this year, we achieved a 4.8 percent GNP growth rate, the sixth highest among the 21 economies of the Asia-Pacific region and the highest in our country since the Asian financial crisis," she explained.
She asked the mining sector to help her not only in creating jobs, not only in safety and in protection of the environment, but also in starting the healing process that will give the whole business community and the Filipino a better environment in which to work, do business and live in.
During the rites, the President handed the 2003 Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Awards to the Silangan Mindanao Exploration Co., Inc. (mineral exploration category), Union Cement Corp.-Bulacan plant (quarry operation category), Union Cement Corp.-La Union Plant Quarry operation category) and Taganito Mining Corp. (surface mining operation category).