Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun says the local mining industry is not the magic remedy to the economic woes caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

He cited the possible environmental side effects of ramped up mining activities for economic recovery.

According to Fortun, the contribution of mining to total employment in the whole country is "only 0.5 percent and data shows this has been consistent in the last three years.”

“If mining companies had $4.38 billion in mineral exports, but with only 0.5 percent contribution to employment, how much has this employment actually contributed to the local economy in terms of consumer spending, local businesses, and community growth?" he asked.

Fortun lamented that while investors gain huge profits from mining, the country hardly reaps any benefit from it.

"The mining industry contributes only a meager 0.6 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product and host communities have remained poor and underdeveloped," the lawyer-solon said.

He said mining activities disrupt wildlife, which may lead to or contribute to the spread of animal diseases among humans just like what is suspected to have happened with the new coronavirus.

“These alarming concerns of transmission of animal diseases to humans are compounded by the growing number of studies that link pandemics to mining activities. This happens particularly when humans invade our forests and other natural animal habitats to mine, and in the process, get infected with viruses or diseases from animals," Fortun said.

Fortun o called the Philippine Mining Act of 1994 as "archaic" and pushed for its repeal.