UPDATE 1-Philippines' Duterte to review projects as environmentalist gets mining post

(Writes through with details)
By Karen Lema
DAVAO, Philippines June 21 (Reuters) - Incoming Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday warned he would cancel
mining projects causing environmental harm as an anti-mining
advocate accepted his offer to head the agency overseeing the
country's natural resources.
Environmentalist Gina Lopez said she had accepted Duterte's
offer to be the Secretary of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources, a day after the president-elect asked her to
lead the agency, broadcaster ABS-CBN reported.
The Southeast Asian nation has among the largest untapped
mineral resources in the region. However, years of opposition
from the Catholic Church and a strong anti-mining lobby, as well
as insurgency and widespread corruption, have stalled many
projects including the $5.9 billion gold-copper Tampakan project
in the southern Mindanao island discovered in 1991.
"There will be a comprehensive review of the mining claims
of concessions given," Duterte told business leaders in the
southern Davao City where he served as mayor for over two
decades.
"I will require you to go to Canada or Australia, learn how
to mine the precious metals inside the bowels of the earth and
do it. Because ... (if) you are spoiling the land, I will cancel
it without hesitation."
The ministerial post at the mining agency was among the last
that Duterte had filled, reflecting his concern over what he
said were irresponsible mining operations that have led to
environmental destruction.
The firebrand mayor assumes office on June 30 after winning
the election last month on a campaign to crush crime, corruption
and poverty.
News that Lopez, sister of media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corp
ABS.PS Chairman Eugenio Lopez III, was being offered the
environment post sent shares of Philippine mining firms sliding
on Tuesday.
Duterte, in his victory speech on June 4, warned mining
companies to "shape up", signalling he would prefer ownership of
local mining assets to be left to local investors.
Swiss commodities giant Glencore GLEN.L quit the Tampakan
project in 2015, with the venture halted by a ban on open-pit
mining in Mindanao's South Cotabato province imposed from 2010.
A local company has taken over the project.