manila philippines environment minister say hopeful ban open-pit mine would lift end year government panel recommend removal tuesday lift ban would allow development big-ticket mine project include 5.9 billion tampakan copper gold mine open-pit mine allow mine laws southeast asian country world top nickel ore exporter however former environment minister regina lopez ban 10 months office say environmental degradation ruin economic potential place do staunch environmentalist lopez step may fail win congressional confirmation roy cimatu former soldier replace confirm post lawmakers early month mine industry coordinate council say statement majority panel vote recommend department environment natural resources lift ban open pit mine provide mine laws rule regulations strictly enforce cimatu co-chaired council finance secretary carlos dominguez say follow recommendation present cabinet meet first week november ask whether ban likely lift end year cimatu say hopefully strengthen regulatory environment surround implementation open-pit mine tell reporters tampakan project south cotabato province island mindanao nation big stall mine venture development halt south cotabato ban open-pit mine 2010 prompt operator glencore plc quit project 2015. lopez say project would cover area size 700 soccer field otherwise would agricultural land remove ban would may also lead resumption development 1.2 billion silangan copper gold mine also mindanao philippine miner philex mine corp. miners praise panel recommendation say positive step industry open-pit mine accept method worldwide extract shallow mineral deposit lot minerals exactly ronald recidoro executive director chamber mine philippines tell reuters phone challenge do safely environment protect mine accomplish however president rodrigo duterte say last month support open-pit mine ban give environmental damage cause though would give mine firm time find ways extract minerals lopez facebook post tuesday say open-pit mine pose high risk tropical archipelagic countries like philippines strong typhoons normal philippines fit proper place open pit mine say philippines environment minister hopeful end open-pit mine ban