Philippine lawmakers seek to ban mining in watershed areas, export of raw ore

Philippine lawmakers have filed a bill seeking to ban mining in watershed areas and exports of unprocessed ores and will require miners to get legislative approval before operating, in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's pledge to overhaul the sector. The Philippines is the world's top nickel ore supplier but Duterte says miners pay too little tax and not enough to compensate mining communities that suffer environmental damage.