AN AIR OF UNCERTAINTY hangs over the country's miners and Justirini Rachel B. Gozum, who earned her BS Metallurgical Engineering degree at the University of the Philippines (UP) this year, can feel it.

"UP is advocating service to your country, but ako din 'yung inaasahan sa family. Hindi naman puwedeng forever maghintay ng opportunity (...but my family relies on me. I cannot wait forever for opportunity)," said Ms. Gozum, 24, referring to staunch environmentalist Regina Paz L. Lopez, who has taken charge of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Read more: Pall of uncertainty to haunt mining industry for some time