15 February 2013
GIAN GERONIMO, GMA News
Landslide caused the collapse of a section of the open pit coal mine in Semirara in Antique province that killed five miners, according to initial investigation reports, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said Friday.
“I’m not familiar with the technical aspect ng mina pero itong incident na ito, it’s more of a landslide than anything else,” Petilla said in an interview on GMA News TV’s “Kape at Balita.”
"That’s the initial report that I have, medyo 'yung mga walls medyo nag-cave in,” he said, adding that authorities still have to determine if negligence on the part of the SMC led to the disaster.
Five men are still missing while three others were rescued when a section of the west wall in the Panian pit of the Semirara Mining Corporation (SMC) collapsed Wednesday night.
On the company website, there is no mention of mine safety or workplace safeguards except for a line about an ISO certification for its "Safety Management System."
The company has declined to grant media interviews, instead promising to give regular updates about the incident.
Operations suspended
Petilla said the government will look into reports that operations in the mine were apparently still continuing despite strong rains in the area.
In a statement on Thursday, SMC said it has been coordinating with the authorities and has stopped operations while it is in the process of determining the incident's cause.
The Department of Energy (DOE) supervises coal mining operations, a source of fossil fuel, while all other types of mining are supervised by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The DOE chief said the incident at the mine site appears to be unprecedented.
“Kung titignan din natin, I’ve been researching on [SMC], looking at incidents in the past, wala naman akong nakitang incidents na ganito,” Petilla said.
SMC, the country's only large-scale coal producer, stopped its operations in the coal mine following the incident.
“Before any operation is going to resume it has to be with the consultation of DOE before any movements are made and they’re complying right now,” said Petilla, who is set to visit the site of the incident.
The company is engaged in surface open cut mining of thermal coal in its Panian mine on Semirara Island, where the mine collapse occurred.
In 2009, SMC was accused of polluting Semirara's coastal resources with wastes from its coal washing plant. The company denied the allegation.
Missing miners
The National Disaster Risk Reducation and Management Council (NDRRMC), in its latest report on the incident, identified the still-missing men as Leovigildo Porras, Jan Riel Planca, Randy Tamparong, Richard Padernilla and Junjie Gomez.
Those killed in the incident were Abner Lim, Joven Hocate, George Bragat, Efren Equiza and Anthony Siblet.
The rescued men were identified as Marjun Catoto, who was released from the SMC hospital; Adrian Celmar, who was still being treated at the same hospital at the time of the update; and Leonardo Sojor, who was brought to the University of Santo Tomas hospital in Manila.
Petilla said the DOE is coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on possible additional assistance for the families of the victims.
The SMC had already pledged to “extend full support” to the families of the affected personnel, but Petilla said the government intends to ensure the best negotiations for the family.
Who's in charge?
When asked what should be done to prevent fatal mining disasters, Petilla said that based on his experience as a former governor, the question on which among the national government or the various local government units will handle issues in mining, whether large- or small-scale, has to be resolved.
He cited Executive Order 79 signed by President Benigno Aquino III in July 2012, which seeks to provide a more equitable revenue-sharing scheme, strengthen environmental protection and promote responsible mining in the country.
Under the order, a Mining Industry Coordinating Council or MICC shall be created. It will be in charge of reviewing all mining-related laws, rules and regulations, issuances, and agreements.
MICC shall also be responsible for the campaigns against illegal mining, serve as oversight committee over the operations of the Provincial/City Mining Regulatory Boards, monitor the implementation of mining laws and regulate small-scale mining participants,
Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has sent an investigating team to look into the incident. The team will arrive at the site at around 2 p.m. to conduct an initial assessment, and Baldoz expects to receive an initial report on the mining incident within the day. — KBK/YA, GMA News source
"That’s the initial report that I have, medyo 'yung mga walls medyo nag-cave in,” he said, adding that authorities still have to determine if negligence on the part of the SMC led to the disaster.
Five men are still missing while three others were rescued when a section of the west wall in the Panian pit of the Semirara Mining Corporation (SMC) collapsed Wednesday night.
On the company website, there is no mention of mine safety or workplace safeguards except for a line about an ISO certification for its "Safety Management System."
The company has declined to grant media interviews, instead promising to give regular updates about the incident.
Operations suspended
Petilla said the government will look into reports that operations in the mine were apparently still continuing despite strong rains in the area.
In a statement on Thursday, SMC said it has been coordinating with the authorities and has stopped operations while it is in the process of determining the incident's cause.
The Department of Energy (DOE) supervises coal mining operations, a source of fossil fuel, while all other types of mining are supervised by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The DOE chief said the incident at the mine site appears to be unprecedented.
“Kung titignan din natin, I’ve been researching on [SMC], looking at incidents in the past, wala naman akong nakitang incidents na ganito,” Petilla said.
SMC, the country's only large-scale coal producer, stopped its operations in the coal mine following the incident.
“Before any operation is going to resume it has to be with the consultation of DOE before any movements are made and they’re complying right now,” said Petilla, who is set to visit the site of the incident.
The company is engaged in surface open cut mining of thermal coal in its Panian mine on Semirara Island, where the mine collapse occurred.
In 2009, SMC was accused of polluting Semirara's coastal resources with wastes from its coal washing plant. The company denied the allegation.
Missing miners
The National Disaster Risk Reducation and Management Council (NDRRMC), in its latest report on the incident, identified the still-missing men as Leovigildo Porras, Jan Riel Planca, Randy Tamparong, Richard Padernilla and Junjie Gomez.
Those killed in the incident were Abner Lim, Joven Hocate, George Bragat, Efren Equiza and Anthony Siblet.
The rescued men were identified as Marjun Catoto, who was released from the SMC hospital; Adrian Celmar, who was still being treated at the same hospital at the time of the update; and Leonardo Sojor, who was brought to the University of Santo Tomas hospital in Manila.
Petilla said the DOE is coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on possible additional assistance for the families of the victims.
The SMC had already pledged to “extend full support” to the families of the affected personnel, but Petilla said the government intends to ensure the best negotiations for the family.
Who's in charge?
When asked what should be done to prevent fatal mining disasters, Petilla said that based on his experience as a former governor, the question on which among the national government or the various local government units will handle issues in mining, whether large- or small-scale, has to be resolved.
He cited Executive Order 79 signed by President Benigno Aquino III in July 2012, which seeks to provide a more equitable revenue-sharing scheme, strengthen environmental protection and promote responsible mining in the country.
Under the order, a Mining Industry Coordinating Council or MICC shall be created. It will be in charge of reviewing all mining-related laws, rules and regulations, issuances, and agreements.
MICC shall also be responsible for the campaigns against illegal mining, serve as oversight committee over the operations of the Provincial/City Mining Regulatory Boards, monitor the implementation of mining laws and regulate small-scale mining participants,
Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has sent an investigating team to look into the incident. The team will arrive at the site at around 2 p.m. to conduct an initial assessment, and Baldoz expects to receive an initial report on the mining incident within the day. — KBK/YA, GMA News source
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