EDC to submit work plan to resume operation

Sunstar Tacloban
Thursday, June 13, 2013

THE work stoppage order is still in effect at the landslide site of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) after the geothermal energy producer failed to submit a work plan on May 30.

Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga said there has been no feedback from EDC after the May 30 deadline as to when they will submit the completed geotechnical plan.

“Pending the submission and implementation of the work plan, work stoppage order is still being enforced since the area is not yet cleared of potential landslide threat,” Sarcauga said in a phone interview.

Last March 5, the DOLE regional office issued a work stoppage order at the Pad 403 in Upper Mahiao, Barangay Lim-ao, Kananga, Leyte, the site of the landslide incident that happened on March 1 of this year.

At least 20,000 cubic of debris cascaded down from the mountain that buried and killed 14 workers who were constructing protection structures for the steam pipes of the EDC.

The labor department is expecting EDC to submit the documents within the week so the agency will have enough time to examine the plan.

The Lopez-led EDC and contractor First Balfour, Inc. have been re-extending the deadline to complete the work plan.

“We understand that it’s not easy to formulate a work plan. EDC and First Balfour even hired geotechnical consultants to conduct the study,” Sarcauga said.

The official said, after the work plan’s submission, they will conduct a thorough review within two weeks before lifting the work stoppage order.

Dole safety engineers will inspect the area on foot to validate if suggestions conform to the geographical terrain.

“Presently, the place is closely guarded. Considering the risk in the area, nobody is even allowed to enter the place,” he added.

Sarcauga confirmed that EDC is also looking at other options to include diverting pipeline work to other areas of the geothermal complex.

The study is focused on how to remove the debris in the site and ensure that no similar incident would happen during resumption of work. Clearing operation will be done by First Balfour. 

Sarcauga admitted that the completion of work plan is time-consuming than expected since they have to consider the safety of the team tasked to remove the debris.

The Leyte Geothermal Production Field is the world’s largest wet steam field occupying 50,361 hectares of Ormoc City and Kananga town in western Leyte. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)  source