GMA Network News
July 20, 2015 8:38pm
The Semirara Mining and Power Company said it will give P1 million each to the families of its nine workers who died after a portion of its mining site in Caluya, Antique, collapsed Friday.
In a statement on Monday, the company said it will also shoulder the funeral expenses for the victims, as well as the transportation fares of the victims' immediate families who will fly to Semirara Island on July 21.
It said the surviving families will be provided with free permanent housing in the area should they decide to stay in Semirara Island. Otherwise, Semirara said it is willing to provide them with housing assistance elsewhere.
"The needs of the families of the victims remain our priority. We have sought the assistance of religious nuns and professional counsellors to help the bereaved cope with their loss," it said.
Semirara said it will also shoulder all the education expenses or provide employment to the children of the victims, seven of which have already been recovered from the accident site.
"We have been cooperating fully with government authorities investigating the accident. Officials from the Department of Energy conducted an initial investigation last Saturday and are expected to make a follow-up tomorrow, Tuesday," it added.
According to a report on "24 Oras Weekend" aired Sunday, around 500 tons of earth from the backfill — or soil excavated from the mine — at the north wall of the Panian open pit mine now cover the area.
Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao has recommended the shutdown of the coal mine. —Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/KBK, GMA News source
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