Manila Standard Today
By Sandy Araneta, PNA | Jul. 23, 2015 at 12:01am
The suspension of coal mining operations on Semirara Island, Caluya, Antique following the collapse of its Panian pit which killed nine workers on Friday will not affect the supply of power in the country, the Palace said.
This, even as Semirara Coal and Power Corporation, a unit of conglomerate DMCI Holdings, Inc., is the country’s largest coal miner.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the focus of government efforts is the safety of the mining. The Energy Department, he said, did not mention a power interruption.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on the other hand will suspend the environmental compliance certificate issued to Semirara following the collapse.
Semirara has a manpower count of 608 working in two shifts.
The Labor Department will provide an initial P100,000 in assistance under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program to the families of the deceased workers. Semirara, for its part, said it would give P1 million to each of the families.
According to Baldoz, the DOLE is mandated to ensure the implementation of general labor standards for all workers both working on surface and underground mining operations, while occupational safety and health regulations cover only those working in the offices.
Mine site operations are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Energy.
Among the dead were Dixon Daupan, wheel dozer operator; Bernie Manrique, coal quality inspector; Alexander Nudo, dump truck driver; Arnold Omac, dump truck driver; Ricaredo Panes; dump truck driver; and Generoso Talaro, operator excavator, Noel Penola and Ian Catulay, dump truck drivers.
Authorities are still retrieving the body of Danilo Bayhon. source
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