Philex working to plug new waste spill at Padcal Mine

Philex Mining Corporation has intensified efforts to plug the sinkhole in Tailings Pond No. 3 (TP3) of its Padcal Mine in Benguet, following another accidental discharge of sediment Thursday last week (August 30). “Despite the bad weather, we have been working 24/7 on long-term solutions to ensure no further outflows of sediment occur,” Philex Mining President and COO Eulalio Austin, Jr. said. He added that both employees and volunteers from families living near Padcal have been working full-time to clean up and rehabilitate Balog Creek and the convergence path to Agno River, including creating more access trails to the rugged terrain leading to Balog Creek that clean-up volunteers could use. The company has also been building tramlines for hauling materials to the site, and setting up silt traps in the area. Company officials said that they reported the second mine tailings spill incident to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) on the same day, and that the spill was contained immediately. A month ago, Philex  suspended its Padcal operations due to an accidental discharge of water and sediment from the tailings pond following continuous heavy rains. According to Philex and government environmental experts, the discharge was non-toxic and the chemical compounds used in the mining process were biodegradable. No injuries or fatalities have been reported as a result of the discharge. Austin said that the company has also prepared an Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) program to focus on aquatic, terrestrial, and water resources management with regard to the cleanup and restoration of the affected waterway. The company also promises that the program will bring households affected by the spillage back to, if not better than, their previous living standards. — BM, GMA News