MGB grants Philex extension to comment on mine waste leakage report

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) on Wednesday granted Philex Mining Corp. a seven-day extension to react to the government's investigation into leakage of waste from one of the tailings ponds of its Padcal Mine in Itogon, Benguet. In a letter addressed to Philex president Eulalio Austin, the Mines Bureau noted that the gold-copper mining firm is now given until October 10 to present its views and comments on the investigation. Philex was initially given until October 3, Wednesday, to reply. MGB Director Leo Jasareno said that the government agreed to the Manny V. Pangilinan-led mining firm’s request to move the deadline as “voluminous data [were] required in preparing comments.” According to the investigation report, the Mines Bureau recognized that the heavy rainfall brought about by Typhoons Ferdie and Gener on the day of the spill (August 1, 2012) reached 331.80 millimeters, far exceeding by almost 100 mm the 50-year-old single-day rainfall record for Padcal of 234.50 mm. The Bureau also confirmed that the mining firm had a system in place for the maintenance and monitoring of its Tailings Pond 3 and secondary facilities when the leak occurred, and that its personnel were diligent in the performance of their duties. Despite the findings, MGB insisted that the mining company should pay the government P1.034 billion in environmental charges as stipulated under the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. — BM, GMA News