Pollution Adjudication Board: Philex may resume Padcal operations

(Updated 2:10 p.m.) The Pollution Adjudication Board of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Wednesday gave Philex Mining the go signal to temporarily resume operations at its shuttered Padcal Mine in Itogon, Benguet. The resumption of operations at the mine will allow the company to fill the void left in its tailings pond No. 3 and increase its stability before the rainy season sets in. In the process, known as beaching, millions of tons of solid tailings will fill the pond and push water away from the dam, creating a beach. The process will take three to four months. "Na-sign na ang resolution," said DENR Undersecretary and PAB presiding officer Demetrio Ignacio.  "The decision is for temporary resumption—same as the period granted by the MGB [Mines and Geosciences Bureau]. We are still waiting for the official release of the document by DENR," Ignacio added. Philex still needs to settle a P92-million fine for violation of the Clean Water Act. Philex spokesman Mike Toledo said they are also waiting for the official order. Philex suspended operations at the mine on Aug. 1, 2012 following leakage from tailings pond No. 3 after unusually heavy rains in the area. The accident dumped 20.6 million metric tons of mine waste into the environment.  — BM/VS, GMA News