Philex completes clean up, rehab work at Padcal – Mining Council

The cleanup and rehabilitation required by the government from the Padcal mine of Philex Mining Corporation is now complete, the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) said Monday.

 

The repair and clean up works were in line with the workplan Philex submitted to the government after the mine in Itogon, Benguet suffered a massive tailings spill in August 2012, the largest mine waste disaster in Philippine history in terms of tailings discharged into the waterways.

 

The rehabilitation works covered the decommissioning of two penstocks of the compromised tailings storage pond No. 3 and the commissioning of a new spillway. 

 

"The Technical Working Group on Environmental Protection and Legislation finds that Philex Mining Corp., based on the understanding of the nature of the incident and the direct and indirect interventions surrounding it have made the remedial measures in accordance with the rehabilitation and clean up plan," the MICC said. 

 

Philex has also addressed the needs of communities affected by the spill, and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is now reviewing the MICC report and the the petition from Philex to resume operations at Padcal for a permanent resumption of operations. 

 

Government is now waiting for results of the meetings between Philex and the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) regarding the fines against Philex for violation of the Clean Water Act, MGB Director Leo Jasareno said.

 

"We can only come up with a recommendation on the appeal of Philex once we have the official result of their talks with PAB," Jasareno added.  – VS, GMA News