Pollution Adjudication Board allows Philex to resume normal operations at Padcal

Philex Mining Corporation was given the green light by the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) to resume regular operations over at the Padcal copper-gold mine in Itogon, Benguet for completing the rehabilitation of the waterways that were affected by a massive tailings spill in August 2012.

 

Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary for Policy and PAB presiding officer Demetrio Ignacio said all water samples from the Agno River and Balog Creek are now within the water quality standards acceptable to the government.

 

He was citing a report by the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) in the Cordillera region which gave the waterways affected by the tailings spill a clean bill of health.

 

“The waterways are now cleared of silt, Ignacio told reporters Wednesday. "The water quality is also now within the standards set by the government,” he said.

 

“The undersigned hereby issues a formal lifting order in favor of the respondent. This shall effectively remove this case from the dockets of the Pollution Adjudication Board without prejudice to future action(s) that may be commended against respondent as may be warranted by circumstances or by law,” according to a June 9 resolution issued by PAB.

 

On June 5, Philex also settled a fine of P188.6 million for violating the Clean Water Act.

 

In August 2012, a tailings pond at Padcal caved in at the height of enhanced monsoon rains and released more than 20 million tons of mine waste that polluted Agno River and Balog Creek.

 

For the accident, the government also imposed a penalty of more than P1.03 billion, which Philex settled in February 2013. – VS, GMA News