Philex cleans rivers affected by dam leak

By Thet R. Mesias

TUBA, Benguet – Philex Mines Corp. officials have mobilized a task force to facilitate the cleanup of tributaries affected by the recent tailings leak from its Padcal Mine, in order to prevent silts from reaching the convergence area going to San Roque Dam.

           

Engineer Libby R. Ricafort, the company’s vice-president for Operations and Resident Manager of Padcal Mine, in Benguet, said that rehabilitation works downstream of Tailings Pond No. 3 have already begun.

A Philex Mining environmental team, headed by Vice-President for Community Relations Victor Francisco, deployed Monday at least three separate groups to survey areas along the rivers of Balog and Agno, and at the convergence point near the San Roque Dam.

           

“The question is not when our operations will resume,” Mr. Ricafortsaid while addressing volunteer employees during a briefing at the Philex Mining’s command post in Padcal. “The question is how each and everyone of you will be able to help.”

           

Philex Mining voluntarily moved to temporarily stop operations in its Padcal Mine at midnight of August 1, owing to the unusual accumulation of rainwater in Tailings Pond No. 3 after two weeks of heavy rains brought about by typhoons Ferdie and Gener.

The operations in Padcal Mine have been re-organized to focus on immediate remediation and rehabilitation of its tailings storage facility and the impact of water andsediments leak on the environment.

           

Mr. Ricafort said the move is in line with one of Philex Mining’s Six Corporate Values which is the Social and Environmental Responsibility.

           

He added that the physical cleanup of the affected rivers is part of a long-term plan to rehabilitate and restore the tributaries, and develop them as a potential eco-park and tourist area in the future.

           

The task force will wash, impound, collect, and haul sediments along the riverbanks or riverbed into a strategic site as backfill materials. The process may be done through mechanical engineering, depending on the assessment of the experts.

           

Philex Mining’s Environment Team has started pooling volunteers—employees and their dependents—to work on clearing operations 24/7.