Police your ranks, gov’t agencies urged: Philex condemns rampant illegal mining nationwide

By Thet R. Mesias  

Philex Mining Corp. has condemned “in the strongest terms possible” illegal mining nationwide, as it urged legitimate mining firms, government regulators, and local government units to police their ranks against illegal miners.

The country’s biggest producer of gold and copper issued this statement following the ongoing tragedy in Compostela Valley, home to a number of illegal mining activities and where hundreds of people have been killed when Typhoon Pablo struck the area early last week.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the illegal mining activities all over the country, especially in Compostela Valley unregulated mining has contributed to the catastrophe that just visited the area,” Michael Toledo, senior vice president for Corporate Affairs at Philex Mining, said.  

He added the mining industry is in dire need of assistance from government regulators and officials of LGUs to purge the sector of illegal miners, who dirty and destroy the environment as they lack the resources for and know-how of disposing the hazardous chemicals they use in their operations.

He recalled the 2005 tragedy in Mt. Diwalwal, also in Compostela Valley, where the Philex Mining Rescue Team went down a tunnel, braving a poisonous gas leak, in order to retrieve the remains of illegal miners who died during a cave-in following a huge explosion.

Today, in Compostela Valley, Philex Mining is also helping in the search and rescue operations in the aftermath of Typhoon Pablo, which struck the Davao region, Central Visayas, and Palawan.

A 12-man team composed of miners from Philex Mining’s Silangan Project in Surigao del Norte has arrived today in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, and will stay there until the last day of the search-and-rescue operations.