Groups hit DENR-MGB for allowing Philex works

BAGUIO CITY – Cause-oriented groups assailed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines Geo-Sciences Board for allowing Philex Mines to resume operations at its mine site in Padcal, Tuba, Benguet despite “instability” of its tailings dam 3 which collapsed last year. 

The Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance and other environmental groups said they conducted an environmental investigatory mission recently wherein it was found out release of tailings dam waters had contaminated water bodies like rivers, destroyed marine life and made contact with the water dangerous in Benguet and Pangasinan.  

Results were presented in a public forum held in Manila last Feb. 15, said Bestang Sarah Dekdeken of the CPA.

“We are very disappointed at this decision (allowing Philex to resume operations) even with the findings and recommendations of the Environmental and Social Investigation Mission (EIM) that Cordillera Peoples Alliance, KATRIBU Indigenous Peoples Partylist, AGHAM and Center for Environmental Concerns –Philippines  submitted to the MGB-DENR.

“Paying the P1 billion fine and submission of a rehabilitation plan should not be the sole basis in allowing the Padcal operations to resume.

“MGB-DENR is highly accountable for the Philex tailings pond 3 failure and other mining disasters in the country,  having issued permits for the large mines to operate, in turn resulting to environmental disasters, extrajudicial killings and violation of indigenous peoples’ collective right to free, prior and informed vonsent (FPIC) and ancestral land.

“Because it virtually allowed Philex to commit the same mining disaster by giving the nod to the PhilexPadcal operations and the operation of tailings pond 3, MGB shall remain accountable and be warned that this is another mining disaster waiting to happen.”

The groups reiterated their recommendations to the government based from their EIM: “decommissioning of tailings pond 3, a crucial step for rehabilitation of river and terrestrial ecosystems; transparency considering damage to the environment remains undisclosed to the public, especially affected communities; comprehensive assessment of identified impact sites and just compensation for affected communities of Benguet and Pangasinan and the workers of Philex.

“The Philex resumption of Padcal operations, the issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificate for its operations in Mindanao among other developments in the mining front shows the true face of the PNoy administration that promotes mining plunder at the expense of people’s rights and genuine development.”