Mining industry sees role in storm-hit areas' rehab

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet  – The Philippine mining industry, many firms of which are in Benguet, sees its essential role in the massive reconstruction in areas severely devastated by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Mining industry leaders and stakeholders who converged in nearby Baguio City for four days until Friday said their role in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of typhoon-devastated Leyte province and nearby areas in the Visayas will be very important.

Louie Sarmiento, and engineer and president of the Philippine Mine Safety Association (PMSEA) spearheading the Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference, said the industry sees the devastation as an opportunity to prove that it can play a vital role in national reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Bohol for one is limestone rich, Sarmiento said, adding that that resource in the making of cement is important in the physical reconstruction of the area and the rest of the Yolanda-damaged areas in the Visayas.

"It is the mining industry that has the technical capability to extract that mineral richness. It is the time when the industry should shine and show its imporantance," Sarmiento said.

Samuel Paragas, director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 4-A, dispelled the mindset that the mining industry is the reason behind various problems in the communities.

He said that instead, the industry is the backbone of every nation.

"Trace the history of UK, South Africa and other countries that have developed. They all relied on the mining industry,” Paragas said.

Paragas added that the Philippines should consider itself lucky as it is "endowed with such rich mineral resources for us to use responsibly.”

Sarmiento, meanwhile, said that aside from relief efforts the mining industry will also help in the search and retrieval operations in the typhoon-hit areas in the Visayas.

"Miners from Philex Mines Corporation, Oceana Gold, Miners Association of the Philippines, Regoron, Teresa Marble, Global Medic, 505th Auxiliary and Wilderness Search and Rescue were already sent to Tacloban," he said. "Relief and assistance to victims and survivors of Yolanda have started to reach far-flung towns of Eastern Samar as well."

The PMSEA together with the Global Medic is bringing in three sets of water purifying machines capable of producing 24,000 liters of clean water a day.

The Association of Responsible Miners of Region 8 (ARMOR8) is also providing ground assistance to these teams.