2 die of gas poison; stiffer fines eyes vs pocket mining

BAGUIO CITY -- The local government of Itogon town in Benguet province is eyeing the imposition of higher penalties on small-scale mining operators, who allow their workers to enter the mine sites despite continuous rains.

Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said Thursday he would be meeting with the president of the Federation of Small Scale Mining Operators in Itogon on the matter.

Palangdan's plan came up after two pocket miners were found dead Tuesday inside a small-scale mine due to gas poisoning.

Chief Insp. Eugene Raymundo, Itogon chief of police, identified the victims as Fernando Anayasan, 24, a native of Bauko, Mountain Province and Marlo Dizon, 32, of Tuba, Benguet.

Earlier, the provincial government of Benguet and the municipality of Itogon had declared the stoppage of work in small-scale mines due to the series of low pressures and typhoons in the locality in the past weeks.

Baguio and Benguet are still experiencing heavy afternoon downpours.

Aside from the risk of landslide, gas poisoning is common whenever heavy rains pour outside the mine tunnel.

The two miners were reportedly found lying dead about half a kilometer away from the entrance of the small-scale mining area around 3 p.m. on Tuesday. They were declared dead on arrival at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).

Palangdan said the two entered the small-scale mining area in Adit Ud-uddan, Ampucao, Itogon Benguet around 9 a.m. on July 24. At past noon time, their companion, Dante Capulas, noticed the absence of the two and prompted their co-workers to enter the “dog hole” to look for them.

The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (DRRMC) has maintained the stoppage order on small-scale mining operations. (Dionisio Dennis, Jr./ PNA)