Beyond the call of duty

With leading Philex Mining Corp. almost through with the over P4-billion rehabilitation and remediation work at its Padcal mine in Benguet, then its about time that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) allow the company to resume operations.

According to company officials, what remains to be wrapped up is the stabilization job on the Tailings Stability Facility No. 3 (TSF3) that was breached during a heavy downpour.

There is no more excuse for MGB to delay action on Philex’s petition filed last June 27 to extend the firm’s temporary permit which is due to expire this July 7. Philex needs to wrap up the “beaching” process at TSF3.

But it is not only Philex which is in a hurry to have its temporary permit extended. The whole of Benguet and, in particular, Itogon and Tuba towns which host the mine are begging our national government to act fast, considering the pivotal role that Padcal mine plays in the socio-economic life of the people.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Benguet, along with the barangay councils of Dalupirip and Ampucao in Itogon, have separately called on the appropriate government agencies to allow Philex to continue its Padcal operations. In a resolution, the provincial board said that this would benefit not only the employees of the company and their families but also the local government units hosting the company and their constituents, adding that Philex had already completed remedial measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the damaged TSF3.

Meanwhile, mayor Florencio Bentrez of Tuba and  then-mayor Oscar Camantiles of Itogon have informed the Senate in a recent public hearing that they were happy and satisfied with Philex’s efforts. They pointed out that their municipalities have been benefiting from Padcal by way of an annual revenue share of P20 million each, while the host barangays receive another P12 million a piece.  The new mayor of Itogon is Victorio Palangdan and is said to be also supportive of Padcal’s continued operations.

Both Tuba and Itogon are classified as first-class municipalities, and the barangays in these two towns use the windfall they get from Philex to build schools, potable water systems and health care facilities for their residents.

The indigenous people (IP) living in the area are likewise clamoring for Padcal’s continued operations as they have been benefiting from the royalty fees as well as the projects that Philex had been implementing as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments.

It is thus imperative for the DENR/MGB to grant Philex’s request for an extension of its temporary permit so Padcal can continue operating, not only to finish stabilizing its TSF3 in preparation for this rainy season but also, and more importantly, for the benefit of the tens of thousand of people directly or indirectly dependent on the mine.

Or better yet, the government should consider lifting the suspension order altogether so Padcal could continue operating on a permanent basis.

Philex’s work at Padcal has gone beyond the call of duty.

The P500-million cleanup and rehabilitation program in the waterways affected by the Padcal mine spill, particularly the Balog Creek and its convergence point with the Ago River, is said to be a first in corporate history.

Philex officials have bared that Balog Creek was cleaned up by manually bagging sediments from the waterway. Philex went one step further and also built silt traps and fishponds seeded with tilapia fingerlings to generate income for the affected families in the area.

Philex did its part to complete what was required of it. It also paid the penalty imposed by the DENR ahead of the deadline. Given this responsible attitude, Philex deserves nothing less than fair treatment from the government.

Our mining industry has tremendous potential but unless government starts creating a conducive environment for business to flourish, then this potential would remain a potential.

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