Benguet town backs Philex’s continued operation

MANILA, Philippines - The municipal government of Itogon in Benguet is backing the request of Philex Mining Corp. to be allowed to continue its temporary operations in the Padcal mine beyond July 7.

In a letter to Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) director Leo Jasareno dated July 3, Itogon municipal mayor Victorio Palangdan said the local government is recommending the approval of the request of Philex for continued operations of the Padcal mine in Itogon.

He said the request of Philex to continue deposition of fresh tailings at its tailings storage facility 3 (TSF3) was based primarily on the findings and recommendations of Golder Associates, an independent firm tasked to study the conditions of the facility and to review the risk associated with ceasing operations in the mine.

“Corollary, it is the conviction of the undersigned that the subject request is not at all self-serving on the part of the company, such being based on the report made by a credible firm hence, my belief and understanding that the company’s purpose and objective is to ensure the safety and stability of TSF3 which, in turn, shall secure the low lying communities and the surrounding environment of the structure,” he said further.

Last month, Philex asked the MGB to be allowed to continue to operate in the Padcal mine even after the temporary permit issued by the government expires on July 7.

The MGB has yet to give its decision on the miner’s request.

The request was made to allow the company to implement its mine rehabilitation plan.

On March 8, the government allowed Philex to temporarily resume operations in the Padcal mine for four months.

This was after the mining company was slapped with a suspension order as its tailings pond spilled about 21 metric tons of mine wastes, affecting parts of a river, north of the country.

The firm has paid the government around P1 billion as penalty for the waste spill.

Earlier, Philex chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said the company is on track with the completion of the Padcal mine’s rehabilitation.

As of the first quarter, the net income of Philex dropped to P403 million from the P1.27 billion in the same period last year due to the suspension of operations in the Padcal mine.

Since the resumption of operations to the end of the first quarter in the Padcal mine, the firm produced 7,610 ounces of gold and 2.434 million pounds of copper.