The Department of Environment and Natural Resources yesterday reported that no mine sites and critical mine facilities in Region V have been damaged due to the onslaught of the typhoon Milenyo that hit the country at the start of the month.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Director of the Bicol Region Reynulfo Juan said a DENR team which is regularly monitoring Lafayette Mining in Rapu-Rapu, Albay; Filminera Resource Corp. in Aroroy, Masbate; Philippine Iron Mines and Johnson Mining Corp., both in Camarines Norte, has reported no damage in their critical mine facilities such as mine tailings dams and ponds.

“The typhoon has only caused slight damage on the roofs of some buildings of Lafayette in the company’s premises,” Juan said. He was quoting from the report of the monitoring team composed of personnel from the MGB’s central office and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) that went to Bicol to investigate any possible damage in mining areas there.

Last July 12, DENR Secretary Angelo T. Reyes issued a memorandum ordering all officials of the DENR and MGB nationwide to closely monitor and evaluate all mining activities and critical mining facilities within their respective administrative jurisdiction especially at the onset of the rainy season.

Among the important directives under the memorandum are the following: 1) DENR officials should report immediately to concerned authorities for appropriate action in case of any impending danger or damage at the tailings ponds and waste dams; 2) identify and determine the magnitude of the damages caused by geohazards such as landslides and floods; 3) conduct immediately geohazard mapping in the area of jurisdiction to avert further damage to lives and properties; and 4) coordinate closely with RDCC regarding the geohazard areas to forewarn the population of any impending catastrophe.

Reyes particularly wanted the conditions of tailings dams and waste dams checked for any possible damages or impending danger to avert a repeat of past mine spill incidents.

Among the mine sites cited for close monitoring include Lafayette Mining in Rapu-Rapu, Albay; Marcopper in Marinduque; Philex Mining Corp. in Tuba, Benguet; Benguet Corp. in Compostela Valley; Itugon-Suyoc Mines in Benuet; TVI Resource Development Corp. in Zamboanga del Norte; Case Mining and Development Corp, Pacific Nickel Inc., Silangan Mindanao Mining Corp., Philnico and Red 5 Limited (Australia), all in Surigao del Norte. (DENR Public Affairs Office)

May 25, 2006