Miners told to follow protocol on inclement weather

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Governor Crescencio Pacalso reminded small-scale operators in the upland province to implement safety measures amid the inclement weather due to monsoon rains.

Pacalso reminded the local miners of Executive Order No. 2017-015, which he issued a year ago and which establishes a protocol for the issuance of advisories for miners in the “occurrence of tropical cyclones and weather phenomena”.

The directive states town local officials are in the best position to determine what advisory to give to the miners in their own localities in times of weather disturbances, which could be experienced differently by each town.

The protocol has it that if PAGASA issues Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) No. 1 or 2, the local chief executive shall, within two hours from the issuance, give an order to suspend or stop smallscale mining operations.

For PSWS No. 3,4, or 5, mayors shall, within one hour from such issuance, immediately order to suspend or stop small-scale mining activities.

In case there are no PSWS issued by PAGASA amid monsoon rains, the issuance of advisory on the operation of smallscale mining shall be done on the discretion of the town mayor, based on the situation existing within the town.

The governor said the disaster risk reduction coordinating councils of Benguet, its municipalities, and all of the province's 140 barangays should closely monitor the weather in times like this.

"We will give them the necessary support if there is a need to do a rescue operation,” he added.

Pacalso said the province's staff, as well as those in the town offices and barangays, had undergone disaster management training as part of the provincial government's preparedness measure.