Mine shutdown to displace 20,500 in Caraga — DOLE

More than 20,500 workers will be displaced if the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) enforces its closure orders against 13 mining firms in the Caraga region, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Citing a report from DOLE Region 13, Labor undersecretary Joel Maglunsod disclosed that 10,974 of the affected workers are directly hired by mining companies, while the remaining 9,615 are contractuals.

He said they are now profiling these workers and their dependents so they can receive emergency employment, skills training or livelihood assistance from DOLE once they are retrenched.

The labor official noted the affected workers are used to temporary displacement since mining in Caraga is seasonal.

“This part of the year is considered an off-season for mining (in Caraga) because of the weather conditions... during this period, there is reduced mining operations,” Maglunsod said.

DENR earlier issued closure orders against 23 mining firms nationwide due to their proximity to functional watersheds.

Thirteen of these mines are in the Caraga region, particularly in the province of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Island.

The mines covered by the closure orders in Caraga are AAMPHIL Natural Resources Exploration, Oriental Synergy Mining Corporation, SinoSteel Philippines HY Mining Corporation, Kromico Incorporated, Oriental Vision Mining Philippines Corporation, Wellex Mining Corporation, Libjo Mining Corporation, Claver Mineral Development Corporation, ADNAMA Mining Resources Corporation, Hinatuan Mining Corporation, CTP Construction and Mining Corporation, Carrascal Nickel Corporation, Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation and Platinum Group Metals Corporation.

Except for Claver Mineral Development Corporation, which has been closed since 2015, Maglunsod said the aforementioned mining firms are still operating since the closure orders issued against them are still being reviewed.