Palace backs Semirara probe

Malacañang is backing the investigation on the collapse of an openpit coal mine on Semirara Island in Caluya town, Antique as three more bodies have been recovered from the mining site.

President Aquino expressed concern after he was informed by the Department of Energy (DOE) of the landslide at the Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) that buried nine of at least 14 workers on Friday, deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said yesterday.

Valte said the DOE temporarily suspended mining works at the site following the incident.

Roderick Train, provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer of Antique, said the recovery of three more bodies brought to six the number of people confirmed dead, while three others remain missing.

The fatalities were identified as Dicson Daupan, Bernie Manrique, Jeneroso Talaro, Alexander Nudo, Arnold Omac and Ricardo Panes.

Three other workers – Danilo Bayhon, Noel Penolla and Ian Catulay – remain missing and are presumed dead. They were employed as mining truck service operators.

Earlier, the bodies of Nudo, Omac and Panes were retrieved from the landslide after a portion of the mining pit collapsed following heavy rains.

The victims were working on a water system of the SMPC when the northern edge of the Panian mine gave way at around 3:45 a.m. on Friday.

Five of the 14 workers who survived the incident are still confined at the SMPC Infirmary. They are Brendo Tuarez, Nelson Villamor, Renan Entible, Patrick Morgado and Ricardo Cabrera.

SMPC, a subsidiary of DMCI Holdings Inc., is the country’s biggest coal producer.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office conducted yesterday an ocular inspection of the collapsed mine site.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Antique Police Provincial Office and Scene of the Crime Operations team are coordinating with the SMPC management and local government of Caluya on the search and rescue efforts.

Mayor Genevieve Reyes of Caluya said they are coordinating with the families of the victims and giving them support.

“SMPC has been implementing occupational and safety standards but accidents happen despite precautionary measures,” she said.

Authorities have vowed to launch an investigation to determine if the company committed lapses that led to the incident.

For her part, Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao said the company would be held liable if it is proven that there was negligence on its part.

Cadiao said they are mulling the suspension of operations of the Panian mine site.

Five workers were killed when a landslide occurred at the SMPC mine site on Feb. 13, 2013.

Valte commended the local officials of Baguio and La Union for temporarily suspending small- scale mining operations in their areas due to continuous rains.

She said local government units must act promptly in undertaking preemptive evacuation and checking on smallscale mining operations.

Financial aid

The Department of Labor and Employment ( DOLE) said that financial assistance would be given to the workers of SMPC.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the mining workers would receive cash benefits under DOLE’s Employees Compensation Program. They will also get medical benefits and livelihood assistance from the agency, Baldoz said.

Sonny Matula, president of the Federation of Free Workers, said the Semirara accident could have been avoided if safety measures were in place.

Sen. Loren Legarda called on government agencies and mining firms to prioritize the safety of mining workers first before making profit.

Legarda said the latest tragedy at the SMPC could have been avoided had the authorities and the company taken the necessary safety precautions.

“I condole with the families of the victims and I urge the energy department and the local government to pursue an independent investigation on the incident,” she said.

“This is the second time it has happened. The safety of the workers should be a