MASBATE CITY – Governor Antonio Kho has demanded the temporary suspension of Filminera Resources Corporation’s operation while some issues on alleged environmental violations have remained unresolved after a strong quake hit the province last August 18.
In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, Kho said that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has approved a resolution, requesting the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to immediately halt the operation of Filminera mining in Aroroy town while it has yet to comply with the requirement of having an MGB-standard waste disposal facility.
“Filminera failed to upgrade their tailing pond containing wastes from 59 meters to 71 meters in elevation. This is susceptible to spillage that will pose serious risk to the community,” Kho said.
He added that once the company complies with this requirement, then it can resume its operations.
About 40,000 residents are in danger because of any spillage once a strong earthquake hits the province again, Kho disclosed.
On August 18, a 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck the southern part of Masbate, claiming at least one life and injuring hundreds of residents in the municipalities of Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz and Esperanza.
According to the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol, the earthquake caused a total of almost P280 million in damages to school buildings, learning facilities and materials, P29.96 million damages roads, bridges and other government buildings, and P55,000-damage to health facilities.
“We are also demanding that a third party consultant (be appointed) that will study and determine the capability of the tailing pond that will hold 69 million metric ton of wastes materials. Hindi pwede yung sa kanila, dapat independent at mga eksperto na hindi tayo lolokohin,” Kho said.
Board Member Jamon Espares, spokesperson of Provincial Bantay Kalikasan Task Force, said that based on the structural assessment of the Filminera mining tailing ponds, the structure’s quake resistance factor capability was only up to a magnitude-7 earthquake.
This could pose a serious problem because the province is right on the Philippine Fault System that could generate an earthquake of up to magnitude-8.6.
“Binibigyan sila (Filminera), kung natatandaan ko hanggang 2019 na i-elavate yung kanilang tailing pond, pero hanggang ngayon walang nangyari. Nag-try naman sila, kaso lang, yung gagawin nil asana, ipapatong nila sa kalsada ng DPWH. Kaya ni-re-route nila ang kalsada. Pagmamay-ari nila yung kalsada kaya lang hindi sila nagpa-alam sa probinsiya. Kailangan magpa-alam sila kasi lahat naman ng mga movement na ganyan may paalam sa local government, lalo na sa superior local government,” Espares told the Manila Bulletin.