A party-list lawmaker has called on the House of Representatives to conduct an on-site investigation on the environmental on socio-economic impact of Philex Mining’s Padcal mine disaster.
Kabataan party-list Representative Raymond Palatino filed House Resolution 2823 directing the House committees on natural resources, and ecology to conduct a joint probe following reports of a media blackout on the said disaster.
“Independent investigations and media coverage on the incident are being hampered by the vast influence of Manny Pangilinan-owned Philex Mining Corporation. As a result, the Philex management has monopoly on information regarding the actual conditions of the facilities in question up until now,” Palatino said.................
Philex is facing a minimum P1.034-billion fine imposed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for its violation of the Mining Act for the leak in Tailings Pond No. 3 of its Padcal Copper-Gold Mine Project in Benguet.
According to MGB, the Padcal tailings pond spill resulted in the discharge of at least 20,689,179.42 metric tons of mine tailings into the Balog River, which flows to the Agno River.
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