Energy office suspends mine firm in Cebu

CEBU CITY -- The Department of Energy (DOE) in Central Visayas suspended the operation of a coal mine in Danao City, while its team investigates the fall that killed three miners last Thursday.

The indefinite suspension began last Friday, when a team from DOE's Energy Resource Development and Utilization Division inspected the site.

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Engineer Eduardo Amante, who led the team, said they wanted to find out what caused the accident "to prevent a recurrence."

The coal mine owner, he said, will have to answer if any signs of negligence are found.

Meanwhile, relatives of the three miners who died after falling 100 feet down a pit in Lawaan, Danao City, said they will consider going to court if the owner, Adelina Hermita, won't give them at least P200,000 per family.

One relative said Hermita offered P10,000 as an initial payment last Friday night, but they refused because they were asked to sign a document whose implications they didn't fully understand.

Meanwhile, Rep. Ramon "Red" Durano VI asked the DOE to find out what caused the accident and impose sanctions, if they can prove safety measures were not followed.

Durano doesn't think small-scale mining in the fifth district of Cebu province should be banned, because it has provided many jobs.

But because the job is very risky, DOE must be strict in enforcing compliance with safety rules.

The proliferation of small-scale mining in Danao City's mountain barangays is an offshoot of a big company's decision to rehabilitate a coal mine, in order to supply coal to newly-constructed coal-fired power plants in the cities of Naga and Toledo.

The DOE's Amante said the official report will be submitted on Monday or on Tuesday, and it is the DOE head office that will decide when the suspension can be lifted.

"Expected nga di madali ka-undang ang suspension (We can't expect the suspension to be lifted quickly)," Amante said.

Joining him in the investigation team are Engrs. Gerald Cañizares, Antonio Nacario and Enric Padayao.

Around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, miners Ramonito Tagalog, 42, Mitchael Valdez, 46, and Junry Bayo, 28, fell while descending into a pit about 100 feet deep in Lawaan, a mountain barangay in Danao City.

Pilarina Pepito, a sister-in-law of Valdez, said the victims' wives met with the mine owner, Hermita, at the Danao City Police Station around 9 p.m. Friday.

She said some relatives were initially barred from the room where the dialogue happened, but forced their way inside.

Then they were asked how much they wanted. They said they needed about P200,000.

Hermita, Pepito said, offered P10,000 as a down payment. They refused to accept because they were asked to sign a document.

"Mao diay tong papirmahon kay nisulti man tong usa ka laki closure na kuno. Ang diyes mil mao ra gyod to'y ilang ihatag (They wanted the wives to sign the document because they said they want closure. They apparently intended to give only P10,000)," Pepito said.

She said the victims had no safety gear at the time of the accident.

Racquel Albopera, live-in partner of Bayo, was in the police station when the negotiation occurred. She corroborated Pepito's statement.

Pilar, Valdez's wife, said they need the money and are not keen on filing a case.

"Di lang mi anang kaso. Gasto kaayo (We won't file a case. It will cost too much)," she said.

At the site, a miner who identified himself only as Allan said they worked as "volunteers" for their financier, a Tagalog engineer whom he refused to name.

He receives P267 per day, the minimum wage in Metro Cebu.

Allan said they attended safety seminars and were lectured on the proper work procedures at the mine.

While working inside the pit, he added, they wear protective gear and goggles.

Asked if he is not afraid to keep working in the coal mine after the accident, Allan quipped: "Naanad na mi. Mga bata pa mi ani (We are used to it. We have been miners since we were young)."

Sun.Star Cebu tried to interview Hermita, but her phone was off. (KAL/EOB/Sun.Star Cebu)