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Wednesday, June 14, 2006
DOE open to getting safety plan from Dalaguete firm
By Elias O. Baquero
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
The Department of Energy (DOE) cancelled the mining rights of Ibalong Resources and Development Corp. in Dalaguete, Cebu as a result of an accident that killed eight miners in December 2005.
But Undersecretary Guillermo Balce said that Ibalong Resources officials went to the DOE office in Manila yesterday after receiving the order and asked for reconsideration.
They were told to put their appeal in writing.
Balce said the cancellation was based on the recommendation of the investigating team that found some lapses in the mining operations, such as lack of ventilation, resulting in the dangerous level of methane gas inside the mine.
The eight miners were trapped inside a tunnel in Sitio Canlawilao, Bara-ngay Dumalan in the southern town after an explosion last Dec. 10, 2005.
Four other miners who tried to rescue their eight coworkers suffered from methane gas poisoning, but they survived.
It took rescuers two weeks to retrieve the last two bodies from the mine because they had difficulty locating the miners in the collapsed tunnel.
DOE investigators found that the explosion was caused by the accumulation of methane gas.
Investigators confirmed that Ibalong Resources committed some oversights. Only one tunnel served as both entrance and exit when the explosion happened.
There was another tunnel but it was under repair at that time.
In July last year, a miner was also killed and three of his companions were injured after a portion of a coal tunnel in the same barangay gave way.
Balce said the DOE may reconsider the order if Ibalong Resources will submit a program that will include preventive and safety measures in the coal mine.
The DOE will also look at the economic benefits it will bring to the municipality and community if the mining firm is allowed to continue operations.
“If the mining firm can assure us of safe mining operation, then DOE may revoke the order to cancel the mining rights of Ibalong Resource,” Balce said.
The mining firm used to employ 130 miners but Balce said only a few them are left to do maintenance work.
The mining area covers about 504 hectares bought by Ibalong Resources from the mining claim of Manguera Coal Mines.
Last month, Dumalan Barangay Captain Juanito Ybañez wrote to the DOE that the operation of Ibalong Resources must be resumed as its closure has affected the livelihood of his constituents.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 14, 2006 issue)
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