Security remains a problem of mining companies

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY – Security is one of the main concerns that until now mining companies operating in Eastern Visayas are trying to address to ensure the safety of their personnel and their machineries.

Vicente Lao, president of Mount Sinai Mining Exploration and Development Corporation, said before the start of their operations, the security of the place is one of the main considerations they are looking into.

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Although it is inevitable that incidents may happen inside the area of their operation, Lao said that operations must push through.

Just recently, Lao revealed that a security guard of their mining plant in the municipality of General Macarthur in Eastern Samar was shot.

General Macarthur is one of the two areas in Eastern Samar where Mount Sinai is operating. The other is in the island of Homonhon in the municipality of Guiuan.

“These things are to be faced by us as one of the problem in our operation, but this must not stop us from operating,” said Lao.

“We treat it as a threat but we must look forward,” Lao added.

To recall, in the operation of a mining firm in Manicani island one of their mining engineer was killed in some anti-mining activities a few years ago.

October of last year, an incident in a mining company had triggered for the National Government to order for the tightening of security to mining firms.

About 200 members of New People’s Army raided Taganito Mining Corporation, its affiliate Taganito HPAL Mining Corporation and Platinum Metals Group at in Claver town in Surigao del Norte.

The communists group burned down heavy equipments, disarmed their security personnel and held down some of their personnel. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)