Benguet readies contingency amid mining closure

THE closure and suspension of mining companies in Benguet may soon leave thousands of miners jobless.

But Representative Ronald Cosalan said only a few will be affected by the pending closure of Benguet Corporation and suspension of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation as most of them are not from the province.

"Who are the miners here? They are not from this place, they are outsiders," he said.

Cosalan said the province will be ready to help employ miners who are from Benguet who will be affected by the closure.

“We will have livelihood, eco-tourism, which is more viable. Rather than working hard in the mining industry and are under threat of being retrenched anytime,” added the solon who is a member of the Committee on Labor said.

Meanwhile, Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso said while they are still awaiting the order from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the province has set in place mitigating measures to help those who will be affected by the mine closure.

"We had experienced that before. This is not the first time that a mining firm closes and with that, we've foreseen what they'll need," Pacalso said.

Assistance is on standby, according to Pacalso adding the province can provide food relief for affected workers while some livelihood packages are also being prepared.

Pacalso added they will be tapping all the sectors in the province to provide possible employment for mine workers who will be displaced.

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