Palace wants stricter enforcement of rules vs mining after landslide

Following a landslide that killed at least three miners in Compostela Valley last Friday, Malacañang ordered all concerned agencies Sunday to strictly enforce regulations on mining. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said regulations, including bans on mining in some areas, should be strictly followed to prevent a repeat of Friday’s tragedy. "Since we assumed office, we are aware that regulations are all there. What we need is stricter enforcement to prevent a repeat of what happened," she said on government-run dzRB radio. At least three miners were killed while 19 remain missing in the wake of a landslide that buried a mining community in Pantukan town. While the area had been declared off-limits to small-scale mining, Pantukan mayor Celso Sarenas admitted local residents had defied his efforts to get them out of the area. “Sabihin mo kay mayor bigyan niya kami ng trabaho (Tell the mayor to give us livelihood)," Sarenas, in an interview on dzBB radio, recalled many of the residents telling members of the team he organzied to convince the small miners to leave the area. Meanwhile, Valte said the Palace’s main concern now is the ongoing search-and-rescue operations for at least 19 miners still trapped under the rubble. She said President Benigno Aquino III had ordered Environment Secretary Ramon Paje to lead the rescue efforts. “Our concern now is on search and rescue efforts," she said. — LBG, GMA News