Filtered By: Topstories
News

DILG eyes blasting of unsafe mining tunnels


Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said on Monday authorities are considering the blasting of hazardous mining tunnels after a deadly landslide that buried a mining community in Compostela Valley on Good Friday. Robredo said this was one of the measures he and local government authorities have agreed upon over the weekend. Robredo said the measures they are considering include helping residents near mining areas in their livelihood needs. “Dito ang hamon, paano matulungan para magkaroon ng lakas para mag-enforce," he said. On Monday, authorities began a “forced evacuation" of endangered areas near the tragedy site. “Tingnan natin ang environmental issues, i-blasting ang tunnel na dapat sarhan na. Ito ang mungkahi ni Mayor Sarenas, pero kailangan permiso ni Secretary Paje," Robredo said in an interview on dzRH radio. “Sabi ni mayor kahapon mas mainam i-blast na ang mga tunnel pero tingnan natin kung di kailangan gawin yan. Subali’t ang usapin kahapon ang kabilang bahagi ng lugar na gumuho forced evacuation yan effective today," he added. He said safety measures are being mulled as some small-scale miners continue to defy the government’s ban on mining in areas deemed dangerous by the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). “Pakiusap natin ito ginagawa natin para sa kanila, primary interest natin muna ang buhay bago kabuhayan. Ang kabuhayan tutulungan sila. Kaya ang mga lugar na dapat lumikas nakikiusap tayo lumikas. Kung di sila lumikas pwersahan silang aalisin," he said. “Una ituturo ng MGB alin ang lugar na sinasabing dapat lumikas na, at ito ie-enforce. At ang lugar na sinasabing maaring magmina inspeksyunin ang tunnel na safe. Pangatlo, ito napagkasunduan pa sisikapin walang titira sa lugar na pinagmiminahan," he said. “Kailangan mas organisadong effort kasama barangay habang walang minero di sinasamantala ang absence nila," he added. On Good Friday last week, a landslide buried a mining community in Pantukan town in Compostela Valley. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said at least five had been killed as of 8:00 a.m. on Monday. Robredo said many of the casualties in the mining accident on Good Friday included people from outside Compostela Valley, including Bukidnon, Samal Island and even the Visayas. - VVP, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT