DENR suspends Semirara mining operations over death of miners

The collapse of an open pit mine in Semirara Mining Corp operations in Caluya, Antique in July 17 has caused death of nine coal miners. The government responded with the issuance of a cease-and-desist order (CDO) by the DENR Regional 6 office four days after the Department of Energy issued its CDO on the day of the tragic event.

The DENR wants the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) of the mining operation be reviewed to ensure that it is still appropriate to the current physical condition of the area. Imposing additional safeguards is also an option the government body is looking at. The provincial government has fielded a risk and disaster management officer to determine if there was neglect on the part of the company which is a unit of DMCI Holdings, Inc.

The continuous rains have caused the softening of the mining pit’s sides, reports said. A similar incident happened in February 2013 causing the death of 5 coal miners. Semirara is the largest coal miner in the Philippines.