• Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business & Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • OFW | Migration
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science and Technology
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Health
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us
HERALD EXPRESS | News in Cordillera and Northern Luzon
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business & Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • OFW | Migration
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science and Technology
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Health
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business & Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • OFW | Migration
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science and Technology
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Health
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
HERALD EXPRESS | News in Cordillera and Northern Luzon
No Result
View All Result
Home Tourism, travel and Events

Philex assures integrity of tailings pond 3

Hent by Hent
July 27, 2017
in Tourism, travel and Events
2
0
Philex assures integrity of tailings pond 3
1
SHARES
9
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

TUBA, Benguet – Philex Mining Corp. has assured Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu on the integrity of its Tailings Storage Facility No. 3 (TSF) at the company’s Padcal mine, in this province, as well as the continuation of its programs on environmental protection upon the instruction of the Cabinet official, who came over Wednesday afternoon in a surprise visit.

“We can assure you, Mr. Secretary, that our tailings pond can handle the volume of rainwater more than what the worst typhoons had caused,” Eulalio Austin, Jr., CEO and president of Philex Mining, said during a presentation at the Philex Guest House, in this town’s Sitio Padcal, Brgy. Camp 3. He also said the tailings pond could withstand earthquakes equivalent to the strongest that have hit the country.

Cimatu, who arrived July 19 with a 25-man entourage at Padcal mine, the company’s gold-and-copper operations hosted by the Benguet towns of Tuba and Itogon, pressed Austin and other Philex Mining officials on the ability and reliability of TSF3 and its accompanying structures to withstand flooding and earthquake, bearing in mind the 2012 accident following two typhoons.

Philex Mining SVP and Padcal Resident Manager Manuel Agcaoili said TSF3’s open spillway, which has replaced its underground drainage system since August 2013, was built with embankment-design parameters based on ANCOLD and ICOLD guidelines and could, therefore, handle the amount of rainwater more than what Typhoons Ondoy (2009) as well as Ferdie and Gener (2012) had caused.

The Aussie apolitical industry body ANCOLD, or Australian National Committee on Large Dams, and the ICOLD, or International Commission on Large Dams, a European NGO founded in Paris, provide guidelines in the building of dams that are safe, economical, and environmentally and socially sustainable. These are vital to achieving excellence for all aspects of dam engineering, management, and related issues.

While at TSF 3, in Itogon’s Sitio Balog, Brgy. Ampucao, which is an hour drive from the Padcal mine offices, Cimatu acknowleged the efforts that Philex Mining has been exerting to further improve its facilities, particularly the ongoing improvement of the open spillway, through which nontoxic water passes from the tailings pond and onto the Balog Creek, a tributary to the Agno River.

“You can continue what you are doing to protect the environment, ensuring no community will be affected in case a disaster strikes again,” he said.

Assuring him of the company’s adherence to its obligations, Austin said, Padcal mine and Philex Mining have been consistent in the implementation of the various programs on community development, nation-building, and environmental protection. He also stressed Philex Mining has been known as the “poster-boy” of responsible mining in the country.

On Aug. 1, 2012, Philex Mining suspended operations voluntarily as nontoxic tails and water discharged from the TSF3 and onto the Balog Creek, following historically unprecedented rains brought about by Ferdie and Gener, which hit Benguet successively. It resumed production only starting from March 8, 2013 based on a four-month temporary lifting order issued by government and which was extended indefinitely afterwards. The formal resumption of operations started from Aug. 27, 2013.

The government allowed Philex Mining to resume operations after the company implemented urgent remediation measures, such as providing immediate assistance to the affected residents, cleaning up the Balog Creek, and ensuring the integrity of its TSF3 by building an open spillway.

It also paid P188.6 million as environmental obligation to the Pollution and Adjudication Board (PAB), in relation to Republic Act 9275, otherwise known as the Clean Water Act, on June 5, 2013, and P1.034 billion to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), on Feb. 18, 2013, as fees over the accidental discharge of sediment.

Having three chutes, each measuring 12 meters wide and 300 meters long, the open spillway can channel up to 1,500 millimeters (mm) of rain over 24 hours, or more than thrice the 455 mm of rain that Ondoy dumped over a 24-hour period.

Government regulations say an open spillway must be able to withstand a flood event having an unusual rainfall with a 1-percent chance of occurring at any given time. With the TSF3 and its open spillway, this unusual rainfall would be equivalent to 1,000 mm in 24 hours.

By HENT

Previous Post

EMB-CAR travels to Apayao for mid-year assessment

Next Post

Global Warming

Next Post
Safety of Nuclear Power Reactors

Global Warming

ADVERTISEMENT

Recent News

UnionBank, GMG Productions bring Tony award-winning musical 

UnionBank, GMG Productions bring Tony award-winning musical 

June 19, 2025
Increased production in rice through drone use observed by Kalinga farmers 

Increased production in rice through drone use observed by Kalinga farmers 

June 19, 2025
BENECO Unveils New Mobile App for Enhanced Consumer Services

BENECO Unveils New Mobile App for Enhanced Consumer Services

June 19, 2025
DSWD-SWAD shares its core programs, services for 2025

DSWD-SWAD shares its core programs, services for 2025

June 19, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
HERALD EXPRESS | News in Cordillera and Northern Luzon

Herald Express is a news organization based in Baguio City that has a weekly publication and an online news portal. The newspaper is circulated in the different provinces of Northern Luzon. The name of the fastest-growing publication in town is coined from the word ‘quick messenger’ which is self-explanatory.

Follow Us

Search

No Result
View All Result

© 2024 Baguio Herald Express | Website Design and Development by Neitiviti Studios

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Headlines
  • City/Region News
    • Baguio City
    • CAR
    • Nation
  • Sectoral news
    • Elections
      • Elections – 2022
      • Elections – 2019
    • Agriculture, Fishery and Pets
    • Business & Livelihood
    • Education, Arts & Culture
    • OFW | Migration
    • Environment and Disaster Management
    • Science and Technology
    • Tourism, travel and Events
    • Other Lifestyle
    • Police Beat
  • Health
    • Covid-19 Advisory and Updates
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Timek Ti Umili
  • Sports
  • Other sections
    • Features
    • Photos/Videos
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Words for reflection
    • Sponsored articles
    • Jobs in Baguio
    • Elections
  • Ads & Notices
    • Obituaries
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Directory
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Contact Us

© 2024 Baguio Herald Express | Website Design and Development by Neitiviti Studios