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[av_heading heading=’DENR inspects Semirara coal mine for ‘violations’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – Coal-rich Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique was subjected to an unannounced inspection by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) following televised complaints against the Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC).
SMPC, the country’s largest coal producer, was unfazed, however. It expressed confidence that its coal mining operation won’t be suspended.
A joint team from DENR Region 6’s Environmental Management Bureau and Mines and Geosciences Bureau checked the complaints that included, among others, alleged violation of SMPC’s Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), air and water pollution and unauthorized reclamation.
“Conducting inspections is part of our job. Pinaigting ko lang,” said DENR regional director Jim Sampulna. “Basta may possible problem inuunahan ko na.”
The inspection team was led by DENR assistant regional director Livino Duran. Neither he nor Sampulna gave a timetable when to release the inspection’s results.
Vince Malik, administrative manager of SMPC, welcomed Thursday last week’s unannounced inspection but stressed they were actually being audited regularly.
“We have a quarterly audit by a multipartite monitoring team, nire-review ang ECC conditionalities,” said Malik.
SMPC was evaluated just two months ago, December 2016, he revealed, and they were found to be compliant with all DENR requirements.
“We do not violate environmental laws or DENR requirements so unannounced inspections are welcome. Sila na mismo ang makapagsabi kung talagang nakapag-violate kami,” said Malik in a radio interview.
He dismissed as mere haka-haka (speculation) reports that SMPC’s coal-mining operations would be suspended.
“We are so happy after that (December 2016) audit. We formally requested from DENR the results. Compliant kami as stated in the report,” said Malik.
Last week, inspectors were also allowed to check SMPC’s livelihood projects for Semirara Island’s residents even if corporate social responsibility activities are not part of the ECC conditions, he revealed.
Malik denied they were dumping toxic wastes into to the sea.
“Wala tayong ginagamit na chemicals,” he stressed.
As to the alleged reclamation, Malik said, “First of all, kahit ang DENR hindi ma-identify saan ba ‘yung supposed reclaimed area. Sana meron sila exact area na sinasabi nilang reclamation area.”
During a meeting at the close of the inspection, Malik said, DENR inspectors noted backfilling but not reclamation.
“Kaya masasabi na mahihirapan seguro na i-suspend kami. Doing so will be contradictory to the results of the most recent audit,” said Malik.
It was the Save Antique Movement (SAM) that pushed for this most recent inspection that it actually considered long overdue.
The group raised several concerns against SMPC in August last year yet following the release of the results of the third quarter audit on the coal mine firm. It questioned the findings.
“We requested for a re-audit. Gin-schedule for Oct. 18 but it did not push through. It was rescheduled for the second week of November but nothing happened. Just this Jan. 8 we went to Manila to follow-up our request. What we really wanted was a review of SMPC’s ECC for possible violations,” said Bong Sanchez of SAM./PN
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