DOE-7 completes mine accident probe

CEBU, Philippines - The investigating team of the Department of Energy-7 completed its investigation into the collapse of a coal mine in Barangay Dunga, Danao City.

Engr. Eduardo Amante, DOE-7 chief of the Energy Resources Development and Utilization Division, said the suspension of the operation of SKI Energy Resources Inc. (SERI) would stay even up to one year.

“Depending on how fast they will comply with our requirements and how fast they will provide us the documents, possible six months to one year ma suspend ang ilang operations,” said Amante.

Amante, who heads the investigating team, said they have already interviewed the survivors of the accident but refused to divulge their findings.

“All of the four investigating team has still to deliberate all our findings,” he said.

On Sunday, the DOE-7 suspended SERI’s operation after one of its miners died when the mine’s roof collapsed on Saturday.

Amante said that based on their experience from similar incidents, suspension of operations normally last even longer than one year.

DOE-7 regional director Antonio Labios said that based on their records, this is the first time that SERI encountered such accident.

SERI has been operating for the past five years.

The Cebu provincial government earlier said that it will also look into the possible environmental violations committed by the company.  (FREEMAN)