Benguet Corp. to donate landslide-hit mine site

MANILA, Philippines — Benguet Corp. is willing to donate to the government at least 80 hectares of its Antamok mine site as Minahang Bayan or community mine for small-scale miners.

“We decided that we will give up our claim and donate it to the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) as a Minahang Bayan,” Reynaldo Mendoza, Benguet Corp. public affairs and legal service senior vice president, told a press briefing on the sidelines of the Mining Philippines International Conference and Exhibition.

“If the area would be converted into a Minahang Bayan, all other small-scale miners in... Benguet will be transferred there.... The government can step in to regulate and control their activities,” Mendoza said.

Benguet Corp. maintained that it should not be held liable for the landslide that killed dozens of miners and their families, saying it never allowed small-scale miners to operate in the area.

”We did not want to abandon the Antamok claims because the remaining resource potential is still very big. We are still hoping to resume our activities, but we saw we can no longer do anything to remove the miners. We have no choice but to give it up,” Mendoza said.

He said they have communicated with the DENR on the declaration of the area as a Minahang Bayan.

Benguet Corp. decided to temporarily stop operating in Antamok in 1991 after the price of gold dropped.

On the possible actions to be taken against the government against Benguet Corp. in connection with the tragedy, Mendoza said they should be given a chance to explain their side.

”We can very well explain our side... After all, they know what we have done in the past in trying to warn these people and dissuade them from entering the mine,” he said.