Philex Mining: No jobs lost in closure of its mining site

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Philex Mining Corp. has clarified that there will be no lost jobs with the temporary closure of one of its mining sites in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.

With the temporary closure of its Bulog Project, after the site was attacked by suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) last month, only the exploration and drilling activities have been suspended, marketing and communications officer Rochelle Hilario told The Freeman yesterday.

"No impact on current headcount. Environmental programs and community projects for health, education, and livelihood continue," Hilario said, emphasizing that no employee will lost his job at the mining firm.

Philex's assurance came after Sipalay Mayor Oscar Montilla told the local media last Monday that about 100 Negrenses stand to lose their jobs with the temporary closure of one of the sites of Philex in Sipalay.

In a press conference in Makati over the weekend, Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman and chief executive officers of Philex Gold Phils., announced that Philex has temporarily stopped its mining operations in Sipalay City after its site was raided by suspected members of New People's Army (NPA) last month.

Yesterday, Philex also clarified that it was its Bulog Project, not the Bulawan (Gold) Project, that was temporarily closed due to the NPA attacks.

Philex Mining Corp. president and CEO Eulalio Austin Jr. wrote the Philippine Stock Exchange last June 18 that  only the exploration in the firm's Bulog Project at Brgy. Camindangan was temporarily suspended and not the Bulawan Project, 15 kilometers west of the former, which "has long ceased operations and is currently on care and maintenance."

Hilario added that the Bulawan mine operations had been put on hold since June 2002 due to unfavorable market prices for gold. Philex Mining Corp. encompasses barangays Nabulao and Camindangan in Sipalay.

"Philex Mining has reinforced security measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding community while employees assigned at the Omas exploration site had been pulled out for safety and security," the company said.

"While still onsite to monitor the mine facilities and ponds' stability, Philex Mining continues to explore within the tenement for feasible ore resources. Environmental activities continue, including reforestation, solid waste management and establishment of Robusta coffee plantation with the support of its host and neighboring communities," the company added.  (FREEMAN)