Paje commends miners, PMSEA for rehab help in disaster areas

By Redjie Melvic Cawis

BAGUIO CITY -- Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje conveyed gratitude to the mining sector for their help in disaster- affected areas in the country.

During the opening night of the recent 60th annual mine safety and environment conference in the city, Paje thanked the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association(PMSEA) and  its member companies and corporation in the mining industry for the help and support they extended during disasters and calamities in the country.

“From the bottom of our hearts in the government, we convey to you gratitude to the PMSEA  in almost all the rehabilitation efforts from the time of the Sendong to Pablo, the earthquake in Bohol and now at the typhoon Yolanda affected communities,” said Paje .

The PMSEA is the single biggest association helping us in addressing the disaster in Tacloban and other parts of Visayas, he said.

Paje said he was in Tacloban recently when he received more than 30 heavy equipment  from the different mining companies in the country. “These are now cleaning Tacloban, now helping in delivering relief goods and helping in loading debris left by Typhoon Yolanda in Visayas”

The group  not only provided  equipment  but  operators of the heavy equipment including full tank fuel and another tanker of fuel for the disaster rehabilitation operation.

Meanwhile, PMSEA president engineer Louie Sarmiento said the Philippine mining industry sees its essential role in the massive reconstruction in areas severely devastated by Yolanda.

He said their role in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of typhoon-devastated Leyte province and nearby areas in the Visayas will be very important.

Sarmiento, who led the more than 700 members of the PMSEA and the mining industry to this mountain resort , said the industry sees the devastation as an opportunity to prove that the industry  can play a vital role in national reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Aside from relief efforts, the mining industry is also helping in search and retrieval operations in the typhoon-hit areas in the Visayas.

The PMSEA together with Global Medic is bringing in three sets of water purifying machines capable of producing 24,000 liters of clean water a day.

"Miners from Philex Mines Corporation, OceanaGold, Miners Association of the Philippines, Regoron, Teresa Marble, Global Medic, 505th Auxiliary and Wilderness Search and Rescue were already sent to Tacloban," he said.