Mine firm says rehab ongoing

A recent aerial photo of CMDC’s mining site shows cleaner waters as the firm undertakes a massive rehabilitation program. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

One of the mining firms in the cross hair of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has been spending the last four years trying to meet the DENR’s standards in the hope of reopening its mine in Surigao del Sur province.

Cesar Detera, president of Claver Mineral Development Corp. (CMDC), said in a statement that CMDC had already informed the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), an agency under the DENR, about a massive rehabilitation program that would make the CMDC mine in Surigao del Sur pass DENR standard.

“One of the conditions we have set is to ensure that the area is thoroughly cleaned up to reverse any damage caused in the past, especially when the site was untended for almost four years,” Detera said.

Detera also said the cause of pollution in 2012, a diking system, had already been removed. —JAYMEE T. GAMIL