SP COMM CONDUCTS OCULAR INSPECTION IN A MINING COMPANY IN THE PROVINCE; ENSURES ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
By: Jiroh Joy D. Marbella, GPC-SP | Photos By: Jiroh Joy D. Marbella, GPC-SP | Date: August 19, 2021
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Committee on Environment, Energy, Human Ecology and Security conducted an ocular inspection at Holcim Mining and Development Corporation (HMDC), Quirino, Bacnotan, La Union on August 19, 2021 to check on the compliance of the company on environmental laws, regulations, and standards as well as inspect the company's social development and management programs.
The ocular inspection, which was conducted in aid of legislation, was headed by committee chairperson SPM Abraham P. Rimando, together with Ms. Annalyn R. Valdez, OIC – Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Ms. Jane T. Flores, Board Secretary V of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Office and several staff from the SP Secretariat and the Office of SPM Rimando.
Before the inspection proper, a brief presentation was conducted by Engr. Rome C. Akuking, Mining Operations Manager of HMDC La Union, discussed the company's policies and best practices, an overview of their daily operations, environmental and rehabilitation projects, and social development and management programs.
Some of the notable findings during the inspection of HMDC include: the maintenance of siltation ponds that catch silt to prevent waterway contaminations and oil spill protection; reforestation of decommissioned mining sites; development of an eco-trail on one of the reforested sites; the conduct of biodiversity assessment to determine the biodiversity baseline of the reforested areas; the usage of Quarry Scheduling Optimization (QSO) System, a software to determine the quality and volume requirements as set by clients; livelihood assistance projects to host barangays such as Sea Urchin and Seaweed cultivation projects in barangay Paraoir in Balaoan.
The Committee on Environment, Energy, Human Ecology and Security will likewise recommend including a provision mandating mining companies in the province to conduct their biodiversity study or maintain a biodiversity inventory to be included in the ongoing update of the Environmental Code of La Union.
