Riverbend Consolidated Mining Corporation and its operator Arc Nickel Resources Inc. (ANRI) said they enhanced their environmental control systems in Davao Oriental to prevent siltation incidents from occurring.
In a report by the Manila Standard, Riverbend and ANRI said they constructed 13 additional settling ponds, have begun building two mega-dams, and installed silt curtains in strategic locations in the province.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) halted the two firms’ operation in January following the siltation and discoloration of the Pintatagan and Maputi Rivers in Banaybanay town, which has been blamed on the mining firms’ activities. Riverbend and ANRI were also ordered to enhance their environment control systems following the siltation incident.
ANRI President and CEO Josue Lapitan said that it immediately implemented measures to address the discoloration of the affected rivers. He added that there is significant progress in the cleanup and rehabilitation efforts and that similar incidents won’t be occurring again.
DENR representatives visited the site to monitor the ongoing cleanup and construction of the new facilities that will improve the mining site’s capacity to handle exceptional rainfall volume.
Lapitan has expressed his apologies to the affected communities, assuring them that their welfare is “of utmost importance.”
