Semirara loses Int’l certification after mine site accident

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s largest coal miner temporarily loses its international certification for management system after the deadly accident in its Panian mine in Semirara Island, Antique.

Semirara Mining and Power Corp. disclosed yesterday it has received a letter from Certification International Philippines Inc. (CIPI) suspending its Integrated Management System (IMS).

The IMS certification is given to facilities that adhere to standards on safety, health, quality, and environmental management. 

It integrates the Environmental Management System (ISO 14001:2004), Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2008S) and Occupational Health and Safety Management System (18001:2007).

Semirara said the more is in view of the suspension of its Environmental Compliance Certificate and the ongoing investigation by the Department of Energy (DOE) on the accident in Panian mine last July 17.

The landslide in the open-pit mine buried nine coal mine workers.

In its letter to Semirara, CIPI said the suspension of the ISO certificates will be reinstated when the DOE and Environment Management Bureau (EMB) lift their respective suspension orders, and the “on-site audit verification by CIPI of the company’s completion and implementation of corrections and corrective actions under its IMS.”

Immediately after the incident, the DOE suspended Semirara’s mining operations and ordered the company to stop coal export shipments to prioritize domestic coal requirements.

The EMB also issued a cease-and-desist order against Semirara until it addresses safety issues in its open-pit mine.