2 miners drown in Camarines Norte

LEGAZPI CITY ,Philippines  – Two miners drowned in Barangay Palanas in Paracale town in Camarines Norte Sunday morning after sea water seeped through the mining pit they were digging , police said.

Superintendent Renato Bataller, Philippine National Police spokesperson for Bicol, identified the victims as Christian Ahiler and a certain Bodo Villlanueva.

Bataller said the two small-scale miners were digging a hole in Purok Maligaya at around 5 a.m. when sea water covered the pit.

Small-scale mining operation is rampant in Paracale town.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional executive director Joselin Marcus Fragada has urged local officials in Paracale to observe the geohazard map of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, which has identified the danger areas in the region, especially small-scale mining areas, which are highly susceptible to flooding and landslides.

“The (local government units) can prevent casualties if they consider the geohazard map in their disaster risk reduction plan,” Fragada said.

He also said the DENR is pushing for the amendment of the small- scale mining law to control the issuance of permits to small-scale mining operators.