Regards, Philippine court orders compensation for victims of historic Marcopper mining disaster
A Philippine court has ordered a mining company to pay compensation to 30 people for its negligence after a 1993 dam burst, which was certainly one of the country’s worst mining disasters, environmentalists and industry representatives welcomed the ruling on Wednesday.
The case was brought in 2001 by residents of the island province of Marinduque, who sought compensation after a typhoon caused Marcopper Mining Corp’s Maguila-guila dam to burst, flooding nearby communities and destroying properties, crops and livelihoods.
The court in Marinduque ruled that the plaintiffs must be paid 300,000 pesos ($5,734) each plus a portion of 1 million pesos in exemplary damages, in accordance with a May 16 decision made available to the media this week.
The incident made mining a highly controversial issue in a rustic with vast, underdeveloped mineral deposits. The Philippines is currently the biggest supplier of nickel ore to the biggest metal buyers in China.
According to the court’s decision, Marcopper, which filed a grievance after the incident, denied liability and negligence in the upkeep and operation of the dam. It was not immediately clear who would pay the compensation.
Marcopper’s parent company, Placer Dome, was acquired by Canadian company Barrick Gold Corp in 2006, which absorbed its workforce and projects. Barrick didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment on the ruling.
Activists and industry groups say the incident highlights the importance of mining firms complying with regulations.
“This decision sends an encouraging signal to communities severely affected by mining,” said the group Alyansa Tigil Mina (Stop Mining Alliance).
Office of Mines and Geosciences Director Wilfredo Moncano said the choice “reminds all mining firms of the necessity to strictly comply with environmental laws and regulations.”
Industry lobby group, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, said the incident “has turn out to be a relentless reminder to miners around the globe that the security of all stakeholders in host mining communities is of the utmost importance.”
