Itogon, Benguet – Mayor Victorio Palangadan of Itogon lifted the order on the cessation of mining operations within his jurisdiction this November 6, 2020 through Executive Order No. 21 Series of 2020 which made way for the resumption of the operations of Benguet Corporation, Philex Mining Corporation and Itogon-Suyoc Resources Incorporated.
The executive order said that the decision was made after considering the livelihood and source of income of the workers which will further be heavily affected if the stoppage of mining operation continues.
It can be recalled that Palangdan ordered the cessation of the operations of the said mining companies in November 4 after a surge of Covid-19 cases involving miners happened in the municipality.
Meantime, it was assured that strict compliance with health standards at maximum level shall be observed at the mining sites.
As stated in the order, the three mining companies reported that they are now implementing measures in their workplaces in compliance with the Omnibus Guidelines on Community Quarantine mandated by the National Inter-Agency Task Force.
Some of the measures being done include the establishment of temporary treatment and monitoring facilities for those who yielded positive result and with the presence of medical doctors such as doctors, nurses, and attendants. Necessary protocols are also implemented in their sites. Further reported by the mining companies is that swab testing and contact tracing within their mine sites is still ongoing.
The sudden surge of confirmed Covid cases was recorded in the municipality particularly in Barangays Virac, Poblacion and Ampucao. The three barangays recorded a total of 425 confirmed cases as of November 3.
Said cases most of it if not all, after surveillance of the Municipal Health Office of Itogon, were found out to be coming from the three aforementioned mining sites.
Meanwhile, certain individuals from Kalinga affected by lockdown impositions in the area asked for help from local government officials in the province through the use of social media.
Mayor Jaedicke Dagadag of Tanudan and Mayor Sacrament Gumilab of Tinglayan were two of the officials who immediately responded to give aid to them.
On a social media post by the Executive Assistant of Mayor Dagadag, John Ryan Awingan said rice aid will be given to YTanudan families present in the area. Tinglayan Mayor during an interview also said that they will be supplying rice for their “kailyans”.
At present, some sitios in the aforementioned barangays; Poblacion (Suyo, Lucbuban) and Virac ( Timberyard, First Gate, Skyview, Anonang, police Station Area, PC Barracks, Upper Staff area of Camanggaan, Balatoc and parts of Acupan) are still under granular lockdown.
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