The loose earth was likely due to illegal activities in the mountain.
The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) said that the recent landslide in Agusan del Norte is likely due to illegal small-scale miners digging the side of Mt. Manhupaw, rather than solely blaming typhoon Amang for the soft soil.
Five miners died from a Sunday night landslide that buried a bunkhouse at the slope of the mountain.
“COMP believes that incidents like this can be avoided if SSM (small-scale mining) activities, including their safety practices and environmental performance, are closely monitored under the Minahang Bayan setup recognized by the government,” the business group said.
COMP went on to say that they should not be unduly blamed for this, as operations of big miners are starkly different.
“In the eyes of many, the largely illegal SSM operations with their safety and environmental problems are lumped together with the formal large-scale sector, which contributes to the poor image of the entire industry. These operations do not follow the same stringent safety and environment standards required of legitimate large-scale mining operators” the COMP added.