An independent investigation team was formed by green groups to look into the possible environmental and socio-economic impacts of the series of dam failures of Philex Mining Corp.’s Padcal Mines in Itogon, Benguet province.

The Environmental investigation Mission (EIM) convened by Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment (PNE) is set to conduct a series of fact-finding missions that will document the impacts of the tailings spills to the nearby communities and ecosystems.

“We will probe further by conducting silt and water samplings and an assessment of bio-indicators to check for the extent of the siltation’s disruption of ecological functions and for possible toxic contamination,” said Clemente Bautista, National coordinator of Kalikasan-PNE.

There were at least five dam failures from Philex’s Tailings Pond 3 from August 1 to September 13 that spilled an estimate of 20.7 million metric tons of mine tailings from Balog River to Agno River.

EIM is composed of environmental scientists, disaster experts, indigenous people’s leaders and community activists that will obtain samples from both the upstream and downstream areas of the affected rivers.

According to the group, toxic substances from the spills can further harm fishes and other organisms. It can later lead to fish kills and can contaminate human consumption.

“Preliminary secondary research shows that xanthates and frothers—the reagents used for extraction that will most likely be found in the tailings—are found to be strong fish poisons and may also lead to heavy metal accumulation in fish species,” Bautista said.

According to the group, the findings will be used as a basis of legal actions against Philex Mining and also the creation of a more sustainable mining law.

“Hopefully, the study will compel our nation’s leaders to strive for a new mining policy that will better regulate the environmental and economic impacts of irresponsible mining,” he said.