Ma. Isabel Ongpin
IT is very distressing to get news every few weeks that small scale miners have died in Itogon, Benguet province. This week two have died and in the past six months I estimate at least eight have died. This area seems to have widespread small-scale mining activities and regularly reports deaths from them. Despite these repeated fatalities, there seems to be no follow-up on how to prevent them. It shows that there are no regulations being implemented regarding safety. In this vein, it makes one wonder if there are any death benefits given in the aftermath of such tragedy.