Miners receive aid, will not press charges

The families of the miners who died and those  injured following the collapse of a roof shaft in a mining site in barangay Dungga, Danao City received assistance from the mining company that contracted their services.

Among them was Joselito Landero, the 42-year-old father of 22-year-old miner Melvin Landero who died in the mine collapse.

“They (Ski Energy Resources Inc. representatives) personally came to our house to settle their obligations,” he said.
Landero said his wife signed the agreement on the settlement.

“What’s important is that they answer their obligations and what’s more my son is already buried,” he said.

Joselito Landero (on photo )and miner Robin Balabago share their stories of the tragedy that struck them when the mine collapsed last March 1.

No plans

Landero said SERI and its subcontractor Virlo Construction Development Corp.  extended financial aid to them and added that  his family has no plans to file charges against them.
Melvin, the eldest son of the Landero couple’s five children, was the breadwinner along with his mother, a public school teacher.

“He gave allowances to his siblings and he would help cover fiesta expenses,” Landero said.

“When he asked permission that he wanted to work in the mining site, I was even thinking not to allow him because he had a bad  experience before but then I relented and  allowed him to work,” he said.

Melvin was also a miner in one of the mining sites in Barangay Cahumayan.

Robin Balabago

Alive

The Landero family also received assistance from the barangay officials.

Another miner, 25-year-old Robin Malabago Jr., also said he won’t file a suit against the company.

He said he was offered a job in Cordova. “I don’t want to work in the mine anymore. My experience was traumatic,” he said.

“Dili nalang namo padak-on ang gubot ang importante nga nabuhi ko karon (We don’t want to blow up the incident. What’s important is we are alive,” Malabago said.

Other victims who were brought to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) were Isidro Bacang, 22, of Barangay Mantiha and Ramil Villanueva of Barangay Cahumayan.

Malabago, who sustained wounds on the left side of his chest and his right knee, said the miners are equipped with safety gear and had a lead man who identifies which areas are safe to work inside the mine.

“We used to be paid minimum every week but under the pakyaw system, we receive less,” he said.

The hospital bills of all three victims were paid by the company but Malabago said he didn’t receive any benefits.