BAGUIO CITY, May 8 (PNA) –- Philex Mining Corporation has complied with Administrative Order 2015-07 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) mandating large scale mining companies to secure international certifications proving their compliance with international standards on environmental protection and work safety.
In a press statement issued May 7, Philex chief executive officer and president Eulalio Austin Jr. revealed that the company has obtained a certification for its Integrated Management System (IMS) which affirms the mine firm’s successful programs on protecting the environment and work safety.
“With this certification, we have emphasized our care for the environment and the safety of our people,” Austin Jr. said, adding, “environmental awareness and looking after the safety of workers are the trademarks of a responsible miner.”
The IMS Certification, was granted by TÜVRheinland, a technical-services provider with headquarters in Germany and has presence in 65 countries and 36 business fields.
The certification covers Philex’s environmental management system and safety management.
Noel Tan, head of IMS at Philex Mining’s Padcal mine, said the company’s IMS Certification consists of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001:2004 and the OHSAS 18001:2007.
The safety management includes operations in mining, milling, and tailings storage facilities, Tan added.
With this certification, he stressed, Padcal mine is now compliant to Administrative Order No. 2015-07, issued recently by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, mandating large-scale mining companies to secure ISO 14001 Certification.
According to the TÜVRheinland, ISO 14001:2004 is a “systematic approach” for the improvement of performance in environmental protection while OHSAS 18001:2007 is “a recognized standard for the internal and external assessment of Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Management Systems”. (PNA)