Semirara residents air fears on mine closureVillagers in Semirara, Antique, are alarmed by what they believe is the impending closure of the coal mine in the island. NO TO MINE SHUTDOWN – Residents of Semirara hold up placards appealing to DENR Secretary Gina Lopez not to shut down the coal mine in the island. Lopez has criticized SMPC after Semirara residents complained that the firm was flouting environmental rules. The state-owned Semirara Coal Corporation (SCC) ran the coal mine until 1997, when DMCI Holdings took over. DMCI later renamed the firm SMPC, which was granted a government contract to mine coal from Semirara until July 2027.

Source: Manila Bulletin September 01, 2016 14:15 UTC