CANATUAN, Philippines, 20 August 2007 — Rumors that a mine tailings dam in Zamboanga del Norte province collapsed and was spreading toxic chemicals was not true, an inspection team of the provincial government has found.

“No dam has collapsed and there is no issue of toxic waste spill at all,” said Board Member Felixberto Bolando, provincial environment committee chairman, who headed the four-member panel that inspected the gold mine site of the TVI Resource Development Inc. in Siocon town’s Canatuan mountain.

Anti-mining activists earlier spread news that TVI’s sulfide dam, one of two tailings impoundment dam built by the Canadian-owned company, collapsed after days of heavy rains.

But as found by Bolando’s panel, the sulfide dam was not yet being used by the company.

Bolando said the rumors not only cost the provincial government unnecessary expenses but also had no legal basis since no one among those who complained had signed an affidavit to back up their claims. “We urge those who have other complaints to properly file your affidavits and have them duly notarized before submitting them to us,” he said.

Rocky Dimaculangan, TVIRD’s public affairs chief, told reporters that red soil washed into to the rivers may have been mistaken for a toxic chemical spill.

“Soil has washed away by heavy rains and it is common in the area. There is no truth to the reports that one of our dams had collapsed because we have one of the safest structures that can withstand even a magnitude-8.5 earthquake.”

“We follow a strict environment safety compliance that is of world-class standard and our area is being inspected regularly by government officials,” he said.

Bolando inspected the site together with three other officials — Aniceto Darunday, Edgar Baguio and Cedric Adriatico on Saturday and later presided over a public hearing in the town’s Jose Rizal Memorial College.

Darunday said they were satisfied with the ocular inspection and that the public hearing was in aid of legislation. “We have to really listen to all sides here and find out the truth,” he said.

Jay Nelson, TVIRD vice president for environment and civil works, and Magi Bagayao, the firm’s Canatuan general manager, demonstrated to the provincial officials the structural integrity of both the gossan dam, currently being used to impound gold and silver tailings, as well as the sulfide dam now being constructed to contain tailings of copper and zinc concentrates that TVIRD will produce next year.

“The design criteria used for both dams were based on Philippine standards and regulations as well as various operations and engineering criteria used in North America, and in fact the detailed design and construction supervision have been provided by top international firms,” Nelson said.

Bagayao sought to disprove rumors that there were secret outlets or undeclared exits in the gossan dam intended to be used during heavy rainfall to prevent the overflowing of waste tailings or the collapse of the dam.

“These persistent rumors are just silly,” Bagayao told reporters.