THE Benguet Corporation (BC) will be constructing a bridge near its abandoned mining patented claim area near an open pit in Sitio Luneta, Loacan-Antamok, Itogon.
The bridge, funded under the company’s Care and Maintenance Budget, is expected to be a 400 meter-long one-lane concrete bridge.
However, the corporation has not revealed the estimated cost of the bridge, only that it is funded for immediate construction.
The company is building the bridge above the open pit as residents of Sitio Luneta are cut off from access when the Antamok River floods the open pit during rainy weather. The bridge is also expected to increase ease of access to goods and services including medical services, as well as providing a safer route across the open pit.
The construction of the bridge is also set to be undertaken by the local community to generate jobs in the area for the resident community.
The area is a patented mining claim of BC, and its mining operation was suspended and abandoned mainly due to low grade of metals and uncompetitive metal prices during the late 90s.
Currently, Benguet Corporation is awaiting the approved final mine decommissioning and rehabilitation of its Antamok open pit.
