Miningforum in Zambo City inspires companies to address challenges as a group

The mining industry has been touted to lead the Philippines’ economic turnaround story. The industry’s revival – spurred by a resurgence in metal prices, a clearer legal framework, and the national government’s support – however, is oftentimes stalled by roadblocks laid by some skeptics in civil society and in local government units still wary of the industry’s tainted past.

Concerned about these roadblocks and aware of the concerns against their industry, mining companies in Mindanao have closed ranks and organized themselves into a group that seeks to help the Philippine government solve the economic problems, particularly in the countryside, in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner. The group, called the Coalition for Responsible Mining in Mindanao (COREMIN2), was formed following a three-day mining forum organizedby the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Regional Mining Development Council in Region IX, with the assistance of TVI ResourceDevelopment Philippines, Inc.’s (TVIRD) Community Relations and Development Office (CReDO).

COREMIN2, composed mostly of mining firms in the Zamboanga Peninsula such as TVIRD, includes members from South Cotabato like Sagittarius Mines, Inc., and Lanao del Norte, represented by Holcim Philippines, Inc.   The other members of the Coalition are PHILEX Mining, Ferrum 168, Linktone International Mining Corporation, and Industrial Sand and Gravel permit holders in the region represented by Thaddeus Montano, Pruelo Jalosjos, Rhiza Monteclaro, Maribeth Melendrez, and Elvira Tan.

In his forum remarks read by MGB Assistant Director Edwin Domingo, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Joselito Atienza explained that the government’s decision to promote mining “is anchored on the recognition that done in a responsible manner, mining has shown that it can contribute both for sustained economic development and poverty reduction in the countryside.”

To prove his point, Domingo reported that, to date, “more than P500 million worth of projects have been implemented or committed by mining companies for livelihood, educational, and health programs in more than 500 barangays in the country.”   He added that indigenous peoples hosting mining operations, meanwhile, have received almost P1 billion in royalty shares as mandated by the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

For her part, MGB Region IX Director Jessica Lucero put the challenges confronting both the mining companies and the government into perspective:  “Those of us who have been long in the industry know what the major challenges are,” she said. “These include promoting and sustaining the mineral industry while reaping the maximum benefits for the government and the people; percolation of the benefit steams of mining down to the grassroots; establishing a sound regulatory regime that would strengthen the role of the government as protector of the environment and the people; developing eco-friendly mining and geo-sciences technology; addressing concerns for indigenous peoples; and ensuring transparency in decisions made pertaining to the industry. If I may add, we should tackle the bureaucratic red tape hounding the national and local government and provide a straightforward mineral investment policy.” 

Nelia Halcon, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines Executive Vice President, presented the national industry organization’s activities to promote responsible mining, including the drafting of a Corporate Social Responsibility Guidebook that will soon be launched to provide mining companies a standard framework in their development initiatives in host and impact communities.  

“While mining is said to be the next growth driver for the economy, the driver is still faced with many, albeit surmountable, challenges that need to be addressed not by one company alone, but by the industry as a whole, in partnership with its many stakeholders,” said Rocky Dimaculangan, TVIRD Director for Public Affairs and COREMIN2 Interim Chairman.  “Together we stand a better chance to do more, to have a more positive impact, to overcome greater challenges, to be heard, to be understood, and to be accepted.  We will tackle these challenges one by one, aware that we should not bite more than we can chew but confident of what we can do as a team.”  

Jose Dagala, TVIRD CReDO Information, Education and Communication Officer, said the forum was a “resounding success, judging from the participation levels and the enthusiasm demonstrated by the participants.”  He added that the Coalition that was inspired by the forum “will be the vanguard of responsible mining in the region and will serve as a support system among mining companies in Mindanao.”

Elvira Tan, Interim COREMIN2 Secretary and Regional Governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the Coalition “is just the beginning of our campaign to police our ranks of unscrupulous companies who are unmindful of the impact of their businesses to our environment and people.  We commit to really do what responsible miners ought to do to give the industry a new face and change the negative image of the industry as a result of the wrongdoings by a few mining companies in the past.”

“This commitment was exemplified by the case presentations made by mining company-participants who showcased best practices and innovations in the areas of social development, environmental protection, and operational excellence,”  Dagala pointed out.

“In many instances, mining companies become the surrogate of the government in the delivery of basic services to communities,” he averred. “In our case, for instance, we have a community health clinic which provides free medical services and medicines 24/7 not only to employees, but to the host and even to the surrounding communities as well.  TVIRD also provides scholarships to children of our Subanon and non-Subanon hosts, as well as support for government schools in the form of classrooms, computers, among others.”  

Meanwhile, Mining Development Council Deputy Executive Director Clarence Baguilat encouraged the mining firm representatives to inform the public of the firms’ activities on the ground that support social development and environmental protection.  This, he said, will help promote greater understanding of the industry, including the improved technologies it has been using to ensure sustainable growth.  

Halcon built on Baguilat’s point: “To be able to get social acceptability and license, mining companies should inform and educate the public about how they conduct their mining operations; that they are operating according to the international best practices, but attuned to the intricacies and circumstances of the Philippine mining industry and the need for all stakeholders to come to a common ground.”

MGB’s Domingo agreed:  “Mining companies should always be transparent. Let their programs and projects for the people be known to the outside world through proper documentation. These would undoubtedly promote social acceptability.” 

Regino Tumangkis, a youth leader in the indigenous community of Canatuan where TVIRD operates a copper-zinc mine, expressed his support for Domingo’s advice.  “People who are well-informed are the easiest people to deal with,” Tumangkis said.  “This is true to us Subanons of Canatuan.  I’m sure it will be true to other indigenous communities hosting mining companies that subscribe to the policy of transparency  and open communication like TVIRD does in Canatuan.” (Lullie Micabalo)