Stressing its advocacy for responsible mining, the government cited 20 mines and quarries for their outstanding environmental management, forestation and safety programs in a ceremony held during the 54th Annual Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) in Baguio City on Friday, Nov. 23.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza, who represented Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the awarding ceremony, said the citations are meant to highlight the government’s effort in building a minerals industry that would be known not only for its economic benefits but also for its best practices in environmental management and social development.

The DENR chief handed out the trophies for this year’s recipients of Titanium Awards under the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Awards (PMIEA) to Holcim Cement Corp.-Bulacan plant, Cagdianao Mining Corp. and Taganito Mining Corp. Titanium Award is the third highest honor given under the PMIEA, an award given by the government to mining and quarrying companies that demonstrate exemplary performance in environmental management. There are no presidential and platinum awardees for this year.

Atienza also handed out awards to Philex Mining Corp. – Padcal Mine and Holcim Philippines, Inc. – Lugait plant, as the Best Mining Forest for the metallic and non-metallic category, respectively. Other best mining forest awardees were: Apex Mining Corp. (first runner-up), Philex Gold Philippines, Inc. – Sibutad (2nd runner-up), and Taganito Mining Corp. – 3rd runner-up), all under the metallic category. The Bulacan plant of Holcim got the first runner-up honors under the non-metallic category.

The Best Mining Forest Awards is part of the Mining Forest Program, which aims to establish mining forests within specified areas, plants and quarries throughout the country. It is consistent with the provisions of the Mining Act of 1995 and its implementing rules and regulations, which mandate rehabilitation to include reforestation of areas disturbed by mining activities.

For the period July 2006 to June 2007, a total of 29 mining companies were evaluated for the Best Mining Forest Awards. These companies planted a total of 442,570 seedlings to over 206 hectares of land, including mined-out areas, slopes of decommissioned tailings ponds, causeways, waste dumps and vacant lots within mining areas and adjoining communities. Since 1988, the Mining Forest Program has reforested/afforested some 3,123 hectares of land with some 6.9 million trees such as agoho, gmelina, acacia, narra, molave, pine, mahogany and fruit-bearing trees.

Also given out were the Safest Mines Awards for various categories. This year’s awardees were: Safest Mining Operation Award – Cagdianao Mining Corp. (winner); Safest Surface Operations – Cagdianao Mining Corp. (winner) and Hinatuan Mining Corp. (runner-up); Safest Cement Plant Operation – Fortune Cement Corp. – Batangas plant (winner) and Northern Cement Corp. (runner-up); Safest Quarry Operations – Rapid City Realty and Development Corp. (winner) and Vulcan Materials Corp. (runner-up); Safest Mineral Processing Award, Cement Category – Taiheiyo Cement Corp. (winner); Safest Mineral Processing Award, Extraction Category – Coral Bay Nickel Corp. (winner); Safest Mineral Processing Award, Crushing Plant Category – Globo Rocks Mining Corp. (winner) and RGC Aggregates (runner-up); Most Improved Safety Performance – Northern Cement Corp. (winner).

The Safest Mines Awards, on the other hand, is a joint effort of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) as part of the national campaign against occupational and environmental hazards in mining and its related operations.

“This is a collective effort to promote mine safety. By acknowledging the outstanding safety programs of companies, we are promoting greater consciousness among government, mine management and workers. This will consequently minimize, if not totally eliminate, disabling injuries to the thousands of workmen in our mines, and protect and enhance mining environment,” MGB Director Horacio C. Ramos said.

Atienza, who also served as keynote speaker of ANMSEC, commended the winners for their efforts, which he also described as the best way for the industry to help government in its effort to promote and revitalize the minerals industry.

“It is only fitting that we also recognize the initiative of the private sector and exemplary performance of the individual mines and quarries in the protection of the environment, its own people and the communities around them, as well as in social development,” Atienza said.

“They exemplify the success stories on responsible mining, which would help us convince communities that mining contributes to the goal of sustainable development.”

ANMSEC is the biggest mining event in the country held annually under the auspices of PMSEA, a non-stock, non-profit sectoral organization of exploration, mining and quarry companies, cement plants, service contractors, and suppliers of mining equipment and machineries. The organization advocates active participation in meeting the challenges of sustainable development through responsible minerals development fully cognizant of the attendant occupational safety and health, environmental protection and community development concerns.

This year’s conference, which was considered the most attended conference to date, was participated in by top government and private sector honchos, mining professionals, academicians and support groups from here and abroad.

November 28, 2007