CAGAYAN DE ORO (July 30, 2003)—Two years after its implementation, the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) provided under the Mining Act of 1995 can be said to be sailing smoothly and serving its purpose to the people of the mining host and neighboring communities here.

This was the assessment made by Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region 10 Director Dario Miñoza as he noted the recent successes of the community projects of Iligan Cement Corporation and Alsons Cement Corporation.

“Through the SDMP, the people of the City of Iligan and the Municipality of Lugait in Misamis Oriental themselves could claim that the pro-people intents of the Mining Act really work,” RD Miñoza said.

Alsons Cement, whose 5-year SDMP worth P21-million was approved by the DENR on April 29, 2003, established rag-making and dusthood sewing livelihood projects for the residents of Brgy. Poblacion, in coordination with the Rural Improvement Club of the Department of Agriculture. Alsons Cement is also the direct buyer of the dusthood produced by the residents under the livelihood project.

Lately, the residents have diversified into curtain-making and student uniform-sewing, and eventually, into food-processing. Aside from Bgy. Poblacion, Alsons Cement has also put up a t-shirt-making livelihood project for the residents of Bgy. Mapalad.

On the other hand, Iligan Cement even as its SDMP is still under process by the DENR, has already established livelihood projects for the people of Bgys. Acmac, Bunawan and Kiwalan such as t-shirt-making, school bag-making and underwear-sewing.

The company has also provided the fisher’s group in its covered area with palangre, bamboo raft and motorized banca to assist them in their livelihood. The farmers, on the other hand, received livestocks from the company.

Under its proposed SDMP, Iligan Cement has committed about P7.5 million in the next 5 years for its various community projects in the area.

Established in 2000 by virtue of DAO 2000-99, the SDMP is a social tool provided by the Mining Act of 1995 with the ultimate objective of creating responsible, self-reliant and resource-based communities capable of developing, implementing and managing community development programs consistent with the principles of people empowerment and sustainable development.

“The SDMP is DENR and MGB’s response to the pressing unemployment and poverty problem and to the repeated propaganda lines claimed through negative perception on how the mining industry could contribute to the country’s economic stability,” RD Miñoza said.

Unlike other projects initiated through government programs, SDMP bears its authenticity through the process of public consultation to determine the needs of each mining host community and identify priority projects feasible in their own locality, RD Miñoza added.

Expenditures incurred for the implementation of the social development projects for the various mining host and neighboring communities are funded by the 1% direct mining and milling cost (DMCC) of operating mines and quarries.

For CY 2002, the 1% DMCC of Alsons Cement was posted at P2.87-milllion, and P1.58 million for Iligan Cement.

Aside from livelihood projects, mining host and neighboring communities also benefit from the other SDMP components that cater to the other needs of the community such as stakeholders development, infrastructure projects, health services, environmental conservation and education program, which expenditures are still covered by the 1% DMMC. (Region 10)