| Reyes says mining in Tampakan "will be done responsibly" |
|
|
|
| by MindaNews | |
| Tuesday, 06 June 2006 11:47 | |
|
TAMPAKAN, South Cotabato
(MindaNews/05 June) – Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes visited the
copper-and-gold mine site here last Saturday, downplayed the opposition from
the local Catholic church and pledged government’s full support for the
Australian-backed venture.
“I will go back to Manila confident that mining in Tampakan will be done responsibly and (is) responsive to the needs of the community,” Reyes said in a press conference following a briefing from officials of Sagittarius Mines, Inc, which is backed by the Australian firm Indophil Resources NL. Reyes, who arrived here on board a helicopter escorted by two other helicopters, said SMI president and chief executive officer Paul Dominguez can “hurdle” the challenge from the opposition.Dominguez was Presidential Assistant for Mindanao in the Ramos administration and served as Presidential Adviser on Regional Development under the Arroyo administration. “He brings with him tons of experience from the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area). Also from day one of its operation, the company seems to work like a well-oiled machine,” Reyes said. Dominguez thanked Reyes for visiting the project area. The Tampakan project, which straddles this town, Columbio in Sultan Kudarat and Kiblawan in Davao del Sur, is currently in the late stages of its pre-feasibility study and expected to resume actual feasibility study before the year ends. “If found feasible and things go as scheduled, (actual) mining operations could start in 2010,” Dominguez said. Tony Robbins, Indophil managing director, said they were elated by the visit of the Environment Secretary.“It shows the government’s strong and unfailing support to the development of the country’s mineral industry and the development benefits it bring,” he said.
Reyes urged SMI to exploit the
mineral deposits in the area to pump-prime the economy not just of the affected
towns and the rest of Mindanao but also that
of the country in general. “Resources should be explored to eradicate the vicious cycle of poverty,” he said. Reyes recognized the Tampakan project as the largest undeveloped copper resource in the Southeast Asia region. “It’s an exciting project that will last for decades,” he said. In a recent company report, the firm claimed that mineral resources in the Tampakan project stood at over two billion tons. He also lauded the company for spending millions of pesos for the development of communities in the affected area even as the firm is not yet in full operation.He said the “long-term recipe of success” is for the firm to “be accepted by the community.” At least five tribal communities in the three towns are directly affected by the mining venture. Although the host towns and these tribal communities have expressed full support to the firm’s project, groups in the adjoining areas want the firm to stop operations. Aside from the local Catholic Church and various non-government organizations, Sultan Kudarat Gov. Pax Mangudadatu and his son, Rep. Suharto Mangudadatu, had expressed their opposition to SMI’s venture, fearing its effect on Lake Buluan. Lake Buluan, which straddles Lutayan in Sultan Kudarat and Buluan in Maguindanao, is the source of livelihood of small and large fish cage operators, including the Mangudadatus. Buluan Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu also aired his opposition to the operations of Sagittarius. The Mangudadatus fear mine spills could end up in Lake Buluan. (MindaNews)
Share this story through the following Social Media sites:            |
