Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Legislators hit road for open-pit mines visits
KORONADAL CITY -- Members of the Provincial Board (PB) of South Cotabato has started a five-day travel to visit open-pit mining sites in Mindanao in relation to a proposed open-pit mining ban in the province's environment code.
Board member Jose M. Madanguit, chair of the environment committee, said Thursday the 15-man team is set to visit three mining sites to help the PB come-up with an informed decision whether to retain or scrap the prohibition on open-pit mining in the provincial environment code.
"We're targeting this month or July to finish this issue (provincial ban on open-pit mining). Only three board members can't come with the group (due to various reasons) but we'll apprise them of what we will see once we come back," Madanguit said.
The team will check the mining sites of Toronto Ventures, Inc. (TVI) in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte; Philex Mining Corp in Sibutad town, Zamboanga del Norte; and Holcim Philippines, Inc. in Lugait, Misamis Oriental, he added.
Although Philex has abandoned its project Sibutad, we'd like to see the rehabilitation efforts, Madanguit said.
TVI employs open pit method for copper and silver deposits while cement producer Holcim extracts limestone and shale using the same method.
The team, led by Vice Gov. Eliordo U. Ogena, is expected to return here Monday.
"Our site inspections on mining projects government will allow us to decide on what will be for the greatest interest for the people of South Cotabato," said Ogena.
The five-day visit was shouldered by the provincial government. The team also used three government-issued vehicles.
Ogena earlier said the mining sites were recommended by Sagittarius Mines, Inc. and the local Catholic Church, which is opposing the firm's copper and gold project in Tampakan in South Cotabato, Columbio in Sultan Kudarat and Kiblawan in Davao del Sur.
Based on initial studies, Sagittarius said they would likely use the open-pit method. The firm is expected to come up with a final announcement this year.
Sagittarius is managed by global mining player Xstrata Copper. (BSS)
