THE Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) targets to plant 5.3 million trees in its mining areas in Mindanao and Mimaropa to assist the government reforestation program, which eyes to green 1.2 million hectares.

During Habi at Kape media forum Wednesday, June 26, PNIA executive director Charmaine Capili told reporters they planted an estimated 5.3 million trees in Caraga and in Palawan as part of their Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP) since 2017.

She also said that they have been contributing at least three to five percent of their operating cost to their EPEP programs, adding that for every tree they cut down, they are also mandated to plant 100 trees.

“Aside from our taxes, we contribute for the EPEP. We do not just plant trees; we also do rehabilitation and various environmental protection such as marine protection, mangrove plantation, biodiversity preservation, coral preservation, adopt a river program, coastal clean-up, among others,” Capili said.

The mandate last year by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for progressive rehabilitation pushed PNIA to come up with the Temporary Revegetation Program (TRP). They planted over 284 hectares of various vegetation for a total of P45 million.

“With the ongoing TRP, we can provide short term vegetation growth that can control soil erosion and assist communities during natural calamities,” Capili said.

PNIA has seven member companies which are mandated for this rehabilitation and reforestation programs, namely, Platinum Group Metals Corporation, CTP Construction and Mining Corporation, Citinickel Mines and Development Corporation, Carascal Nickel Corporation, DMCI Mining Corporation, Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation and Agata Mining Ventures Incorporated. (LHC)