Mining firms cited for safety, environmental records

MANILA, Philippines - For the first time, five member mining firms belonging to the Philippine Mine Safety and Environmental Association (PMSEA) were given recognition under the Presidential Mineral Industry and Environmental Awards (PMIEA) which was held in conjunction with the testimonial dinner and annual awards night last Nov. 11.

For the exploration category, awardees were: FCF Minerals Corp.-Runruno Gold-Molybdenum Project, MRL Gold Phils., Inc.-Surigao-Agusan Projects and Sagittarius Mines, Inc.-Tampakan Copper-Gold Project.

For the quarry category, awardees were Holcim Phils., Inc.-La Union Plant and Holcim-Bulacan Plant.

A special PMIEA award was also given to Apex Mining Co., Inc.-Maco Gold Project for operating an underground mine in Masara without fatal accident for four consecutive years.

The conferment of Presidential Mineral Industry Awards, established through Executive Order 399, signifies the exemplary performance of companies in the aspects of environmental management; safety and health; and social development and management programs strictly evaluated by an eight-member selection committee  from the government and the private sector.

This year’s recipients of the Safest Mines Awards were TVI Resource Development (Phils.), Inc. for Surface Operation, Republic Cement Corp.-Bulacan Plant for Cement Plant Operation, Apo Land and Quarry Corp. for Quarry Operation, FCF Minerals for Exploration (category A), MRL Gold-Surigao-Agusan Projects for Exploration (category B), Republic Cement Corp.-Norzagaray Plant for Mineral Processing (cement category), TVI Resource for Mineral Processing (concentrator category), Apex Mining Co., Inc. for Mineral Processing (extraction category) and Philippine Mining Service Corp. for Mineral Processing (crushing plant category).

Carmen Copper Corp. was also cited for Safest Combined Operation, Northern Cement Corp for Most Improved Safety Performance and TVI Resource Development (Phils.), Inc. for Safest Mining Operation.

Awardees of the Best Mining Forest Program were Philex Mining Corp.-Padcal Operations for Metallic Category, Holcim Phils.-La Union Plant for Non-Metallic Category, MRL Gold-Surigao-Agusan Projects for Exploration Category, and special awards for Apex Mining and Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation for Best Nursery and Best Rehabilitation Strategy, respectively.

PMSEA’s Pasasalamat Award was also conferred upon former Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director and Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Jerry Dolino in recognition of his genuine and invaluable contributions to the upliftment of the Philippine mining industry.