Koko: Responsible mining key to sustainable dev't in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, citing mining as an economic driver, has expressed optimism on socio-economic progress in Mindanao “if the people rally behind the principles of sustainable development.”

Pimentel has been going around Mindanao and was in Butuan City recently to meet with local business leaders in the Caraga region.

“Mining may be allowed in the country provided that the best practices that foreign investors follow in their own land are also observed here,” he said.

Pimentel said foreign mining investors “should be responsible, able to protect the environment, assure us of fair returns, and pay reasonable taxes to the government.”

“All of these conditions lead to what we call sustainable development, which the Filipino people need, especially the people of Mindanao since they own the deposits,” he said.

Pimentel cited the mineral-rich Mindanao region with several existing and potentially world-class mining ventures, including the proposed $5.9-billion Tampakan copper-gold project in South Cotabato.

The Tampakan project is said to have the potential to contribute an additional 10.4 percent annually to the gross domestic product of Regions 11 and 12.

“But what I mean here is that these mining companies must protect the ecological balance before anything else,” Pimentel said.

He emphasized that mining ventures “must benefit the entire country and not the foreign investors alone.”

“This is what we call sustainable mining,” he said.

Pimentel also expressed optimism that Mindanao “can withstand the economic challenges it is facing with also sectors working together.”

“Together, we are strong. When we do the right thing together and never give up, we are sure to succeed,” he said.

“We have a deep pool of skilled human resources from a population of over 22 million people in Mindanao; this is our strength, our very own people,” he said.

“We have abundant, available, fertile lands perfectly suited for agro-industrial development,” he added.