2 Davao del Sur mayors back SMI environmental impact statement

DAVAO CITY, Davao, Philippines  – The mayors of Kiblawan and Hagonoy towns in Davao del Sur have expressed their support for the environmental impact statement (EIS) formally presented yesterday by   Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI).

Mayor Marivic Caminero-Diamante of Kiblawan and Mayor Franco Calida expressed their individual support for the EIS presented to them.

In a press conference Mayor Diamante expressed support and satisfaction with SMI’s EIS “as presented,” adding that “implementation remains to be seen.”

Kiblawan town will be affected by SMI’s $5.9-billion Tampakan copper-gold project due to the location of the project’s concentrator and conveyor lines for the raw ore and transmission lines.

While acknowledging that Hagonoy town would not be directly affected by any infrastructure for the Tampakan project, Calida said that Hagonoy’s potential concern would be a possible contamination of the Mal and Padada River which would receive runoff water from the Tampakan mine.

Calida said “we will strictly monitor any possible environmental effect on those two rivers, particularly the Mal river.”

Both mayors acknowledged the socio-economic benefits that the SMI project will bring to their towns.

Diamante said residents of Kiblawan are “eager” for the project to start.

Calida, likewise, expressed appreciation for the socio-eco effects already being generated by SMI.

Diamante said that following SMI’s transparency and continued effort to prove that it is a responsible miner, members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod of South Cotabato appear to be more keenly interested in reviewing an earlier resolution banning the use of the open pit mining method in the Tampakan mine.

The review process could last till next year, he added.