South Cotabato folk pin hopes on SMI

Many residents along the project area of Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) hailed the company for its series of consultations with stakeholders regarding its planned port, power station and filter plant project (PPFP), a major component of the US$5.2-billion Tampakan Copper-Gold Project.

Residents said the move of the company is a sincere manifestation of its intention and capability to pursue programs geared at protecting the environment. "Unlike the destructive small-scale miners, SMI is a big company and has all the resources and technology necessary to protect the environment," said a village leader in Malalag, Davao del Sur.

Throughout September, prior to the commencement of studies for an Environmental Impact Assessment, SMI will meet with key stakeholder groups including national government agencies, the provincial government of Davao del Sur, the municipal government of Malalag, and key sectors of the host and neighboring communities.

In earlier meetings, among the issues raised were concerns on environment and sustainability.

As a major component of the Tampakan project, the PPFP will provide significant economic benefit to the region through direct and indirect employment, local government taxes, procurement of local goods and services.

The PPFP will also give increased power grid stability due to the availability of a power station.

Supporting infrastructures such as a port, power station and filter plant are critical to the proposed Tampakan Mine’s operations.

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