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Makilala MCI presents  mining project in Kalinga; vouches for responsible mining

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga  (PIA) - - The Makilala Mining Company Inc. (MMCI) management led by its President and Chairman Atty. Julito Sarmiento recently met with officials and representatives from   government  agencies,  Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk-Social Action Center and military personnel to present the Maalinao–Caigutan-Biyog (MCB) Mining Project in Balatoc, Pasil.

The project covers a total area of 2,500.82 hectares, an environmental compliance certificate (ECC)  area of 480 hectares and primary impact area of 31.83 hectares. MCB Mining Project has already obtained Environment Compliance Certificate and is now on the pre-development permitting stage. Application for Mineral Production and Sharing Agreement has been  submitted and currently  undergoing evaluation. Exploration works were conducted  from 2006 to 2020 and   commercial production is targeted to start  by 2025.

Discussed during the forum held on July 26 at Golden Berries Hotel were the company’s safeguards to environmental issues and possible damages to agricultural lands in Tabuk City.

MMCI management  vouched  to practice responsible mining in the area.  The officials  assured there will be no tailings dam and they will  minimize project footprint,  avoid economic, physical, and cultural displacement impacts,  and  integrate measures to address current community and environmental issues which include establishment of flood control system  and non-encroachment to adjacent tenement.

They reported that the  company introduced Environmental Measures Integrated in the mine design with a technology designed to be developed and operated through a sublevel open stopping mining method with paste backfill and hydraulic fill.
 
MMCI said about 70 percent  of the tailings will be processed as backfill materials for mined-out areas underground, thus, eliminating the need for a tailings dam removing the possibility of environmental impacts (tailings spill). Excess tailings could be utilized for various purposes such as dry stacking, hallow block manufacturing as community livelihood, road base, landfill, among others.

The Free, Prior, and Informed Consent -MOA with the host Balatoc Indigenous Cultural Community includes provision for the conservation and protection of the ancestral domain as well as cultural values and traditions.

An Environmental Impact Statement has also been submitted as part of securing the ECC which details the company’s commitments to avoid and mitigate anticipated environmental impacts.

The MCB Project, according to MCCI,  is the  first mining project under the new Department of Environment and Natural Resources leadership  that committed to go beyond responsible mining.

Fr. George Manisem declared during the forum that AVT-SAC is not against development. “Hindi kami kaaway, we are not against development provided it will not bring bad effects on the environment and  the people.”

His youth companions also from SAC strongly urged the mining company to adhere to all its obligations and responsibilities, and to judiciously fulfill its promises for the next generations to benefit from responsible mining.
 
MCB Mining Project people also met with members of the Tabuk City legislative body on July 25. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)


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