Mine firm optimistic

DAVAO CITY—Xstrata’s Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) said it was hoping the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) would issue a favorable decision this time on its application for environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

In December, the DENR trashed SMI’s ECC application, citing the open-pit mining ban in South Cotabato.

Rolando Doria, SMI superintendent for national external affairs, said their hope was based on pledges from national officials that they would help in the review and subsequent amendment to the open-pit ban.

Doria said SMI was eagerly awaiting the DENR decision after the mining company submitted its motion for reconsideration a few weeks ago.

Tampakan Mayor Leonardo Escobillo, who remained supportive of SMI, said on Thursday he and another mayor recently met with President Aquino on the continued delay in the $5.9-billion Tampakan copper and gold project.

He said Mr. Aquino had told them that a review of the South Cotabato open-pit ban was being prepared.

But as to the ECC, he said that Mr. Aquino told them he was letting the DENR do its job.

“Our people have benefited a lot from mining even if it has not formally started yet. We hope the government realizes this and give SMI the go ahead,” Escobillo said. Orlando B. Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao