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Philex tops contest for best mine forest; other firms cited

TUBA, Benguet – The Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association cited Philex Mining Corp. in Barangay Padcal here for “outstanding, exemplary performance in maintaining the best mine forest throughout the country this year.”

Philex Tuba bested 28 other mining companies, 13 metallic and 16 non-metallic firms, whose forest programs were evaluated for PMSEA’s best mining-forest contest.
APEX Mines was picked first runner-up, while Philex Gold, Philippines in Buawan, Negros Occidental was adjudged second runner-up. Philex Gold, Philippines in Sibutad, Zamboanga del Norte was third runner-up.

All the mining companies, metallic and non-metallic, planted 442,570 tree seedlings in 206.192 hectares of land with a survival rate of 85.54 percent or 387,428 surviving trees.

The reforested, maintained areas include mined-out areas, slopes of decommissioned tailings ponds, waste dams, and vacant lots in mining areas and adjoining communities in order to sustain the greenery of the environment.

Some of the most popular species that were planted by the firms were agoho, gmelina, acacia, auriculiformis, mangium, narra, molave, pine, mahogany, and fruit trees.
The "Best Mining Forest Program" was previously known as the Adopt-A-Tree, Pity-A-Mining Forest Movement, Adopt-A-Mountain, Adopt-A-Mining Forest Program.

This was established pursuant to Department Administrative Order No. 98-62 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The program was launched in accordance with DAO No. 22, series of 1989, calling for the establishment of mining forest within specified areas of all mining companies, cement plants and quarries throughout the country.

The pro-environment project was in response to Proclamation No. 237 issued by former President Corazon C. Aquino in April 1988.

Furthermore, the program is consistent with the environmental protection objectives of Republic Act (RA) 7842, the New Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and revised implementing rules and regulations which mandate the rehabilitation, to include reforestation, of areas disturbed by mining activities.

The criteria used in judging the winners of the contest were development plan of the mining forest – five percent; nursery operations – 10 percent; extent of planted area which includes new plantations, total planted area and ratio of planted over disturbed area – 40 percent and maintenance; protection, including density, survival rate, number of persons involved and vigorousness – 35 percent and other environmental factors that includes specie density, research or studies, information and education campaign component and other conservation measures – 10 percent.

In the non-metallic category, Holcim Philippines-Lugait Plant grabbed first place, followed by its
Bulacan plant, first runner-up.

In the Safest Mines Award for Surface Operations, Cagdianao Mining Corp. topped the contest, followed by Hinatuan Mining Corp.-South Dinagat Nickel Project.

Safest Cement Plant Operation Award went to Fortune Cement Corp.-Batangas Plant, and Northern Cement Corp. was runner-up.

Rapid City Realty and Development Corp. took the Safest Quarry Operations Award with Vulcan Materials Corp. as runner-up.The Safest Mineral Processing Award (cement category went) to Taiheiyo Cement Corp. – Dexter A. See


NIA warns erring farmers: Pay irrigation service fees
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The regional National Irrigation Authority warned it would file cases against thousands of farmers in the different parts of the region who refuse to pay their respective irrigation service fees (ISF) for the use of national irrigation systems.

Engineer Abraham Akilit, NIA regional manager, said it is necessary for farmers benefiting from irrigation services of the national irrigation systems to pay their dues to the government since they are obliged to pay a minimal amount compared to their yield.

Under existing rules, farmers are obliged to pay to the NIA five cavans of palay for every hectare serviced by the national irrigation system in their area.

Most farmers who refused to pay their obligations to the government for the irrigation service that they are enjoying are those within the Upper Chico River Irrigation System that passes through Mountain province, Ifugao, Quezon, Isabela and Kalinga.

The NIA had filed several cases against certain individuals in Isabela and Kalinga who have accumulated obligations amounting to millions of pesos so that they will be forced to settle their dues with the government.

Ironically, Akilit said small farmers are the ones who are religiously settling their annual dues with the NIA but those who are considered to be well to do are the ones who exert every effort to evade paying their irrigation service fees.

He said once farmers will not pay their required fees, the maintenance of the irrigation system would be compromised which would eventually resort to more farmlands that would not be provided with irrigation.

In case the scenario would happen in the future, the NIA chief said there would be more farmers who would be displaced from their farms which would contribute to lesser rice yield that would greatly affect the food security of the country.

Akilit appealed to concerned farmers not to wait for filing of appropriate charges against them since it would mean waste of time, money and effort but instead visit the nearest NIA office in their area and come up with win-win solutions so that the irrigation service would not be sacrificed.

He said cooperation of farmers in realizing significant gains in the agriculture industry is vital especially if they religiously pay their supposed dues to the government so that they could utilize it for improved and better service to the people. – Dexter A. See