DENR chief Lopez: I will not allow Tampakan project as an open-pit mine

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez on Wednesday expressed strong opposition to a planned open-pit mine project in Tampakan, South Cotabato.

"There is no way that I will ever, ever allow an open-pit mine on our agricultural lands," Lopez told reporters at a press briefing.

She said it is "immoral" and "socially adjust" to "allow mining companies to make money while putting the farmers and the indigenous people there at risk."

Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), the local unit of Swiss global mixer Xstrata Plc., is planning to develop the $5.9-billion Tampakan copper-gold project, but it has been on hold since 2010 after the provincial government of South Cotabato banned open-pit mining.

The Tampakan mine is estimated to contain 15 million tons of copper and 17.6 million ounces of gold.

"I really don't like Tampakan [project] at all," Lopez said. "It's a 700-football field-size open-pit mine on top of ricefield and agricultural lands affecting four provinces and six rivers."

The 10,000-hectare project site covers Tampakan, South Cotabato; Malungon, Sarangani; Columbio, Sultan Kudarat; and Kiblawan, Davao del Sur. 

The Tampakan project secured an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) in 2013.  An ECC is a stamp of approval that guarantees a project is not detrimental to the environment.

However, Lopez said, "In terms of an ECC, we can review it."

"They are going to put explosives near the faultline. I don't know how they have secured an ECC," she added. —KBK, GMA News