Tampakan project to continue despite local environment code, Gov says

The Tampakan copper-gold project of Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) can still proceed even if South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr. decides to veto the measure lifting the provincial ban on open-pit mining.

In a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, Tamayo said that the project can proceed as SMI obtained a permit from the national government, and not from the local government, adding that a national law supersedes local legislation. The governor particularly referred to Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, which allows open-pit mining.

Tamayo made the statement on Wednesday, two days before the end of the 15-day period to veto or approve the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s decision to amend the environment code.

South Cotabato’s provincial ban on open-pit mining, which has been blocking the Tampakan project for over a decade, was lifted by the provincial board two weeks ago. The measure was submitted to Tamayo’s office on May 20.

Tamayo earlier said that he would be reviewing the provincial board’s decision to amend the local environmental code. In March, he proposed to retain the local ban on open-pit mining.

The Tampakan project is a 10,000 hectare project across not only South Cotabato, but also Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and Davao del Sur. It previously had an estimated development cost of $5.9 billion before the provincial ban was imposed in 2010. It has the potential to yield around 375,000 tons of copper and 360,000 ounces of gold in concentrate per annum in its 17-year mine life.

Different environmental and religious groups have condemned the provincial board’s decision to lift the ban on open-pit mining in South Cotabato.