Representatives of the Contingent Liability and Rehabilitation Fund Steering Committee (CLRFSC) and the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC) joined the celebration of Philippine Arbor Day through the ceremonial tree planting in the rehabilitated open pit bottom of Rapu-Rapu Minerals, Inc./Rapu-Rapu Processing, Inc. (RRMI/RRPI) located in Rapu-Rapu, Albay on June 23, 2023.
The CLRFSC and MRFC initially planted Malobago (Hibiscus tiliaceus) in the rehabilitated open pit bottom. Malobago is a beach forest tree species abundant in Rapu-rapu Island, Albay. The open pit bottom was also planted with Agoho, Pili, Abaca, Narra, Ipil-ipil, and bamboo to date. Further, the open pit has undergone dewatering, slope stabilization, reshaping, backfilling, application of soil amelioration measures, and revegetation since 2014 in preparation for agroforestry as the final mine land use.
RRMI/RRPI is the first mining company in the country to implement its approved Final Mine Rehabilitation and/or Decommissioning Plan (FMR/DP) as mandated in the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and its implementing rules and regulations. Since the cessation of its mining operations in 2014, RRMI/RRPI has almost completed the final rehabilitation of the 99-hectare mined-out areas and ancillary facilities out of the 180-hectare total mining footprint of the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project. Among the structures or facilities of RRMI/RRPI subjected to final rehabilitation include the Open pit, Lower Tailings Storage Facility, Upper Tailings Storage Facility, Run-of-Mine Ore Area, and Processing Plant. In addition, RRMI/RRPI constructed a water treatment facility composed of a series of settling ponds, bioreactors, and wetland areas to address the mine site’s acid mine drainage through passive treatment.
The Philippine Arbor Day is observed every 25th of June which is a nationwide celebration of actual tree planting and fostering partnership and environmental stewardship among various sectors in our society pursuant to Proclamation No. 643, s. 2004 re: Amending Proclamation No. 396 Dated June 2, 2003, Entitled “Enjoining The Active Participation of All Government Agencies, including Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations, Private Sector, Schools, Civil Society Groups and the Citizenry in Tree Planting Activity And Declaring June 25, 2003 as Philippines Arbor Day.”
Photo 1. The CLRFSC representatives together with the MRFC and RRMI/RRPI personnel during the tree planting in the rehabilitated open pit.
Photo 2. The CLRFSC representatives and MRFC during the tree planting in the rehabilitated open pit.
Photo 3. Progress of open pit rehabilitation from 2016 to 2023.
By: Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division