The Management of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) visited the TVI Resource Development (Phils.), Inc. – Canatuan Mining Project (TVIRD-CMP) in connection with the implementation of its Final Mine Rehabilitation and/or Decommissioning Plan (FMR/DP) located in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte on March 5, 2020.
TVIRD-CMP is one of the mining contractors in the country who is currently implementing its FMR/DP in compliance with Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2010-21, Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Republic Act No. 7942, the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
TVIRD-CMP encompasses a 508 hectare (ha) under the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) No. 054-96-IX which was granted on October 23, 1996. The entire MPSA of TVIRD is located within the 8,213 ha Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) of the Subanen Indigenous People. Prior to the operations of TVIRD-CMP in its contract area in 2003, there were already logging and illegal small-small mining operations in Canatuan, Siocon, Zamboange del Norte.
The TVIRD-CMP consisted of mining, milling and processing of ore from two distinct overlying ore bodies. The upper and lower ore bodies were identified as the Gossan and Sulphide, respectively. The Gossan was located near the surface and was an oxide ore body rich in gold and silver. This was the first ore body mined and processed from 2004 to 2008. On the other hand, the underlying ore body was a sulphide ore rich in copper and zinc. Mining and processing of this ore body began in late 2008 and continued through January 2014.
Since 2014, the TVIRD-CMP commenced its final mine rehabilitation and decommissioning activities. The Multipartite Monitoring Team, the monitoring arm of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee of TVIRD-CMP is conducting a quarterly monitoring in connection with the implementation of its FMR/DP. Likewise, the Contingent Liability and Rehabilitation Fund Steering Committee (CLRFSC) were also conducting an annual assessment of TVIRD-CMP implementation of its FMR/DP from 2017 to 2019.
TVIRD-CMP has a mining foot print of 168 ha (out of 508 ha of the MPSA) that include the mill and processing facilities, tailings storage facilities, overburden waste dump areas, infrastructure, community services facilities, employee housing and contractor facilities. These areas were subjected to the current implementation of its FMR/DP.
Among the MGB Management who visited the implementation of FMR/DP in TVIRD-CMP are Atty. Moncano G. Wilfredo, MGB Acting Director; 15 MGB Regional Directors; and MGB CO Division Chiefs. In addition, Engr. Nonita S. Caguioa, Assistant Secretary for Finance, Information Systems and Mining Concerns also visited the TVIRD-CMP with the MGB Management.
During the mine visit, the MGB Management observed the ongoing rehabilitation in the previous surface mine area and tailings storage facility of TVIRD-CMP. To date, TVIRD-CMP already accomplished 94% of its physical target with expenditures equivalent to almost PhP140.9 Million from 2015 to present.
To date, four (4) mining contractors/permit holders in the country including TVIRD-CMP were also implementing its FMR/DP, such as Rapu-Rapu Mining, Inc. and Rapu-Rapu Processing Inc. in Rapu-Rapu Island, Albay; Balatoc Gold Resources Corporation-Balatoc Tailings Project in Itogon, Benguet; and Hinatuan Mining Corporation-South Dinagat Nickel Project in Nonoc Island, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
The said mine visit in TVIRD-CMP is in connection with the conduct of the 2020 First Quarter Regional Directors’ Meeting of the MGB and installation of the OIC Regional Director in MGB Regional Office No IX held at Zamboanga City on March 3-6, 2020.
By: Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division
Photo 1. The MGB Management with Asec. Caguioa and TVIRD-CMP personnel at the rehabilitated TSF
Photo 2. The MGB Management with Asec. Caguioa and TVIRD-CMP personnel at the rehabilitated surface mine area
Photo 3. The MGB Management with Asec. Caguioa while discussing the implementation of FMR/DP of TVIRD-CMP.
Photo 4. Safety briefing orientation before the mine visit at TVIRD-CMP
Photo 5. View of the ongoing rehabilitation of the previous surface mine at TVIRD-CMP
Photo 6. View of the TSF at TVIRD-CMP during the mine visit