Mati city gov't assures site of 2 mining companies is outside protected areas

According to CiENRO the site comprising a total area of 17,215.49 hectares is four kilometers away from the boundary of the Pujada Bay Seascape, which is a protected area.

Mati City Information Office in its report said that CiENRO made the assurance after photos of the said mining site surfaced recently causing concerns among residents of its effects on the environment.

CiENRO said the mining area is four kilometers away from the boundary of the Pujada Bay Seascape which is a protected area.

It is also outside Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary which is a Unesco-heritage site.

The Mati CiENRO also clarified that the mining operation has been issued a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2004 and has been in operation since then.

The mining company halted its operation after the Duterte administration imposed a nationwide ban on open-pit mining in 2017.

Other mining companies jointly operated by Hallmark Mining are also given the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) by the national government which certifies that “the development, construction and operation of the mine/quarry will not bring about unacceptable environmental impacts”.

The DENR has also issued a “special tree cutting permit” to the said mining company.

A multi-partite monitoring team (MMT) was also created to monitor the strict enforcement and compliance to the several environmental safeguards put in place to ensure the protection of the environment.

The MMT is headed by the DENR-MGB director with the City of Mati LGU as a member. The LGU is represented by the Mati CiENRO and the Mati City Health Office in the said MMT.

The MMT is also composed of DENR XI, DENR CENRO, Provincial ENRO, IP Davao Oriental, tribal chieftain of Barangay Macambol, punong barangay of Macambol, community and government relations manager of the mining companies, as well as the resident mine manager.

The Mati CiENRO said that they are constantly monitoring the operation of the mining company from 2004 until the present. Mitigating measures such as collector sumps, siltation ponds, geo-textile, and quarterly water sampling are also in place and complied with by the said mining company.

It can be recalled that the national government has lifted the mining ban sometime December 2021.

Hallmark Mining Corporation is now preparing the necessary documents required for it to resume its operation.