BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya (August 23)—A British mining company has succeeded in its rehabilitation project with more than 3.6 million trees planted in 600 hectares of land in this province.
This was confirmed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 2 Director Mario Ancheta who has pushed and led the monitoring of mining companies that are operating in Cagayan Valley to get ahead in their rehabilitation efforts.
Also the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC) chairman in Region 2, Ancheta noted that FCF Minerals’ rehabilitation process included topsoil restoration through erosion and sedimentation control.
“The company also plants indigenous tree and bamboo species in their rehabilitation project areas,” he said, adding that the company is presently conducting further studies in areas affected by mining operations to ensure speedy restoration.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 2 headed by Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan lauded the accomplishments of FCF Minerals in its rehabilitation projects.
Bambalan said the DENR appreciates FCF’s intention in its rehabilitation undertakings by bringing back the original and previous ecosystem by planting wildlings in the company’s project areas.
On Aug. 17, 2022, an MRFC meeting was held in Santiago City where FCF Minerals Superintendent Jomar Bravo reported that their company is now 131.92 percent compliant in its rehabilitation activities.
“We have been replacing two hectares for every hectare cleared or disturbed during the mining operation, which is equivalent to a one-is-to-two ratio, and our ongoing compliance is to produce and plant 100 trees as a replacement for every single tree cut during the mining operation,” Bravo said.
Bambalan said the DENR Region 2 and FCF Minerals have earlier forged a partnership in October 2020 and recently renewed on June 1, 2022, through a memorandum of agreement to replace the trees cut in its operation per the approved Special Tree Cutting and Earth-Balling Permit issued by the DENR.
She explained that mine rehabilitation is one component of responsible mining.
“As much as we want social and economic development, let us also balance it by ensuring the protection of our environment,” said Bambalan during the meeting who is also the co-chairperson of MRFC in the region.
She also gave assurance for enhanced mine environmental protection projects with the active involvement of the mining companies in Cagayan Valley.
James Carmichael, FCF Minerals country manager, said the company is committed to the Philippine government’s National Greening Program.
“We are tapping people’s organizations and surface owners as part of their livelihood to maintain and protect the reforestation project areas funded by the company,” Carmichael said.