ITOGON, Benguet –The Itogon Suyoc Resources, Inc. (ISRI) continues to gain headway in implementing the company’s Big Brother, Small Brother (BBSB) program as it expands its coverage from the previous one small-scale miners association to three at the end of 2024.
In its annual report that formed part of the comprehensive report of its mother company, Apex Mining Company, Inc., ISRI stated that the Balonguay-Sangilo Small-Scale Miners Association (BSSSMA) and the Demang Livelihood Association (DLA) renewed their contracts under the program in 2024 while the Simpa-Tipong Small-Scale Miners Association (SITISSMA) joined the program in December last year.
The production of these groups contributed around 18 percent to the company’s total mine production which was pegged at around 31,082 metric tons at an average grade of 6.85 grams per ton that increased by 68 percent compared to the production of the previous year. The groups focused their attention on narrow veins in the company’s tenement area having a cut off grade of 3.50 grams per ton.
Further, the overall production of the said groups amounted to PhP76.37 million, including PhP1.53 million paid to the national government as expanded withholding tax.
Earlier, ISRI pioneered the implementation of the BBSB program which focuses on a collaborative approach between the company and small-scale miners purposely to address issues and concerns related to the presence of small-scale mining in the mineral-rich town.
This scheme, the brainchild of Apex Mining and ISRI president and chief executive officer ASEAN Engineer Luis R. Sarmiento, offers employment opportunities for small-scale miners while aggressively promoting responsible mining practices.
Under an acceptable commercial agreement, ISRI stated that large-scale mining companies will assist small-scale mining groups within their respective tenements to organize themselves into a structure that will ensure strict implementation of safety standards, and mining activities can be conducted in approved areas, while adhering to approved mining and rehabilitation program and compliance with environmental laws.
ISRI explained that among the advantages of the ‘big brother, small brother approach’ include safer operating environment for small-scale miners, operations of small-scale miners will be legally compliant having all permits and licenses handled by the company, minimal displacement of people and livelihood, promotion of environmental protection, proper accounting of production and collection of taxes and enhancement of political and social stability by upgrading the public appreciation of the need for corporations, local governments and the public to work together in a legal manner for the common good.
ISRI claimed that it will only allow qualified and duly registered cooperatives or associations from the community to operate as service contractors in defined areas of the company’s mining property and that there shall be no employee-employer relationship between ISRI and the contractor’s, their miners and workers. By Dexter A. See
