TUBA, Benguet – The management of Philex Mining Corporation expressed their all-out support to the campaign of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte against illegal and irresponsible mining in the country and committed that the company will closely work with his administration in addressing the problem which has tainted the image of the industry for so long.
Engr. Eulalio B. Austin, Jr., Philex president and chief executive officer, said Philex was able to set the benchmark in responsible mining following its existence as a mining company over the past six decades thereby serving as an inspiration for other mining companies to follow.
He pointed out the company’s IMS certification, numerous awards on corporate governance and sustainability, as well as active participation in government transparency initiatives, are just living testaments of the company’s reputation in the country’s mining industry.
“Surely, we do not want that kind of image or reputation to be tainted by the scalawags in the industry that operate illegally and irresponsibly,” Austin stressed.
The Philex official underscored that the country’s largest gold and copper producer is one with Duterte’s vision and plan to ensure the protection of the environment and the fair share of revenues from the country’s natural resources.
It was learned that the mine life of the company in its Padcal operations has been projected to be until 2020 but explorations are underway for the discovery of adequate mineral deposits that might contribute in the extension of its mine life beyond the prescribed period.
Philex has also been a consistent awardee of the best mining forest over the past several years pursuant to the criteria imposed by the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA), one of the prestigious organizations of metallic and non-metallic companies operating in the country today.
Austin disclosed the company will sustain the implementation of environmentally-friendly projects in order to improve the state of the environment within its operations for the benefit of the present and future generations coupled with the fact that it will continue to work on ways to further improve their mine safety operations for the protection of life and limb.
According to him, the setbacks that the company had previously experienced were not hindrances for the company to further improve the implementation of their programs and projects, leading to the practice of responsible mining and setting the tone of the industry in terms of compliance to existing national and international regulations in the operation of mining companies.
Austin appealed to concerned stakeholders in the community to sustain their healthy partnership with the mining company so that the robust development of host and neighboring communities will be sustained without sacrificing the environment and the indigenous peoples and indigenous cultural communities in their midst.
By HENT
