S.Cotabato gov snubs go-signal for Tampakan mine
By RAPPLER.COM
February 20, 2013

COTABATO, Philippines – The governor of South Cotabato province, which hosts the Tampakan copper-gold project, rejected the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued on February 19.

The ECC allows Sagittarius Mining Inc. (SMI) to start commercial operations at the US$5.9 billion mine. The grant of the ECC was delayed for over a year largely due to the open pit ban imposed by the local government of South Cotabato.

“We have existing environmental code for the province and it includes ban on open pit mining. It’s still legal. Unless the government declare it illegal, then we will continue to implement it,” Governor Arthur Pinggoy said by phone when asked to comment on the latest development.

“If the government will nullify our environmental code, I am going to gather the people and those who are supporting our code to get their views about our possible next steps,” he added.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje told reporters in Manila on Tuesday, February 19, that they issued the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) to the SMI project upon the recommendation of the Environmental Management Bureau, an agency attached to the DENR.

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