Philippine Resources Journal - Issue 1, 2021 by Brimble Publishing

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CONTENTS MINING 19

THE AFTERMATH OF THE CARMEN COPPER MINE LANDSLIDE

24 FIRST OFFSHORE MAGNETITE MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES 27 NICKEL ASIA FIRMS ARE ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS FOR 2020 31

RARE BLUE AGATE WITH THE FACE OF COOKIE MONSTER

COMMENTARY

CONSTRUCTION

By Fernando Penarroyo / page 6

LET’S MAKE IT A BETTER 2021

32 FLY ASH AS AN ECO-FRIENDLY BUILDING MATERIAL

COMMENTARY WOMEN AND WATER

45 NEW CAVITEX C-5 LINK SEGMENTS UNDERWAY, FINISHED BY Q2 2022

By Patricia A.O. Bunye / page 12

46 MAKATI SUBWAY BUILDER INKS DEAL FOR LOT ACQUISITION

COMPANIES 34 WEIR MINERALS LAUNCHES MODULAR ANTI-ABRASION PANELS 35 SANDVIK INTROS NEW TORO LH410 LOADER 36 INTERNATIONAL SOS LAUNCHES VACCINE INDICATOR FOR BIZ 37

NAC-HMC GIVES ADDED SUPPORT TO TALAVERA WOMEN

MINING

CONSTRUCTION

Interview with discoverer Jenny Barretto / page 16

Despite the COVID-19 crisis / page 42

DISCOVERING APOLAKI (PART 2)

PINOY BUILDERS SEE REBOUND

ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

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RESOURCES COMMENTARY

PHILIPPINE RESOURCES THE MAGAZINE FOR MINING AND CONSTRUCTION Philippine Resources is published independently for executives in Philippine mining, construction, resources and associated business sectors. Publisher Elizabeth Galura Consulting Publisher Greg Brimble Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle Sales and Marketing Manager Matt Brimble +63 927 721 6622 Matthew@philippine-resources.com Account Manager Merian Jay Fallan +63 955 738 0266 merian@philippine-resources.com Kevin Lewis kevin@philippine-resources.com Administration Cecilia Pamular +63 917 308 1971 cecille@philippine-resources.com Design/Production Elizabeth Galura Journalist Marcelle P. Villegas Contributors Patricia A.O. Bunye Fernando Penarroyo Manila Publishing Office Suite 6, 2nd Floor Corinthian Plaza Building 121 Paseo de Roxas Legaspi Village Makati City, Philippines 1226 Phone +632 8251 5599 Digital Online Edition www.Philippine-Resources.com ON THE COVER:

Accurate ground investigations save mining projects, as this engineer does using the latest geophysical tools. Photo courtesy RDCL

Let’s Make It a Better 2021 By Fernando Penarroyo

OVID-19 and its impact on the world provided a harsh lesson and wake-up call for all of us. People lost their jobs, businesses, and entire fortunes on account of a virus whose origins remain a mystery. We worked from home, homeschooled our kids, stayed away from senior members of our families, canceled special celebrations and well-planned vacations, and restricted our mobilities because we were afraid to catch and spread the virus. But the one thing that we will never forget is loved ones and friends losing their battle to this horrible illness. In 2020, the Philippine economy started on the wrong foot. It began with the eruption of the Taal Volcano, creating a setback in the agriculture and tourism industries in Cavite and Batangas. Typhoons Rolly (international name Goni), Siony (Atsani), and Ulysses (Vamco) that hit the country in November in just a span of two weeks also brought considerable devastation to a large area in Luzon. These natural calamities and the pandemic caused a plunge in private domestic demand, deep contraction in investment activities, and weak exports, bringing down the economy to -9.5%, its worst performance since the country began releasing growth data in 1947. After a long bout of physical exhaustion, mental fatigue, emotional stress, and apprehension, somehow, we felt a bit of relief that the long and dragging 2020 ended. There was a feeling of ambivalence as we reminisced the past year. We felt exuberant that we made it out alive from 2020, but melancholy for those who continued to suffer or didn’t make it through. However, the same mixed reactions and emotions continue to haunt us in 2021, as we are fully aware that though vaccines are being rolled out in succession, emerging variants of the virus bring uncertainties to our lives. Like a ship in a raging storm coasting along the shore, we can see the lighthouse, but the waves prevent our vessel from getting to safe harbor. Certainly, there are still challenges that should not put us in complacency. If there is indeed a rebound that will return us to some semblance of normalcy, I don’t believe that we’ll ever return to where we were before. We will

continue to wear masks, limit in-person meetings, and practice physical distancing, afraid that there will be another virus waiting to unleash its force with more tenacity and strength. We will continue to adjust our daily existence depending on how new developments in science will provide the safeguards to physical interaction and provide ade-quate disease prevention and cure. Coping with the pandemic “What happens to me now that my livelihood is gone? How will I pay my suppliers, creditors, and employees? Will the banks foreclose on my mortgages? Where will I get the capital to start all over again? Am I still employable? Will my kids have to stop going to school? How is my family going to survive? How will I get back on my feet?” We are all saddled with negative thoughts. Sometimes the more we think about negativity, the less we become creative and confident. Acting unkind to ourselves during these difficult times serves no purpose but to pile on more anxiety. We must confront the brutal realities head-on by resolving to be patient and steadfast. Undoubtedly, 2021 will hold new challenges. This is the reality of life. Yet like those we’ve faced before, what matters most is not the problems themselves, but how well we’ve responded to them and how we’ve applied their lessons to grow and thrive in our lives. There are probably a million reasons not to smile during the pandemic. Some people struggle on a daily basis to look for the next meal, payment for rents, and money to buy the bare necessities. Some people vented their anger and frustration in social media. If you’re among those doing it, take a minute to realize that you have the literacy, luxury of time, and internet connectivity to read and type in your device. You have the ability to access the whole world with your gadget, while others struggle to meet their most essential needs and probably wish for things you are currently enjoying. In many ways, all the reasons for complaining seem to be trivial and certainly no reason to bicker about. It is definitely better to flash that smile behind the mask than rant online. It is better to be content with what you

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ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

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RESOURCES COMMENTARY

< Page 6 have and strive hard to survive for the future. We’re all on the same team, in the same boat. All of us need some form of encouragement, and everyone will benefit if we decide to argue less and understand more. We are often tempted to be couch potatoes during these times when our mobility is hampered. We tend to binge on online entertainment and video games, which does not physically or mentally nurture us. Being busy is the best way to avoid feeling empty and dull. 2020 was touted by astrologers and feng shui masters to be an auspicious year for wealth building and the year people would get everything they wanted. No one predicted that 2020 will be the exact opposite. COVID-19 made us realize that there are certain aspects of our life that are uncontrollable. Instead of losing ourselves in despair and anxiety by focusing on situations beyond our control, it was our moment to reconnect to a deeper sense of purpose, promote our individual faith, and commune with nature. Hoping for a better 2021 In 2020, we lost the ability to physically connect with others at our usual places of congregation in offices, schools, restaurants, concerts, sporting events, homecomings, and church services. Now we look forward to reconnecting in-person with others, including people who we often took for granted before. Though we may realize that returning to the old normal is not possible in the near future, at least there is hope that 2021 will bring us some respite from the virus. Most people expect things to start to return to a restrictive new normal as vaccines have arrived and inoculations began. For some of us, it will take some time until we have access to the vaccine, but as more people get it, there is a bigger chance that fewer people will acquire or die from the virus. The good news is that science has made us understand the virus better and will help humanity prepare for the next virus outbreak. We now see things from a different perspective. We appreciate our families, our friends, and everything that we have. We cherish not only our own lives but simple things like our environment and nature as a whole. We indulge in activities that nourish our physical and mental well-being. We start to have leisurely walks, road tours by bike, and indulge in our hobbies like growing plants and cooking. We see brand new clothes and shoes, unused and gathering dusts in our closets. We see cars parked idly in our garage because our movement is restricted. Nature has decided for us that now we

need to own less. The pandemic has given us the opportunity to heal, preserve, and strengthen our bodies. It was also a time to cultivate more positive emotions – gratitude, compassion for self and others, connection and intimacy with family and optimism. It taught us to refocus on the most important things in life. What should we expect for 2021? 2021 is the time to dedicate ourselves to reflect, renew, and reset our lives after a tumultuous 2020 beset by failures and disappointments. It is a propitious time to reflect on where we’re at and where we want to be. It is the moment to renew our commitment to be a better person and make positive choices in life. It is the point of realization to reset everything and start anew after embracing our failures and making sure that things will turn out differently. Some people experience a positive change as a result of their struggle with a major life crisis or traumatic event. Success waits for people who can cope with the ongoing uncertainty. “What have we done differently in 2020 to cope with the pandemic?” For some of us who managed to navigate the pandemic with a positive attitude, the ongoing crisis honed our adaptability, resilience, agility, and tenacity. Just because our plans got derailed last year is no reason not to set our sights on our goals. Consider 2020 as a temporary setback and continue to believe in ourselves and trust our abilities to recover. We have to set a daily goal to keep us on our toes and motivate us to continue studying, and working. We must make it a point not to waste any day, any moment, or any amount of energy remaining as we continue to live on. Our inner confidence will allow us to direct our time and talent to our vision and ultimate goals. Our purpose should not be limited by the plans that fell through in 2020 or what we were unable to do. If we learn from our failures and take full responsibility, our trials will make us successful. And in time, we’ll be even more successful, because we’ll never stop trying to be better than we are today. Successful people have a purpose in life. They generate excitement, dedication, and passion, and they share their passions with others. If we’ve found a purpose, something that inspires and fuels us to stand up and achieve, then we’re living life the way we want it.

The Philippines receives its first batch of coronavirus vaccines — 600,000 doses from China’s Sinovac — on February 28.

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RESOURCES COMMENTARY

< Page 8 We are now witnessing the unprecedented development of different vaccines produced by both private and state-sponsored companies. Science-based and democratic institutions are much needed to address the vaccine development and rollout. It is now government’s responsibility to procure them cheaply and distribute them within the soonest possible time. Hopefully, the end to the pandemic is near at hand though we’re not there yet. In the meantime, we should continue to be vigilant about our own safety and that of others. The challenge now is to educate a misinformed populace about the enduring risks of the coronavirus and the disinformation that circulates on social media on the necessity to be vaccinated. Vaccine hesitancy is a global health threat especially in developing countries. Even if a coronavirus vaccine is made available to everyone, people especially our front liners and elders need to be convinced to get it. Personal reflections There were some silver linings in the clouds despite the pale and gloom that came in 2020. People learned how to become creative in augmenting their incomes and made use of their time for selfimprovement. Since people no longer have to endure wasted hours spent in traffic, people working from home have become more productive. Meetings and conferences are easier to organize and attend. People actually looked forward to seeing their colleagues online to break the monotony of working alone. Attending professional and self-improvement webinars and getting accreditation from such became easier. Parents and children shared meals, bonded, and communicated forging stronger relationships never experienced during the time before the pandemic. Parents suddenly were getting involved in schoolwork making sure that the kids are not getting shortchanged in their online schooling. People learned new skills and pursued a variety of homebased businesses and recreational activities. I know of some friends who renewed their passion in reading, cooking, gardening, painting, and other personal pursuits which they have passed off in favor of the corporate rat race in their concrete jungles. Some of them turned their passions into successful online businesses. I discovered myself, learned to understand my quirks, and made it easy on myself. I believed we were brought up in a culture of accumulating material possessions, which paled in comparison to the actual life-giving pursuits we have taken for granted. I see each day as a gift of life and another op-

portunity to live because many people had such a chance taken from them. To keep myself busy, I made a thorough search of all the articles and photographs I have saved in my computer through the years. I compiled my Master or Laws research papers, notes, and Power-Point presentations accumulated in my teaching and lecturing vocation. I organized them, created my website, and uploaded them in my blog site. It was the next best thing to writing and publishing a book. I also wrote blogs about music, films, arts, and even K-dramas. I tried perfecting my pasta recipes. I made a point to walk around the village every day and converted part of our garage to a mini-gym. I continued to look after my health through video consultations with my doctors. Due to the physical distancing and travel restriction guidelines during the pandemic, what I really missed was our trekking group’s outdoor activities. I missed climbing mountains and camping in forests and mountain base camps. Nevertheless, with my newfound time, it allowed me to take in the beauty of nature right in my own surroundings. I learned to slow down, relax, and appreciate the good and simple things in my mundane life. I enjoyed staying under the sun and proverbially stopped to smell the flowers. The air was noticeably clean. During a lakeshore drive, I could clearly gaze at both the high-rises of Bonifacio Global City and the wind farms nestled on the Sierra mountain range of Rizal while taking a whiff of fresh air. Despite the pandemic, I continued to write articles for Philippine Resources as a way of getting myself updated with the resources and infrastructure industries. I did a lot of online lectures and webinars, gave interviews, and acted as resource speaker for online forums and conferences as part of my advocacy for renewable energy and responsible mining. My audience were varied - leaders of various industries, law school organizations, students and professionals involved in the mining and renewable energy industry, and geology majors reviewing for their board exams. These activities were my mental exercises. Though I certainly prefer in-person interaction, the good thing about my online lectures was that participants have overcome their nerves by interacting virtually compared to a physical seminar or

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RESOURCES COMMENTARY

International Women in Mining and the Wawa Weir 2 Project

By Patricia A. O. Bunye

icking off International Women’s Month, the International Women in Mining Alliance (IWIM) held its first ever-virtual Global WIM Summit on March 1-2. Through the wonder of technology, I had the pleasure of connecting with other IWIM leaders throughout the world without having to hop on a plane and despite our differences in time zones. The summit also combined live and prerecorded sessions which made it possible to view sessions at leisure. Diwata-Women in Resource Development, Inc, of which I was Founding President, is IWIM’s member organization in the Philippines. There are currently at least 37 IWIM organizations throughout the world. The Alliance is a pioneering initiative that brings IWIM organizations together to leverage their collective strength to provide a global, multilateral platform that will facilitate collaboration among them and promote the emergence of a strong, unified IWIM voice. Prior to its launch, the different IWIM organizations were under a loose umbrella, getting together only occasionally for teleconferences to exchange ideas and experiences. Last year, IWIM embarked on a strategic partnership with the World Bank on a research project to gather information to understand the opportunities and constraints women in mining organizations face. Results of the research project have been collated in a report to be published online and presented at international mining conferences starting with the Global WIM Summit. It will also be presented at Mining Indaba, PDAC, the World Bank’s 2nd Gender Conference, and other events.

In November last year, Diwata’s core group, led by our President, Atty. Joan Adaci-Cattiling, were interviewed by the World Bank’s researcher on the challenges we have faced, the lessons we have learned and our recommendations for strengthening IWIM organizations. Hearing excerpts of the final report, it was heartening to know that our sisters in other IWIM organizations face the same challenges, including difficulty in obtaining funding, dependence on the efforts of volunteers and getting members who are busy with their day jobs to engage. One session that I would have wanted to attend, but missed was on “Role Models and Mentors for Women in Mining”. While women are very well represented in all facets of the mining industry (as geologists, mining engineers, metallurgists, environmental scientists, community relations officers, lawyers, accountants, human resources professionals, adminstrative staff, truck drivers, etc.), we want to see the numbers of women at the very top increase. Recently, the Philippines topped Grant Thornton International’s 2021 Women in Business Report, a global survey among 29 economies on the role of women in senior management. While I do not have the figures for the mining industry, a quick “scan of the room” will show the male mining CEOs still outnumber the women. Thankfully, we have strong figures likes Gloria Tan Climaco, Chairman of the Board of Filminera Resources Corporation and Mt. Labo Exploration and Development Corporation, and Diwata’s own Joan Adaci-Cattiling, President of OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc., as exemplars. Before the March 2020 lockdown, Diwata was scheduled to launch its ‘Industry Leaders’ professional mentorship & networking program (with Gloria Tan Climaco as the first speaker), which is

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RESOURCES COMMENTARY

< Page 12 designed to benefit female professionals through interaction with respected resource persons, professional mentorship and networking opportunities. While it is entirely possible to hold this activity online in the near future, we are still looking forward to in-person connections with our members soon, particularly young women mining professionals who will most benefit from the program. In the eight years of Diwata’s existence, perhaps we have focused on the word “resources” in its name to refer to natural resources, but we have not lost sight of our equally valuable human resources. To build and sustain the mining industry, we must support the professional development and career progression of the women who “hold up half the sky”. *** On February 26, I had the pleasure of emceeing the Philippine Infrastructure & Construction Club’s webinar on the Prime BMD Wawa Weir 2 Project featuring Prime BMD’s CEO J.V. Emmanuel A. “Jocot” De Dios and Director of Operations, Jeff Gallus. They were joined by their colleague, Gisoue (Jeff) Pani, who focused on the technical aspects of the project. Once completed, the Wawa Weir 2 Project is expected to deliver 518 million liters per day (MLD) of water to 500,000 households within Manila Water Co. Inc.’s franchise area. The presentation was very timely as water is a basic necessity that cannot be taken for granted, especially as pointed out by Jocot, our population grows and migration into Metro Manila increases the demand for water. In the webinars that I have hosted and attended, I have noted that the attendees are less shy about asking questions. Perhaps this is because 99% of webinars start punctually compared to live

< Page 10 conference. I noticed that participants in my webinars and lectures were more active in engaging me with their questions and comments. Surprisingly, even technically-challenged seniors have learned to master the internet and online meetings, including screen sharing of their presentations and files. I wish an instant reboot of life if not a total deletion from my memory of the enduring tragedies we experienced in 2020. I desire to return to people interacting without wearing face masks and not conscious of any physical distance. But I realize that our lives will not return to our previous normal overnight. My motto is to survive in order to strive and prepare myself for the new normal. It will be a gradual and slow learning process beset with both small victories and temporary setbacks. Chaos and crises will not follow a timeline. The underlying challenges we encountered in 2020 will continue to haunt us well into the forthcoming years until the virus has totally been eradicated and the traumatic memories would just become a mere footnote in mankind’s history, like the Spanish flu of the previous century. In 2020, we see how quickly our lives changed with the blink of our eyes. We realized that we are not in total control of the world. But the best part is that we are in total control of ourselves and we can

events, and more time can be devoted to the Q&A. In the Q&A on the Wawa Weir 2 Project, the questions ranged from technical to practical (“who do we contact in your company”), but what I found most interesting were Jocot’s responses to observations that Prime BMD appears to have handled its community relations well. In the case of Prime BMD, Jocot says that there is no tried and tested formula or template, but what has worked well for them is ensuring respect for the communities, particularly the indigenous communities, in their project area, constantly engaging with them to understand their needs, and upholding their culture and traditions. This is of course easier said than done, but it seems, at least in this respect, Prime BMD has succeeded where other companies have faced much difficulty.

Patricia A. O. Bunye is a Senior Partner at Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia where she heads its Mining & Natural Resources Department and Energy practice group. She is also the Founding President of Diwata-Women in Resource Development, Inc., a nongovernment organization advocating the responsible development of the Philippines’ wealth in resources, principally through industries such as mining, oil and gas, quarrying, and other mineral resources from the earth for processing.

certainly control how we interact with the world around us. That basically makes all the difference. We hope that 2021 will be a brighter and better year. Perhaps we can find inspiration in the biblical story of Job. After Job was made to suffer all misfortunes and tragedies in life, “…the Lord blessed the later days of Job more than his earlier ones ... Job lived a hundred and forty years; and he saw his children, his grandchildren, and even his greatgrandchildren. Then Job died, old and full of years.” A better 2021 starts with a better “me”. Perhaps after a full year of a better 2021, we can look forward to a 2022 that will be even better. Fernando “Ronnie” S. Penarroyo specializes in Energy and Resources Law, Project Finance and Business Development. He may be contacted at fspenarroyo@ penpalaw.com for any matters or inquiries in relation to the Philippine resources industry. Atty. Penarroyo’s commentaries are also archived at his professional blogsite at www.penarroyo.com. ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

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MINING NEWS

Discovering the World’s Largest Caldera An Interview with Geophysicist Jenny Anne Barretto (Part 2) By Marcelle P. Villegas

ast year, Philippine Resources Journal interviewed geologist and marine geophysicist Jenny Anne Barretto during an online talk show and forum in New Zealand titled “NetKapihan”. She shared the story on how she and her team discovered the world’s largest caldera located in Benham Rise (also known as Philippine Rise) – the Apolaki Caldera. Ms Barretto is a Filipina scientist who works in GNS Science in New Zealand. She graduated with a degree in MSc Geology from the National Institute of Geological Science in University of the Philippines (UP). She was also an instructor in UP for five years. Since 2007, she has been assisting coastal States like the

Philippines and the Sultanate Republic of Oman in delineating their continental shelves as defined in UNCLOS Article 76. Ms Barretto was a key scientist of the technical working group that successfully confirmed the continental shelf of the Philippines in the Benham Rise region. In 2019, Ms Barretto and two colleagues, Ray Wood and John Milsom, published a paper in Marine Geology Journal titled, “Benham Rise unveiled: Morphology and structure of an Eocene large igneous province in the West Philippine Basin”. In this paper, they reported the discovery of what may be the largest caldera in the world. They named this the Apolaki Caldera, a tribute to the “god of sun and war” in Philippine mythology. How big is this caldera? It has a diameter of ~150 km, which is 90 km bigger than the Yellowstone

Caldera in Wyoming, U.S.A. “My co-authors and I were part of the Benham Rise continental shelf technical working group. Back in 2008, we only analyzed the bathymetric, geological, and geophysical data for the purpose of proving that Benham Rise is part of the Philippine continental shelf. That is by showing that Benham Rise is physically connected to Luzon,” Ms Barretto said. On Part 1 of our interview, she also discussed the possible mineral resources available in the area. “With the presence of the caldera, exploration geologists will say that the possible mineral resources are volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits which are significant sources of metals (largely Cu, Zn, Pb ± Au).” She also noted, “The available data supports our interpretation of the existence of the caldera.

(Photo above) Benham Rise - by Google Earth and UP MSI Geological Oceanography Laboratory

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MINING NEWS

“I always say that you don’t have to be a genius or a math wizard to pursue a career in STEM. It may mean working harder, but your love for learning and discovery will sustain you. Never stop being curious and take every opportunity to learn.” — Jenny Anne Barretto < Page 16 However, it is not impossible that other scientists or even us (me and my co-authors) may find later evidence refuting it. It’s just how science works.” For part 2 of this interview, we shall discuss further the features of the Apolaki Caldera, its origins, and possible dangers it might pose future. We also asked Ms Barretto about the difference between working as a scientist here in the Philippines and abroad, plus her message for young people who aspire to pursue a career in science. PRJ: Bathymetric surveys were used to identify the morphology of the caldera. What other data sets (such as seismic or gravimetric surveys) are available to model not only the surface but also the structure of the caldera? Ms Barretto: Yes, multibeam bathymetry data was the primary data used that led to the identification of the caldera. There is only one existing multichannel seismic reflection profile that crossed the caldera from which we identified ~1km of sediment fill, which is unusual for oceanic plateaus because these submarine features are commonly blanketed by thin sediments. Single channel seismic reflection profiles across Benham Rise show less than 500 m sediment blanket which is supported by drill cores from DSDP Site 292. There was also a 2D gravity model which included a thick pocket of sediments in the same location as that depicted on the seismic

profile. I went through all the data we have from 2008 and availed of other data in the public domain. Reading John Milsom’s previous interpretations of seismic and gravity data in Benham Rise, I realized that a way to explain the relatively thick pocket of sediments on the summit that he pointed out was the presence of a caldera. So that began our work together to prove or disprove the presence of a giant caldera on Benham Rise. The seismic interpretation and gravity model were made years before we noticed the caldera feature. The presence of the caldera gave sense to the existence of the thick pocket of sediments. Future work should include deep penetrating 2D multichannel seismic reflection survey complemented by gravity and magnetic studies would help verify the existence of the caldera and associated structures and could also provide insight into magma chamber dimension and geometry. And of course, ultimately drilling within the caldera feature to get rock samples. PRJ: Apolaki Caldera would be far the largest caldera in the world with 150 km diameter. Circular morphological structures of that size are known from impacts of meteors. Hence, could this not be a large impact structure? Ms Barretto: Yes, that’s a possibility that’s why in our paper we compared Apolaki’s

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morphology with both impact craters and known giant calderas. Results of that comparison exercise show that Apolaki exhibit more caldera-like features than impact crater-like features. PRJ: Such a huge caldera requires a similarly large magma-chamber or call it a huge “hot-spot”. Hot spots in the earth mantle are relatively stable but the earth crust is moving over such a hotspot and creates a chain of volcanoes (see Hawaii island chain). In the case of Apolaki, the crust was not moving over the hot spot and volcanic activities occurred at stable positions. Could that not be an indication that the volcanic activity was much smaller without forming a caldera? Hence, the structure might be caused by an impact? Ms Barretto: Yes, huge calderas imply an underlying equally sized magma chamber. In our paper, we suggested that the formation of the Apolaki Caldera (the collapse) may not have been simply caused by magma withdrawal from its magma chamber. Pre-existing large-scale structures (i.e., faults and rifts) related to seafloor spreading and rifting most likely facilitated the collapse. The lithosphere on which Benham Rise (and of course, Apolaki Caldera) was moving over a hot spot. The mantle plume or hot spot supplying the magma chamber that formed Apolaki Caldera is believed (by scientists who have worked in the region) to coincide with a

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MINING NEWS

< Page 17 spreading ridge (the now extinct Central Basin Spreading Center). So as spreading was occurring, the lithospheric plates on either side of the spreading ridge were moving away from the ridge. At the same time, the mantle plume underneath was supplying magma in excess of what the spreading ridge would normally produce and therefore create a chain of oceanic plateaus. Each oceanic plateau is split as the lithospheric plates moved away from the spreading ridge creating paired plateaus on either side, like twins. Urdaneta Plateau is interpreted by many ay Benham Rise’s twin. They are equidistant from the Central Basin Spreading Center and have similar ages. Oki-Daito Rise is an older oceanic plateau on the Urdaneta Plateau’s side. It was hypothesized by Ishizuka et al. (2013) that its twin which is supposed to be on Benham Rise’s side has either subducted or accreted with the Philippines. PRJ: Do you think the presence of the Apolaki Caldera will put the Filipino fishermen in danger in the future? Ms Barretto: No. Available data show that volcanism ended on Benham Rise (including its spurs) about 26 million years ago. Threat of a volcanic eruption in that area is very low. PRJ: What are your future projects or current endeavors with regards to marine geophysics and geology? Ms Barretto: For New Zealand, I’m currently involved in a research programme looking at next generation geothermal resources. I help put together available magnetic data for the Taupo Volcanic Zone which will help find deeper geothermal energy sources. I’m also leading a science education outreach project funded by the NZ government. My team and I will bring an augmented reality sandbox in different remote North Island primary schools teaching students about land and water interaction. For the Philippines, I’m currently doing research with John Milsom and Ronaldo

Gatchalian of NAMRIA about the gravity variations over the Zambales Ophiolite. There’s also ongoing work to explain the Luzon syntaxis (the bent shape of Luzon). There’s more work to be done on Benham Rise, but at the moment we are unable to find funds to do them. PRJ: What are some of the challenges or difficulties you have experienced as a geologist/marine geophysicist in the Philippines? How does it compare pursuing this career in New Zealand? Ms Barretto: Funding for research is always a challenge for scientists anywhere in the world, but more so in developing countries like the Philippines. Like anywhere, we scientists in NZ need to write proposals and compete for government funding. However, there is more funding for research available here in NZ than in the Philippines. There is more support for scientists. Working in NZ is also more relaxed with no need to beat the traffic to and from work. Even if government pay in NZ is less compared to industry, it is still enough to have a decent living. Back in PH, I have to do

consultancy work in addition to my teaching job at UP to make ends meet. PRJ: For the young people, what message would you like to impart to them that would encourage them to pursue a career in geology or in any field in science? Ms Barretto: I always say that you don’t have to be a genius or a math wizard to pursue a career in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics]. It may mean working harder, but your love for learning and discovery will sustain you. Never stop being curious and take every opportunity to learn. Acknowledgment: Thank you, Ms Jenny Anne Barretto for sharing your amazing story, and GNS Science for the opportunity to write about this discovery and study. Thank you, Sir Rene Molina and NetKapihan for inviting me as panelist in your radio show in New Zealand. PRJ would also like to thank Dr Friedrich Bandelow for his contribution in the technical discussion in the interview, and science journalist Angelica Yang for guidance and support. ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

MINING NEWS

Carmen Copper suspends all mining operations due to December landslide

Amid the holiday festivities in Toledo City in Cebu, a sudden tragedy happened in a mining pit in Barangay Biga

n 21 Dec. 2020, a Monday, Carmen Copper Corporation (CCC) said that the landslide happened at around 4:15pm at the Carmen Pit. The day after, it was reported that 4 employees died while 6 are still missing. Several miners were also rushed to the Carmen Copper Hospital following the landslide. [1] From a public statement released by CCC, they said “The incident was traceable to the incessant rains for the past several months and aggravated by Typhoon Vicky which hit parts of the Visayas, including Toledo City last Friday, December 18, 2020.” “The Management of CCC is doing all the necessary action to assess and address the overall situation. We will continue to inform the concerned agencies as

well the general public of further developments.” CCC suspended all mining operations in the area to ensure the safety of its employees and contractors. [1] “We humbly ask the general public to exercise caution and responsibility in distributing information out of respect to the affected families. We would like to extend our utmost gratitude to private groups and the Toledo City Government Emergency Response team for extending valuable assistance in our search and rescue operations.” “We are also in close coordination and communication with concerned government agencies as we continue to conduct all necessary actions to assess and address the situation.” [2] The Mines and Geosciences

WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM • ISSUE 1 2021

Bureau (MGB) said that they will do an investigation on the landslide incident. The mining operation is temporarily suspended pending the result of the investigation, according to MGB Director Wilfredo Moncano. He emphasised that the Toledo copper mine passed the Mining Industry Coordinating Council’s independent audit for 2020. [1] CCC is a subsidiary of Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation (or “Atlas Mining”). They have an operating agreement with Atlas Mining and has exclusive operating rights over the in situ mineral resources and ore reserves of Carmen, Lutopan and Biga mineral deposits. These are collectively known as Toledo copper mine which covers 1,674 hectares. Currently, 276 hectares out of the total operating area is

21 Dec. 2020 – Landslide at Carmen pit — A screenshot from the video sent to SunStar Cebu

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MINING NEWS

< Page 19 an active mining site. The Atlas Copper Complex is located in Don Andres Soriano (Lutopan), Toledo City, in the province of Cebu which is 365 miles or 570 km south of Metro Manila. [3] Moncano said via a text message to reporters, “Initial findings indicate that Typhoon Vicky exacerbated the already waterlogged limestone and mudstone layer from the prior typhoon that weakens its contact with the intrusive rock base. This is the material that went down to the pit bottom. A fault line called the Barot fault was also observed in the slide area and may have contributed to the landslide.” [1] Rocky Dimaculangan, Vice President for Communications and National Coordinator for Towards Sustainable Mining sent this message to the media, “The important thing is for the industry to learn lessons from incidents such as this to continue to improve on its protocols and practices. Undoubtedly the industry as a whole will absorb the lessons from this incident.” Last 4th of Dec. 2020, Dimaculangan was a speaker at the Philippine Mining Club Webinar on “Towards Sustainable Mining: Beyond Compliance”. As for the host communities where the mine site is located, they have their own issues against the mining operations of CCC. According to Biga Barangay Captain Pedro Sepada, CCC’s mining activities were the subject of complaints filed by its host barangay since 2019. Their complaints were forwarded to

MGB Central Visayas (MGB-7). Sepada stated in a phone interview by Rappler, “During our consultative meetings, we really asked what exactly was the standard distance between the mining operations area and the residential area. MGB said there is no standard distance.” [4] Sepada also said that this was not the first time an incident had occurred. He said that the mining pit had collapsed in 2013, which claimed the life of his relative. [4] In response to the recent tragedy, Toledo City government’s emergency response team extended their assistance in the ongoing search and rescue operation. Toledo City Mayor Marjorie “Joie” Piczon-Perales is also coordinating with CCC. [4] According to Toledo City Information Officer, John Layan, Toledo City will be providing financial assistance to the families of the victims. “As per information from our mayor, our assistance is

now in place. We are just finalizing some documentary requirements.” [5] Layan also stated that the other than the City Government’s logistical support to CCC for the search and rescue operation, Mayor Perales requested the help of Philippine Coast Guard for divers and boats for the search and rescue operation. [5] – Marcelle P. Villegas, PRJ

21 Dec. 2020, Toledo City, Cebu – Carmen Copper Corporation, Mayor Marjorie “Joie” Piczon-Perales and government agencies. Toledo City Public Information Office FB page

References: [1] Mayuga, Jonathan L. (23 Dec. 2020). Business Mirror. “Carmen Coper halts mine operations”. Retrieved from - https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2020/12/23/ carmen-copper-halts-mineoperations/ [2] Press release from Carmen Copper Corp. (22 Dec. 2020) [3] Carmen Copper Corp. company website - https://www. atlasmining.com.ph/about-us/ carmen-copper-corporation [4] Sitchon, John (22 Dec. 2020). Rappler. “At least 4 dead, 6 missing after collapse of Cebu mine”. Retrieved from - https://www. rappler.com/nation/death-tollcollapse-toledo-cebu-mining-pitdecember-22-2020 [5] MVG, WBS, JOB (22 Dec. 2020). SunStar Cebu. “Carmen Copper mine landslide death toll now at 4”. Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/ article/1880861/Cebu/Local-News/ Carmen-Copper-mine-landslidedeath-toll-now-at-4 22 Dec. 2020, Toledo City, Cebu – Search and Rescue Operation at Carmen Copper Corp. -- Establishment of Incident Command Post with Carmen Copper Corporation and Mayor Marjorie “Joie” Piczon-Perales. Chile Perolino, Toledo City Public Information Office FB page

ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

MINING NEWS

The Aftermath of the Carmen Copper Mine Landslide By Marcelle P. Villegas

OLEDO CITY, Cebu -- After the tragic landslide that occurred at the open pit’s north wall at around 4:15 p.m. on Monday, 21 Dec. 2020, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region 7 ordered the immediate suspension of the mine operations in Carmen Copper Corporation (CCC). According to MGB’s report last 22 Dec. 2020 on their official website, they stated “Initial investigations revealed there was no mining activity in the area on that day.” [1] On that day, landslide debris fell on the water at the pit bottom. This has an elevation of 41m above sea level. The landslide created a tsunami-like wave that reached an elevation of 105m in the southern portion of the pit where the workers were located. On 22 Dec. 2020, four fatalities were recorded along with six missing. [1] Further on, an assessment of the area was conducted by Director Pacquito Melicor Jr. (DENR Central Visayas Regional Executive Director), Director Armando Malicse (MGB 7 Regional Director), MGB Region 7 team, and Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division. CCC and Toledo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management team continued their search and retrieval operations on a limited scale due to unstable condition. MGB 7 technical personnel continues its on-site inspection and investigation in accordance with R.A. 7942 (Philippine Mining Act of 1995) and the DENR Administrative Order Nos. 2010-21 (Consolidated IRR of RA 7942) and 2000-98 (Mine Safety and Health Standards). [1] A list of names of workers who died was given by CCC to the Toledo Police Station Chief, Lt. Col. Junnel Caadlawon. The second list contains the names of those who are still missing. [2] Those who died from the landslide are the following: 1. Junil S. Lagola, age 44, from Barangay Don Andres

Soriano, leadman. 2. Ernesto G. Caspe, age 54, from Dasmamac, Lutopan, checker. 3. Juan M. Tapang, age 44, from Don Andres Soriano, heavy equipment operator 4. Dionisio Labang, from Barangay Uling, Naga, backhoe operator/Anseca Contractor. Those who are still missing are the following: 1. Jose B. Carpentero, age 31, from Barangay Biga, heavy equipment operator from Mine Services Department. 2. Jonwel S. Herediano, age 33, from Barangay Don Andres Soriano, pump operator. 3. Simeon B. Laconas, age 33, from Barangay Biga, leadman - mine services department. 4. John Paul L. Resuelo, age 27, from Barangay Biga, heavy equipment operator. 5. Renante F. Sepada, age 35, from Barangay Bagakay, pump operator. 6. Alfred C. Tautho, age 33, from Barangay Mainggit, welder. Carmen Copper Corp. (CCC) expressed their support and commitment to provide free

WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM • ISSUE 1 2021

education until college and allowances to all the children of its employees who died or are still missing after the tragedy. Based on a press statement of the company last 27 Dec. 2020, CCC has provided various forms of financial and other assistance to the immediate families of its deceased workers. [3] Additionally, CCC also offered employment opportunities for the victims’ next of kin, spouse, and children. “CCC has given the same attention to the immediate family of the missing CCC employees and will afford them of the same commitments CCC provided to the family of the deceased,” according to the company’s statement. CCC also extended support to the family of the contractor who was among the victims. [3] On 8 Feb. 2021, Toledo City Mayor Marjorie Piczon-Perales along with Vice-Mayor Jay B. Go met the families of the victims at the open shed of the City Hall Garden to provide them with “ayuda” or financial assistance. This was posted on the Toledo City Public Information Office social

The aftermath of the Carmen Copper Mine landslide last December 2020. News5 Twitter page

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MINING NEWS

< Page 21 media page. The mayor granted the families of deceased workers the amount of Php15 million. For the victims who are injured, they were given Php5 million. Additionally, they were all given food packs. [4] On 29 Jan. 2021, the Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go distributed assistance to the Toledo City residents who were affected by the landslide in CCC mine. This was held at the Carmen Copper Recreation Center. During the distribution, 248 families received meals, financial assistance, food packs, vitamins, face masks and face shields. Senator Go also gave bicycles and shoes to selected recipients, and computer tablets for their children to be used for online classes. Health and safety protocols were strictly implemented to avoid the further spread of COVID-19. The Senator was not present during the distribution but he sent them a video message with words of encouragement. [5] Senator Go also offered to aid those who needed major medical operations such as heart surgeries. He urged those in need of such medical attention to seek assistance from any of the Malasakit Centers in the province. [5] While the local and national government along with CCC were busy sending assistance to the families of the victims of the December landslide, the mining industry in general received backlash from various groups who believe that the deaths and injuries could have been prevented. Barely a month before the landslide, there had been reports from residents of Barangay Biga in Toledo City who claim they warned officials of the MGB Central Visayas and CCC about large cracks in the village prior to the landslide. However, they said their appeal was not properly addressed. [6] Biga Barangay Captian Pedro Sepada Jr. told a local newspaper in Cebu last 29 Dec. 2020 that prior to the landslide, barangay officials called for an emergency consultative meeting on 26 Nov. 2020 with representatives of CCC, MGB 7 and Biga residents to talk about the possible measures to be done after the cracks were discovered. Sepada said that MGB 7 Director Armando Malicse and

CCC Vice President for Safety, Ignas Alburo were present. No representative from the Toledo City government was present. Sepada noted that during the meeting, they were not given a concrete response or alternative solution by CCC or MGB to provide assurance to the residents that they will all be safe while mining operations are ongoing. But Sepada said that they were simply told by MGB 7 and CCC officials that their place remained safe. [6] According to the local news reports in Toledo City, residents now believe the huge cracks caused the fatal landslide. “It was only after the landslide last Dec. 21, that they declared our area to be unsafe within a radius of 600-meter distance from the pipeline of Carmen Copper. They now say it’s unsafe. What happened to their guarantee of safety before?” [6] Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said last December they shall leave the investigation to MGB before implementing any course of action. She mentioned that she would leave it up to the MGB 7 to decide whether CCC has any liability. Garcia said: “The investigation is not our expertise nor is that our mandate. MGB has already issued a suspension of operations and MGB is going to undertake the

investigation. So let’s put things in proper perspective. While the investigation is ongoing, perhaps it is best to wait for the results.” [6] “I am not taking any sides. I want to be as objective as possible. However, there are some personalities who are not as objective because they have their own interest in Carmen Copper. They want to control so that they can do business with Carmen Copper. This is a warning to those who want to make it difficult,” the governor said. Garcia also noted that CCC mining operations have given so much to Toledo City in terms of employment and the city’s development. She said that a thorough investigation is needed in order to prevent those with “personal interest” in the mining operations of CCC from ruining the lives of so many people working there. [6] Garcia assured the Province will assist and support to the families of miners who died and those who remain missing after the landslide. [6] Renester P. Suraltra, a college professor, wrote a commentary last December on SunStar Cebu with the title “Toledo tragedy: The untold story.” He wrote, “Who is always responsible for any mining accident? Is it nature or man? Who is at fault? Is it the bad weather or

On 8 Feb. 2021 at City Hall Garden, Toledo Mayor Marjorie Perales distributed aid from the local government to the families of the workers who were victimized in the Carmen Copper Corp. tragedy. Cedi Dug, posted on Toledo City Public Information Office Facebook Page

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ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

MINING NEWS

First Offshore Magnetite Iron Mining in the PH By Marcelle P. Villegas

ast December, Apollo Global Capital’s (PSE: APL) subsidiary, JDVC Resources Corporation, announced that Department of Environment and Natural Resources granted them a permit to start the commercial operations of the country’s first offshore magnetite iron mining project. According to JDVC and APL consultant, Jun Herrera, the mining operations in Cagayan are expected to start by mid or end of February. He said that the first newly-built deep sea mining vessel arrived in Cagayan and needed to take shelter for now due to strong sea currents. In relation to this project, they assured the government that there will be minimal impact on the marine ecosystem as per the studies and survey conducted by a Singaporebased company. Their study shows that there is no coral or aquamarine life within the mining area which is located 150 meters below sea level. Herrera stated that three more vessels are expected to arrive this year. The vessel is capable of commercial extraction, sampling, testing and production of magnetite

< Page 22 the safety engineer?” “Accidents may happen in the workplace, but it can also be avoided. We can’t discount the fact that accidents can happen because of unsafe supervision, lack of situation awareness, and failure to identify the potential threat. That’s the job of the safety engineer under the direction and supervision of sympathetic and responsible management. If workers are dying

iron. [1] With regards to the apprehension of some residents of Ballesteros in Cagayan that this offshore mining operation will destroy the coral ecosystem, APL addressed the issue by stating that such assumption by the locals has no basis. APL stated last January, “We won’t even be mining in their waters. In the first place, our mining operation will be in the waters of Buguey and Gonzaga towns, and at a distance of over 14 kilometers. That’s more than two horizon lengths away from the shoreline.” Lazaro Ramos, a resident of Ballesteros, sent a formal complaint to DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu. Ramos warned them of the possible “catastrophe” that the offshore mining will bring about should it resumes. He mentioned in comparison a study conducted by Craig Smith from the University of Hawaii regarding the ocean seabed in the NE Pacific abyssal waters. APL, however, contradicted this argument by Ramos and said that the study by Craig Smith is applicable to a different part of the ocean and not necessarily comparable with the mining site in Cagayan.

frequently then responsible mining is a big issue.” “There is another lesson to be learned in the Toledo mining tragedy. We should never compromise safety and security. We can’t always blame nature out of man’s folly. One should think that the mining industry provides shortterm revenue but long-term harmful effect on nature and the environment. Life is much more precious than copper and gold.” [7]

References: [1] Mines and Geosciences Bureau Press Release (22 Dec. 2020).”Carmen Copper Mine In-Pit Landslide Incident”. [2] ANV (23 Dec. 2020). SunStar Cebu. “Listahan sa namatay, missing sa Carmen pit gipagawas”. [3] WBS and PR (27 Dec. 2020). SunStar Cebu. “Carmen Copper Corp. commits to help landslide victims’ families”.

“That’s a different part of the Pacific. It looks at the ocean bed more than 200 meters below sea level, whereas we can only go down to 150 meters with current technology. Moreover, the Smith study did not look at magnetite iron reserves. From the experience of countries like Indonesia, Japan and New Zealand, magnetite iron is known to be toxic to corals, fish and other aquamarine life.” Moreover, JDVC emphasised on the study results done by the Singapore-based survey company whom they commissioned to conduct a full “sea bottom profile” of its mining tenements off Cagayan. As mentioned, their study reveals no corals or aquamarine life in the area. APL also reported that they have done their part in coordinating with the locals and providing corporate social responsibility activities for the residents of Buguey and Gonzaga. “We’re proud to say that over 90 percent of the residents support us and are even anxious for us to get started.” According to Herrera, the municipalities of Aparri, Buguey and Gonzaga received funding from the Development Bank of the Philippines. These are the

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On 29 Jan. 2021 at the Carmen Copper Recreation Center, the Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go distributed assistance to hundreds of residents affected by the Carmen Copper Mine landslide. Office of the Presidential Assistant for Visayas Facebook Page

[4] Toledo City Public Information Office Facebook Page (8 Feb. 2021). “Families of the victims of the land in Biga Pit Gitagaan ug ayuda in Toledo”. [5] Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Facebook Page (31 Jan. 2021). “Hundreds of Toledo City, Cebu residents affected by a copper mine landslide receive assistance from Senator Bong Go”.

[6] Sabalo, Wenilyn (30 Dec. 2020). SunStar Cebu. “Biga chief claims please ignored before landslide”. Retrieved from - https://www.sunstar. com.ph/article/1881418/Cebu/Local-News/Bigachief-claims-pleas-ignored-before-landslide [7] Suralta, Renester P. (27 Dec. 2020). SunStar Cebu. “Tell it to SunStar: Toledo tragedy: The untold story”. Retrieved from - https:// www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1881194

ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

MINING NEWS

< Page 24 municipalities covered by the mining project. DBP grated JDVC a grant worth $8-million credit line for the magnetite iron mining project. Herrera said, “We have proven to them [DBP] that it’s environmentally safe.” He added, “The DBP loan has zero borrowings yet as of now, hence, our company remains to be zero debts and internally funded by our shareholders. The DBP loan will only kick off once we have the letter of credit presented to the bank for the discounting the letter of credit of export buyers, to obtain a 90-day working capital, to fund the production of the ordered iron ore.” This project is seen as profitable, because magnetite mining has a strong market globally. In China, for example, they consider the steel industry as their “roadmap for their economic recovery”. Herrera mentioned that JVDC is an ISO-certified company. This means that there is an assurance that they shall comply with environmental standards. With all these assurances of a promising mining project ahead, some still have apprehension about it, perhaps rooting down to past incidents. In November 2020, the Cagayan Valley region was greatly affected by the Super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoon Ulysses. The two simultaneous typhoons are classified as category-5 and category-4 tropical cyclones respectively. As an effect, the devastation was great marked by massive flooding in Isabela and Cagayan provinces. [2] The residents in those areas blame the National Irrigation Association (NIA) for the flood when they opened the floodgates of the nearby Magat Dam on the last minute. The two provinces were submerged in high waters as high as a two-storey building. NIA on the other hand firmly contradicted such claim and explained that the release of water from Magat Dam was not the main cause of flooding. NIA points out that proper and sufficient warnings were given to those communities in low-lying areas. Additionally, they stated that the volume of water released was only 25% of the carrying capacity of the Cagayan River. The river is the longest stream in the Philippines that serves as the catch basin of the nine provinces in three regions. [2] Aside from the two typhoons, a second issue related with the river

was about the illegal magnetite mining at the mouth of the Cagayan River in the municipality of Aparri. The provincial board of Cagayan appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019 to stop the dredging operations of Pacific Offshore Exploration, Inc. (POEI) due to potential threat to the environment and the livelihood of the locals. The Chinese company Zhong Hai Gravel Group headed by Dong Biao Su is POEI’s partner in that operation. The company was controversial recently after the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Coast Guard raided its Zhonhai 68 dredging vessel during a maritime security patrol off the Bataan coast. “Bureau of Customs are poised to issue a warrant of seizure and detention against the undocumented vessel.” However, the Chinese Embassy in Manila claimed that the vessel is technically non-Chinese because it is registered under an African flag of convenience. [2] Currently, JDVC Resources Corp. is the first and only company that was granted a declaration of mining project feasibility by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to extract magnetite sand and other minerals in Cagayan. In response to Cagayan’s decade-old black sand mining problem, the launching of Cagayan River Rehabilitation Project last February 2 is seen to solve the problem. DENR stated early in February that mining regulations will strictly monitor the extraction of magnetite or black sand in the coastal waters and rivers of Cagayan province. [3] With regards to APL’s/JDVC Resources Corp.’s offshore magnetite iron mining, MGB Director Wilfredo Monaco stated the project has gone through an environmental impact assessment system processes and the company

WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM • ISSUE 1 2021

has secured an environmental clearance certificate (ECC) from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). [3] “JDVC has undergone environmental impact assessment and the company was issued an ECC, which means environmental issues have been considered by the EMB,” Moncano stated. Magnetite or black sand mining is supposed to be banned in the Philippines, but Moncano explained that the extraction of the said mineral offshore is allowed. He said, “Mining in shoreline is prohibited but offshore mining is allowed. If it is at least 1,500 meters from the shoreline going out to the sea, it is allowed.” He also assured that the company’s operation will be monitored by the MGB and EMB, that in case of any destruction or damage to the coastal or marine ecosystem by JDVC Resources Corp., there will be a corresponding penalty under the mining law. “What is important is that the JDVC will not cause damage to the coastal or marine ecosystem,” he said. As for mining in rivers like in the Cagayan River, it is also allowed as long as the primary purpose of the project is river rehabilitation or restoration. One example is their plan to extract some 7 million metric tons of sand to remove three of the 19 sandbars along is stretch. Moncano said that the DENR-MGB will also monitor the dredging operations because while the activity is primarily flood mitigation, the minerals to be extracted include magnetite sand. [3] Moncano stated, “Black sand mining is also part of the purposes that’s why we will assess the mineral content of the river channel. If the magnetite sand contained surpasses the threshold of 6 percent, we will charge the company of 4-percent excise tax.” He said that every shipment will undergo mineral assessment.

Reference: [1] Flores, Alena Mae S. (31 Jan. 2021). Manila Standard. “Apollo Global announces subsidiary’s start of magnetite mining operations in Cagayan”. [2] Gamboa, J. Albert (5 Feb. 2021). Business World. “Building back better in Cagayan Valley”. [3] Mayuga, Jonathan L. (4 Feb. 2021). Business Mirror. “MGB exec vows to keep tabs of Cagayan River magnetite quarry operations set to start in February”.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Boiler Efficiency for Reduced Carbon Emission and Cost A case study of the GNPower coal power plant By Marcelle P. Villegas

NPower Ltd. Co. (or “GNPower”) is a private limited partnership that was organised and established in 1997 by PMR Holding Corp. as its sole general partner and PMR Limited Co. as limited partner. The company aims to develop, operate and own power generation projects and associated facilities in the Philippines. Through the years, there were changes in the corporate structure and partnerships. By June 2014, the sole general partner of GNPower is GNPower Holdings GP Corporation which is owned by Power Partners, while Power Partners is the sole limited partner. With regards to their coal energy project, it started way back in 2005. On that year, the partnership began the development of a coal-fired project. It was their first step in creating an “integrated, multifuel electricity generation and fuel handling energy complex”. [1] Five years later, the GNPower began the construction of a

2x316MW (net) clean pulverized coal-fired power plant located in Mariveles, Bataan, Philippines (“Mariveles Project”). In this project, GNPower and Power Partners own a significant minority position through their ownership of GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd. Co. (GMCP). GMCP is the special purpose vehicle established to construct, own and operate the Mariveles Project. [1] In 2013, the coal-fired facility was declared commercially available in the market. It is GNPower’s pioneer project and is the largest greenfield power project that was built in Luzon after the enactment of EPIRA in 2001. GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd. Co. is now referred to as GNPower Mariveles Energy Center Ltd. Co. Coal is considered a baseload energy resource in the Philippines as it is sufficiently cost-effective in providing a consistent supply of power. Currently, there are 28 coalfired power plants operating throughout the Philippines. [2] One competitive and significant factor in the industry is the

plant’s ability to supply adequate power while burning less coal in the process. In relation to this, a study was conducted by a group of experts to determine how cost-efficient is the operation in the Mariveles Coal Plant. What are the possible strategies they can or have implemented to assure boiler efficiency that utilizes less coal? What is the significance of this study with regards to protecting the environment through reduced carbon emission? “A Study of the Changes in Efficiency of a Coal Fired Boiler Following the Conversion to a Dry Bottom Ash Handling System” is a study done by Artemio Boado (Plant Manager, Mariveles Power Plant), Zhao Peng (Engineering Manager, Qingdao Daneng), Steven Hou (General Manager, Int’l Business of Qingdao Daneng), Wang Yong (Chairman, Qingdao Daneng) and Edgardo B. Cruz (President, Philippine Coal Plant User Group). The study aims to determine and analyze the boiler efficiency of Unit 2 of Phase 1 of GN Power Mariveles, according to measured data before and after

The GNPower coal power plant in Mariveles, Bataan. https://www. gnpower.com.ph/ projects/

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ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

MINING NEWS

Cagdianao Mining, Nickel Asia companies are Environmental Champions for 2020

ALENCIA, Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands – For two consecutive years, the Cagdianao Mining Corp. (CMC) has been chosen as a winner of the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA), the Philippine mineral industry’s highest accolade. Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Wilfredo Moncano announced the award in a recent letter, the company said in a statement to the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Moncano said PMIEA’s virtual awarding ceremony would take place within the month. The CMC, an affiliate of Nickel Asia Corp., also took home the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award in 2019 during the 66th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) held in Baguio City. It also bagged the two highest safety performance awards during that year – the Safest Surface Mines and the Overall Safest Mine Operations among all operating mining companies in the country. On top of being a Presidential awardee for 2020, CMC was also declared a runner-up for the safest surface operation category. CMC’s sister company, Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. (RTNMC), based in Bataraza in Palawan, also won the coveted award for this year. RTNMC has previously won the award thrice – 2002, 2015 and 2018. ‘Going beyond’ Engineer Arnilo C. Milaor, CMC resident mine manager, said the recognition was proof not only of the company’s strict adherence to mining regulations but also of its “long tradition of going above and beyond” government mandates “to create the highest good” for the community

and the environment. “The award is made more significant because of the unprecedented challenges posted by COVID-19. Our employees had to exert double efforts and had to sacrifice personal time in order to achieve our goals, to ensure 100 percent implementation of our commitments to all our stakeholders in the mining communities,” Milaor said. He noted that PMIEA “is the ultimate measure upon which everyone in the Philippine mineral sector is weighed and scrutinized by a competent panel of adjudicators under the aegis of no less than the Office of the President, upon whose name this award is given to deserving mining companies.” Meanwhile, Cagdianao Mayor Adolfo E. Longos also noted that the company’s “first PMIEA award has truly ignited your desire to do more and this time is an unquestionable proof of your commitment and dedication to a responsible mining despite difficulty brought about by COVID-19 pandemic.” “I am confident that you deserve another PMIEA Award in the next years to come,” Longos was quoted as saying. Environment, social, workplace safety programs According to CMC, the company spent P55.5 million last year for its Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP), covering land management, water resources quality, air quality, noise quality, conservation of biodiversity, research and development, monitoring, and compliance. It also spent some P45.2 million for social development programs in the same period, which the company said has increased the average monthly income of families living within its host and neighboring communities by 25.7

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percent over the years. Social development initiatives have also reduced by 47.3 percent the residents’ yearly health expenditures, it added. To ensure workplace safety, CMC said it has spent more than PHP13.5 last year on technologies, tools, and training to empower workers, ensuring they adapt to the changing working environment. Executive Order 399, which established the PMIEA in 1997, said the award is given to operating mines that have shown exemplary performance in environmental enhancement and protection, safety, health, social development, and corporate social responsibility.

The PMIEA trophy depicts environmental excellence in every stage of mining operation. It speaks of pro-people and pro-environment characteristics of the mining industry in sustaining wealth creation and improving the quality of life.

INDUSTRY NEWS

< Page 26 the conversion of the bottom ash system from wet to dry which was implemented in March 2018. [3] From their report, GN Power Mariveles Phase 1 consists of 2 x 340 MW T-fired sub critical coal fired boilers (Originally 2 x 316MW). The boilers were supplied by Harbin Boiler Company of China. This has a wet bottom handling system which consisted of a hopper under the boiler, sealing plate, submerged scraper conveyor, cooling water system, silo and discharger. The wet system was later converted to dry system by Qingdao Daneng Environmental Protection Equipment Incorporated Company (or Qingdao) utilizing their patented DUNOCON conveyor technology. “Both units were converted and commissioned in a standard scheduled 30-day boiler outage with Unit 2 converted in March 2018 and Unit 1 in February 2019. Since commissioning, both units dry bottom ash systems have operated well and without issue.” [3] “When considering a pulverized coal fired boiler, the application of dry bottom ash handling technology is well proven and has several key advantages over those utilizing water for the cooling and transportation of bottom ash. Along with the elimination of water handling and treatment, reduced power consumption, reduced maintenance etc, a significant amount of energy can be returned to the boiler from the reduction of energy losses at the boiler throat, waste heat from the bottom ash and the reduction of unburnt carbon in the bottom ash.” [3] “However, in order to realize these potential benefits, the dry bottom ash system needs to be carefully designed and operated to ensure that the cooling air quantity and distribution through the conveyor and into the boiler are optimised.” [3] Boiler efficiency testing standard For this study, the efficiency of the boiler unit is determined

basically by following the testing standard ASME PTC-4.1. (Further calculation methods not considered in ASME PTC-4.1 have been supplemented to compute for the credits specifically due to the adoption of dry bottom ash technology. [3]) There are two ways to compute for the boiler efficiency testing: (1) direct method (2) indirect method. Direct method is obtained by the ratio of energy gain of working fluid (water or steam)

compared to the energy input into the boiler. Here is the formula they used (See Figure 1) Comparative analysis of boiler efficiency

(1) Direct method (See Tables 2 and 3 and Figure 2) Based on Table 1 and Figure 2, that coal consumption has reduced by an average of

Figures 1 and 2 and Tables 1 and 2 (from top).

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ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

INDUSTRY NEWS

< Page 28 2.12% over a boiler load range of 320 MW to 340 MW since the retrofit conversion of Unit 2 to a Dry Bottom Ash System. Table 2 is the operating data from the owner with the boiler load between 339 and 340 MW which can be used to calculate the boiler efficiency using the ASME PTC4.1 direct method. [3] (See Table 2) (2) Indirect Method For the Indirect Method, the study explored the various factors in measuring the efficiency of the boiler system. These factors include: a) dry flue gas heat loss (See Table 3) Dry flue gas heat loss is the main reason of boiler heat loss. Using formula (2), various heat losses are discussed here: (See Table 4, next page) Based on this data, there is no significant change in the flue gas temperature at the inlet of air preheater, and the oxygen content decreases. With the help of the advanced air control DUNOCON system, “the cooling air quantity is controlled quantitatively to the maximum extent”, thus no excess air enters the boiler through dry bottom ash handling system. The other dry system has multiple air doors, but DUNOCON has only one air door on the head of the conveyor which is interlocked with the ash temperature of conveyor outlet. As an effect, “the cooling air quantity has been limited to maximum extent under the premise of ensuring the ash cool down effect”. [3] The DUNOCON also has a special penetration heat transfer design that improves the cooling efficiency and reduces the need for cooling the air. In addition, this helps the unburned carbon at the bottom ash re-burn and recovers its heat. In this part of the study, the boiler efficiency is increased by 0.382%. ----Other factors under indirect method: b) heat loss due to evaporation of water formed due to H2 in the coal, c) heat loss due to H20 in the coal

air

d) heat loss due to H20 in the

e) heat loss due to incomplete combustion of combustible gas “The heat loss due to the incomplete combustion is principally concerned with the losses resulting from incomplete combustion of the gaseous products such as CO, H2 and various other hydrocarbons which can potentially be found in the flue gas of a boiler. Considering Mariveles Unit 2 is a large modern Utility Boiler, then we will assume that the losses through the incomplete combustion of gases is negligible for this study.” [3] f) heat loss due to Boiler Surface Heat Loss, Radiant Heat Loss, and Convective Heat Loss “This study assumes that the Boiler Surface Heat Loss and Convective Heat Loss will not be have been affected by the changes to the bottom ash system. However, due to the change from wet system to dry system, the radiant heat at the boiler throat is recovered back to the boiler by the cooling air.” Based on their calculations, the boiler efficiency is increased

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by 0.11% because of the radiant heat recovered through the cooling air. g) heat loss due to unburnt in fly ash i) heat loss due to bottom ash in the wet system All the bottom ash is cooled by the water. As a result, there is a loss of all the sensible heat associated with the bottom ash. In comparison, the dry system uses the cooling air to recover the bottom ash sensible heat and reintroduces it to the boiler. In addition, part of the unburned carbon in the ash can burned during the transportation process and the heat will be recovered by cooling air. Also, those heat generated improves the boiler efficiency. ----Regarding the carbon combustion quantity during the conveying period, the study reported the following test list: Carbon content in wet ash 4.59% Carbon content in dry ash 3.5% This shows that about 1.09% of the carbon in the dry bottom ash reburns and releases heat.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

< Page 29 Those heat is also brought back to the boiler by the cooling air. The unique penetrating cooling action of the DUNOCON system increases the contact area between the bottom ash and the cooling air, and increases the combustion probability of carbon. Qt=174876 KJ/hr from the formula (16), the boiler efficiency increases R2=0.016%. [3] To sum up, the efficiency of the boiler is increased by 0.51% after the retrofit in indirect method. Cost and energy conservation a) From the table 1, the average coal consumption before and after the retrofit of boiler is 208t/h and 204.45t/h under 330~340MW. Assuming that the annual operating time of 8000h, the annual coal saving is about 28,400t. [3] b) Comparing this with the wet bottom ash handling system, the dry system has no circulating water system, thus the system is simpler and the operation is fully automatic. Additionally, the power consumption of dry system is lower than wet system. c) After the retrofit, the daily maintenance work of dry system is almost zero. Compared with the wet system, it saves a lot of labor cost for the power plant. d) Studies show that for every 1% increase in boiler efficiency, 2% of carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced [5], so the dry system also contributes to the reduction of emissions. (See figure on this page) In conclusion, based on the study and analysis, the Unit 2 boiler efficiency of GN Power Mariveles Plant increased about 0.51% after retrofit to DUNOCON dry bottom ash handling system. The reduction of flue gas quantity is the main reason to improve the boiler efficiency. The advanced air control technology of the DUNOCON system is an important key point. “The recovery of radiant heat from the boiler throat and sensible heat from the bottom ash also improves the boiler efficiency. The

improvement of boiler efficiency saves about 28,400 t of coal for the power plant every year. And compared with wet system, dry bottom ash handling system is more advanced, safe and stable, and saves a lot of operating costs for the power plant.” ----Since the early 1990s, GNPower Ltd. Co. has been excelling in the power industry with their remarkable achievements in the completion of power projects. Their power plant projects had been providing electricity supply services to several Philippinebased customers. Other than developing coal-fired plant in Mariveles, (GNPower Mariveles

Energy Center Ltd. Co.), they also have the GNPower Kauswagan Ltd. Co., and the upcoming GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. Of note, GNPower is the first Retail Electricity Supplier (RES) to be licensed by the Energy Regulatory Commission. They are also the first to have signed longterm power supply agreements with a group of Contestable Customers since 2006. GNPower also adheres to the mandate of the EPIRA Law of Department of Energy. ----Acknowledgment: Mr Edgardo B. Cruz of Philippine Coal Plant Users Group and Mr Ariel Punzalan of PMR Group and GNPower Ltd. Co.

References: [1] Retrieved from the company website of GNPower Ltd. Co. - https://www. gnpower.com.ph/ about-us-new/ [2] Chavez, Leilani (Nov. 5, 2020). Mongabay News. “Philippines declares no new coal plants — but lets approved projects through”. [3] Boado, Artemio, Cruz, Edgardo B., et. al. “A Study of the Changes in Efficiency of a Coal Fired Boiler Following the Conversion to a Dry Bottom Ash Handling System”.

ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

MINING NEWS

Rare blue agate from Brazil with the face of Cookie Monster

rare piece of volcanic agate rock was discovered in the Rio Grande do Sul region near Soledade in Brazil last November 2020. It is an ovalshaped rock with a hard, white pitted outer shell. On the outside, it looks like a perfect egg. When you split the rock at the center, you will see in each of the two halves a strange resemblance of Cookie Monster, a character from the famous children’s television show “Sesame Street”.[1] At first look, the rock’s photos and video which went viral on the internet seems surreal, but it is actually a unique piece of rock that was naturally formed in a volcanic environment, according to its owner. The rock is a deep blue quartz crystal and was discovered and found by Lucas Fassari, a gemologist and explorer in Brazil. [2][3] It was sent to Mike Bowers in California. Bowers is an American geologist and specializes in these types of rocks. He said that it could be worth as much as $10,000 due to

its rare features. [1] Bowers uploaded on his personal social media account a video of the rock with the caption “Cookie Monster agate from Brazil” with a background music of Cookie Monster singing about the letter “C”. His post immediately became viral online. The actual cost of the rock when bought from Fassari was not revealed by the current seller. [3] “I think this is probably the most perfect Cookie Monster out there. I have seen others but here you have it complete on both sides. This is very unusual. There are a few famous agates out there: the owl, the scared face. There are many approximate ones but it is rare to find one so well defined like this,” Bowers said. “Prices can be very high. I was proposed over $10,000 by five different buyers. Rare.” While his viral video of the Cookie Monster agate is fascinating, it also brought some doubt to most people. Is it really

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possible for nature to produce a semiprecious stone with such strange appearance? What are agates and how are they formed in the first place? Geology.com described the agate as a translucent variety of microcrystalline quartz. It is formed by the deposition of silica from groundwater in the cavities of igneous rocks. Agates are formed by the deposits of silica from groundwater in the cavities of igneous rocks. The agate deposits in concentric layers around the walls of the cavity or in the horizontal layers building up from the bottom of the cavity. As a result, layered patters are then formed. In some agate formations, these cavities are lined with crystals, therefore called geodes. A geode is a round rock with a hollow space lined with crystals, just like the Cookie Monster agate. Agates come in a wide range of colors such as brown, red, yellow, gray, black, pink, and white. The colors are produced

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CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Fly Ash as an eco-friendly building material By Marcelle P. Villegas

ly ash is making it mark in the construction industry due to its eco-friendly features. Is it possible for this building material to lessen air pollution in the long run? Coal is a natural dark brown or black sedimentary rock with graphite-like appearance. It is primarily used as fuel. It is composed of solid organic materials with some mineral components. It is formed from the accumulation of plant remains in sedimentary basin, and is altered to solid rock by heat and pressure during the basin’s development. The quality of coal varies according to the content of ash, impurities, and volatile matter which decreases as coal rank gets higher. Types of coal according to increasing rank (in terms of hardness, purity and heating value) are peat, lignite, subbituminous, bituminous and anthracite.

< Page 31 by the impurities during its formation, and they are formed in alternating layers within the agate. Now, the variations in colors are produced once groundwater of different compositions leak into the cavity. The banding within a cavity is a manifestation of change in water chemistry. As a result, agates end up having interesting colors and patterns. Based on this general description of agate, the authenticity of the Cookie Monster agate seems legitimate. Bowers reported to Daily Mail UK that the rock is indeed real. [1] A fact-checking website, Snopes.com. also claimed that rock is authentic. [3] TechnologyTimes.pk on the other hand stated, “As of the moment, there are no news yet as to whether Bowers actually intends to sell the rock or not, and about its current value as of the moment. Furthermore, no authorities have confirmed whether the rock is real or fake. If it is, sure enough, its value

Although coal is a major source of fuel and electricity through the years, in most environmental forums, coal is notorious for being responsible for a third of carbon monoxide emission worldwide from coal combustion. In other words, it is considered as the biggest contributor of global warming. [1] According to Department of Energy, the Philippines heavily relies on coal -- 44.5% of our power generation mix comes from coal. Worldwide, coal is an in-demand energy source and is often the cheapest fuel option. Coal demand in the Philippines is not only for power generation. In 2015, the cement industry used 15.22% of the country’s coal supply where 5% of the supply is used in the manufacturing of alcohol, sinter, rubber boots, paper, fertilizer production, chemical manufacturing, and smelting processes. [2] However useful and reliable as a fuel source and hydrocarbon source for industrial use, coal

consumption needs to be monitored in order to prevent further air pollution. There are companies like GNPower who adopted green technologies in their coal power plant in Mariveles, Bataan. With the availability of clean coal technologies, the demand for coal remained steady despite environmental concerns of skeptics. But in general, the Philippines is largely a coal consuming country. [2] More on coal and green technologies, there are now clever innovations with coal that reduce its harmful impacts on the environment. One example is a solution made with one of coal’s byproducts called the “fly ash”. The irony is, one of the most harmful compounds on Earth also produces one of the largest green material resources in the construction industry. The idea was explored in a study done by Mohammad Nadeem Akhtar and Nazia Tarannum. They published “Flyash as a Resource Material in Construction Industry: A Clean Approach to Environmen-

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will increase over time as more and more people take interest in the unusual rock. Who would’ve known Cookie Monster would make so much numbers in a rock?” Marcelle P. Villegas, PRJ References: [1] Boyle, Darren (19 Jan. 2021). Daily Mail UK. “What a muppet! Geologist finds incredibly rare lump of volcanic agate rock which looks exactly like Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster”. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ news/article-9162441/Whatmuppet-Geologist-finds-rocklooks-like-Sesame-Streets-Cookie-Monster.html [2] Hart, Matthew (26 Jan. 2021). Nerdist. “Gemologist Cracks Open Rock, Finds Cookie Monster’s Face”. [3] Evon, Dan (26 Jan. 2021). Snopes. “Is the ‘Cookie Monster Rock’ Real?”. [4] Noor, Mufliha (25 Jan. 2021). Technology Times.pk. “’Cookie Monster’ Rock from Brazil: Real or Fake?”. ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

< Page 32 tal Management” on 29 December 2018. They described how fly ash can lessen air pollution. In their study, Akhtar and Tarannum explained the properties of fly ash, its origin, its usefulness, and how utilizing it is a solution to waste management. “The maximum amount of electricity is produced by most of the thermal power plants by burning coal at their operating facilities. Due to this activity, various types of secondary materials are generated. Any material resulting from coal-combustion processes may be called as a coal-combustion product (CCP). Among different CCPs reported worldwide by coal-burning power plants, fly ash is the most common one. As per the characterization report, flyash is considered as a powdery material being collected by dust collectors installed in the thermal power plants with the use of coal as fuel. There are different problems related to fly ash like requirement of large area of land for disposal and toxicity caused by flyash which leach to groundwater. The study has established flyash as air and water pollution source. It is considered as waste that may act as a resource material in construction industry, thereby acting as a resource for waste and environment management. Till a decade back, flyash was treated as waste material worldwide, but now it is developed as an environment savior.” [4] Fly ash is a byproduct of burning coal. It is a siliceous and

aluminous material which is on its own does not have the characteristics of cement. However, once we “combine it with moisture in a finely divided form”, it changes and becomes like cement. Thus, it can be used as a substitute for concrete. [3] Why is it eco-friendly? In the past when environmental practices were not yet standardized and monitored, fly ash was merely released to the air when coal is burned. This is indeed a harmful practice that contributed to air pollution. Imagine large amounts of heavy metals in the ash that is released in the atmosphere. Eventually, with the development of air quality monitoring and establishment of air pollution regulations, factories are now required to dispose fly ash properly and to use it for a second purpose. Fly ash is recycled by most construction professionals by adding lime and water. This becomes a cement substitute similar to Portland cement. The process of recycling fly ash helps reduce the carbon footprint in the utilization of coal. As a building material, fly ash has impressive workability and durability properties to concrete. It reduces its water demand by 10%. It also has spherical particles which acts as lubricants which improves paste flow. These are just some of the important features of fly ash which are useful in the production of blended cement. It is also considered an eco-friendly binder for construction. [3] Are there known disadvantages of using fly ash in the construc-

WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM • ISSUE 1 2021

tion industry? Since fly ash comes from a toxic source, some critics have safety concerns about its use. Plus, leaching of toxic chemicals could contaminate the air and cause health problems to those nearby. However, there has been no major scientific discoveries or medical studies yet that proved of such adverse effects. Therefore, fly ash is still widely used in the cement industry to this day. According to Pinoy Builders website, “The bottom line is it’s important that more sustainable innovations such as fly ash concrete or rice husk ash cement substitutes are developed. As global warming continues to loom over us, the construction industry can play an important hand in combating the crisis.” [3]

Fly ash bricks for construction. Photo credit by PinoyBuilders.ph

References: [1] Retrieved from - https:// www.greenpeace.org/usa/globalwarming/issues/coal/ [2] https://www.doe.gov.ph/ coal-overview?ckattempt=1 [3] (21 Jan. 2021). Pinoy Builders. “Fly Ash: An Eco-Friendly Solution to Lessen Air Pollution” Retrieved from: https://pinoybuilders.ph/fly-ash-an-ecofriendly-solution-to-lessen-air-poll ution/?fbclid=IwAR35JcaahO3sd 9FjvhwJwKnZHNWzgdyITRfI1Q6 C52nQ3HqKLKIor0dURUk [4] https://www.intechopen. com/books/sustainable-construction-and-building-materials/ flyash-as-a-resource-material-inconstruction-industry-a-cleanapproach-to-environment-management

COMPANY NEWS

Weir Minerals Launches New Modular Anti-Abrasion Panels Fully customisable, high-performance anti-abrasion solutions

orking closely with customers in the mining and minerals processing sectors, Weir Minerals’ expert engineers have developed highperformance wear panels for use in all medium- to high-wear applications. The new modular anti-abrasion panels are ideally suited for localised impact and wear points and assist in the suppression of noise and vibration. The modular anti-abrasion panels are manufactured from Linathane® polyurethane or Linard® HD60 rubber, materials engineered for superior abrasion, cut and impact resistance. The Linard® HD60 panels feature compression moulded natural rubber, with embedded high chromium white iron or ceramic wear resistant blocks for long wear life. The all-polyurethane Linathane® panels feature an orange base with a blue wear indicator layer to assist with maintenance scheduling. These modular panels are easy to fit and replace and use a self-sealing design to reduce both installation time and costs. Each panel measures 300mm x 300mm and is available in 30mm and 50mm thicknesses to ensure the best fit for specific operating conditions. The interlocking plug design ensures easy alignment, and the secure fastening mechanism reduces the chance of fine material ingress between panels to promote even wear patterns. Each modular anti-abrasion panel solution can be customised to suit specific lining requirements, including availability of a range of arc studs attached to plugs and left and right corner panels.

Product design features • Modular panels use a premium quality rubber compound providing superior performance in areas of abrasion, impact, and wear • Linathane® is a premium quality polyurethane that has an anti-friction compound for use in areas where hang-ups and sticky ore occur • Hard wear surface for use in a variety of applications • Excellent noise and vibration dampening • Minimal downtime and loss of productivity • Quick and easy to fit and replace, utilising a simple panel and plug fixing mechanism

• Supplied in convenient ‘kit’ form, complete with a range of arc studs attached to plugs to suit the application • A cost-effective and practical solution for relining • All panels can be used across a variety of applications to create a truly customised wear solution Product range • High Wear Areas - Linard® HD60 rubber panels with embedded high chromium white iron or ceramic wear resistant blocks. • Medium Wear Areas Polyurethane Linathane® panels. • Low Wear Areas - Linard® HD60 rubber panels. ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

COMPANY NEWS

Sandvik introduces new Toro™ LH410 loader The next member of its Toro™ family

oth in terms of launching new equipment and introducing upgraded versions of existing models, Sandvik is getting ready for an eventful loader and truck year 2021. The first exciting acquaintance of the new year is the totally renewed Toro™ LH410, a versatile and capable underground loader with 10 tonnes payload capacity. Proven performance boosted with new features The new Toro™ LH410 loader builds on the best parts of its predecessor, the successful Sandvik LH410. However, following the footmarks set by Sandvik’s large intelligent loaders, the now introduced Toro™ LH410 is full of new features, making it in practice a totally new machine. Toro™ LH410 offers best in class performance in productivity e.g. by means of high ramp speeds and fast bucket filling, and to make truck loading easy, it features superior lift height compared to any other loader of the same size class. The renewed loader features Sandvik Intelligent Control System, with a 7” touch screen display as a user interface, enabling multiple new options to tailor each loader according to customer needs. Mid-size dimensions – fullsize intelligence “With all its features, this truly

is an advanced and intelligent piece of equipment, definitely comparable to the large i-series loaders – but naturally in a smaller package,” says Kimmo Ulvelin, Product Line Manager Small and Low Profile Loaders at Sandvik. “We want to offer our customers possibilities for sophisticated and intelligent equipment also in the middle size class; and therefore Toro™ LH410 has the same Sandvik Intelligent Control System as the large Toro™ LH517i and Toro™ LH621i loaders, with the available traction control, operator speed assist and integrated weighing system, to name a few.

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“Also, Toro™ LH410 is fully compatible with AutoMine® solutions. From new features specifically relating to safety, we could mention e.g. a new retrieval hook, updated door interlock, improved access ways, and new type of fire suppression system options.” Full range of engine options The engine range of the Toro™ LH410 loader includes multiple different diesel engines, starting from a powerful and fuel-efficient Tier II and ending up to the stateof-the-art Stage V engine option. The Stage V engine uses passive DPF regeneration taking place during normal operation, minimizing downtime, and its modulating engine brake provides better control of vehicle speed downhill while also minimizing brake and transmission overheating and brake wear. Launching the totally renewed Toro™ LH410 is an impressive start for the 50-years jubilee of the Toro™ loaders and trucks from Sandvik. During 2021, new product launches and upgrades are expected to be released to further strengthen the Toro™ family.

COMPANY NEWS

International SOS launches COVID-19 Vaccine Indicator for business

ith the increasing demand for reliable information on COVID-19 vaccines, International SOS has created a ‘traffic light’ indicator to help businesses track when, where and how they can roll-out corporate COVID-19 vaccination programmes for their employees. As global organisations seek advice on corporate COVID-19 vaccine policies, the indicator brings together International SOS’ COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker containing detailed vaccine information for all countries, with regularly updated country-level distribution and programme monitoring. This is complemented with bespoke strategic and industry relevant advice from International SOS’ consulting practices. Dr Mark Parrish, Regional Medical Director at International SOS comments, “COVID-19 vaccination programmes are a complex issue, particularly for global organisations. Faced with differing regulations, vaccines and roll-out plans dependent on location, it is vital to have a strategic and agile plan in place. This should be underpinned by up-to- date information, analysed and implemented in accordance with the needs of the workforce. We want to make it as easy as possible for organisations to be able to protect their people at the earliest and in the most efficient way.” In the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) recently issued the National Policy Framework for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment and Immunisation, setting in motion the country’s vaccination programme. Dr Carrianne Ewe, Medical Director at International SOS Philippines shares, “As we continue to monitor the development of the pandemic and the local authority’s approach on the country vaccination, we are able to assist clients in planning their vaccination strategies and

protocols for their employees prior to the availability of the vaccine in the country. Educating your workforce with reliable information on the COVID-19 vaccines, communicating its variants, benefits and establishing facts from myths, is critical when implementing a corporate vaccination programme. This provides a level of assurance to the employee that there is an end in sight. This support to our clients prepares their organisation once the relevant COVID-19 vaccines become available in the Philippines, ensuring a healthy and productive workforce and a safe return to office.” International SOS is already supporting many of its Fortune Global 500 clients with strategic health advice from its global consulting practice, including its worldwide COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker. The internationally

recognised red, amber, green traffic light system, enables clients to quickly recognise where a site or office has the potential to roll out a vaccine programme. The information is updated daily. Dr Parrish continues “Obviously organisations are keen to ensure that employees are protected from COVID-19 and to uphold their Duty of Care. Our clients want to know where and what vaccines are available to them for their employees, as well as where they may be asked to actively participate in vaccination programmes and their responsibility to do this. They are considering overall how it affects operations and what a corporate COVID-19 vaccine policy should contain. Many also want guidance on what they can be doing within the wider society to enhance vaccine update in communities.” ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

COMPANY NEWS

NAC-HMC gives added support to Talavera women’s group

ickel Asia Corp.-Hinatuan Mining Corp. (NAC-HMC) has given additional support to Talavera United Women’s Association (TUWA) by providing delivery service motorcycle and pump boat. TUWA is one of the People’s organizations (POs) supported by the Social Development and Management Program of NAC-HMC. TUWA owns and manages Island’s Pure Water Refilling Station in Barangay Talavera. The vehicles turned over by NAC-HMC to their organization will be utilized to transport and distribute their products to customers in Talavera and in nearby island communities. “The support provided by NAC-HMC to TUWA is part of the company’s commitment to assist its communities in their aspiration for a sustained growth by provid-

ing investments to support livelihood programs,” said NAC-HMC Community Organizer Allan O. Bandoy Jr. He added that the provision of delivery vehicles is a way of providing assistance to TUWA to help them expand their target market. “With the additions of the delivery service motorcycle, TUWA can deliver their products to customers far from their business location. The pump boat can also be utilized to cater to clients from neighboring island communities.” Grateful for the Support TUWA officers and members were grateful for the support provided by NAC-HMC to their

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Water Refilling Business. “The delivery service motorcycle and pump boat are a welcome addition to our business. These delivery vehicles are immensely helpful not only to us but also to our clients as well,” said TUWA Vice President Wendelina N. Arbis.

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MINING NEWS

RDCL: Accurate Ground Investigations Save Projects

round is the biggest unforeseen risk in large infrastructure projects particularly in the Philippines with tunnels, dams, transport corridors, urban development, and flood protection a major part of the nationwide growth. Proven, repeatable, accurate, digitally based technologies change the game to improve understanding of ground that results in safer, sustainable, and appropriate design as well as contract price and schedule. Many Philippine infrastructure projects are hamstrung by poor quality ground investigation driven low price drilling. Contractors and owners appear deeply reluctant to allocate funds for ground investigations with engineers slow to embrace more modern proven techniques. In our view many projects essential to the Philippines’ development remain unbuilt due to large costs which are in part based on perceived contract risk or over ground engineering. The Rights Tools for the Job Modern ground investigation techniques are available in the Philippines to greatly improve project outcomes. For 15 years, RDCL staff have worked on some of the largest mining and infrastructure projects in the country. We partner with traditional contractors (drillers) and engineers to measure geotechnical parameters insitu in the ground, using techniques that do not rely on the difficulties of core sampling, and are integrated into large digital datasets in the same way as BIM systems. Downhole geophysical tools measure geological features and geotechnical parameters insitu to accurately characterise rock conditions including defect orientation, RQD measurements and rock strength. This is proven technology, which reduces the reliance on core samples and is preferred in mining and oil and

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ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

MINING NEWS

< Page 38 gas for many years. This game changing technology should be applied regularly to the civil sector. Measurements are repeatable, high resolution and the data sets integrate with geo-modelling software worldwide. There are many occasions when drilling operations can induce stress on the samples creating drilling induced fractures. Downhole geophysical tools, like televiewers, measure in-situ rock fractures, not core fractures, and televiewers scan the entire drillhole there is no core recovery issues, there are results from top-to-bottom again reducing the unknown. As an engineer if you are trying to define fracture zones, accurately map orientation and dip from core and need reliable Rock Quality Designation (RQD) then use televiewers, it makes your job easier. There are many other tools and techniques that offer more insight and allow better understanding of geotechnical and geological conditions. wIf you require to develop Sub-soil site class assessments conduct seismic shear wave velocity testing. This can work with surface equipment, such as Micro-Tremor Arrays or large seismic cabled arrays. Or if the site has a drill hole, then conduct downhole in-site seismic testing. Both are proven methods worldwide with accurate results. Cone Penetrometer Testing (CPT) for soft sediments and tailings is leading technology widely deployed in the rest of the world, and available through RDCL in the Philippines. CPT is very fast, accurate and repeatable. CPT is the most versatile in-situ soil test available. The data aids many geotechnical assessments including liquefaction, bearing capacity (foundations) and settlement. At RDCL it’s all about the people, we have the best tools, and we match them with the greatest team. It’s Malasakit, family and caring. That is how we engage with clients. When you join with us you engage as a family to come out better as a

result. With a focus on people, we deliver and have a successful track record of delivery in the Philippines since 1994. RDCL’s philosophy is Don’t Gamble with the Ground why risk the project when answers can be found if the right tools and the right people work together. Talk to us first, there are many ways to tackle geotechnical investigations, and the cheapest way is often not the best way. There is strong correlation between a ‘lowest cost’ approach to ground investigations resulting in project delays, inflated contract price and expensive project cost overruns. We welcome all inquiries and work best when we engage closely with you to understand your job. That’s what Malasakit means. We invite you to join with us as we take our professional journey towards bigger goals.

WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM • ISSUE 1 2021

MINING NEWS

‘Plan your definition of success’ Aligning Mining Projects in the Age of Digitalization

By Engr. Jeffrey Q. Geronimo Dassault Systèmes Solutions Specialist, Mining Engineer

ringing the best out of your mine requires tight coordination and collaboration across all the departments in your company – from the moment you prospect it and even up to the rehabilitation stage. That is why it is important for managers and planners to establish key milestones, track tasks, and ultimately deliver their projects in alignment with the goals of the company. In attaining responsible mining and as well as efficiently maximizing gains, a transformative approach to project management is key. Whether you are working in the main

office or in the mine site, managers and planners require the ability to provide the right information in realtime to the right stakeholders. COMPLEXITIES There are various complexities that impact a mining company’s ability to execute projects successfully. One of the most common things that should be addressed is that mine data is scattered across several silos. As an industry heavily reliant on data, imagine managing this gathered information from different departments with varying disciplines who produce diverse

sets of data – keeping in mind that this comes from multiple numbers of people in dispersed locations. In addition, there may be times when managers tend to over-allocate resources and team members work on activities which has lower value or priority. With conflicts in scheduling, reporting, and waiting times involved, an increase in non-value activities inevitably come into play. As a result, all the complexities mentioned lead to higher operating costs, get more prone to data errors, and a decrease in the overall productivity of the mine. The Standish Group (CHAOS REPORT 2020) reports that, only 31% of projects are executed on time and on budget. The remaining 69% are either challenged or have failed all together.

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< Page 37 “With the addition of a delivery service motorcycle, we can supply to more customers here in our island barangay. We can deliver 5 gallons of water to clients far from our water refilling station. We can also serve clients outside of our barangay, specially those in our neighboring islands, with the help of the pump boat,” she added. TUWA Secretary Gelba C. Escultura is also thankful for the support. “We are very grateful to NAC-HMC for their support. With the aid of the delivery service vehicles, we can accommodate more customers and our delivery boy will have an easier task.” Less Hassle for Customers “Most of our customers are housewives since they are the ones left to tend their homes when their husbands go to work. Before receiving the delivery service motorcycle from NAC-HMC, they would hire someone to get their orders from our water refilling station to their homes. Nowadays, all they need to do is to text, chat or give us a call when they need water. Placing an order and getting water from us is much easier and less hassle for our clients,” said Mrs. Arbis Mrs. Escultura also said: “Our

customers can get water from our water refilling station without the need to go outside their homes. For those residing in Barangay Talavera, all they need to do is to ready an empty 5-gallon container in their homes and our delivery boy will get it and send it to our water refilling station to be filled, and will be delivered back to them.” “For customers in other islands, they need to inform us of the number of 5-gallon containers they need filled. For example, if they need 5 5-gallon containers filled, we will deliver 5 5-gallon containers already filled and we will take 5 5-gallon empty containers,” added Mrs. Arbis. Additional Income “The addition of the delivery service motorcycle and pump boat has enabled us to cater to more customers. It also helped us gain new patrons. It also helped our

business gain an additional income since we can charge an additional 5 pesos per delivery,” said Mrs. Arbis. Mrs. Escultura also added: “Some clients who previously get their water from Surigao City have transferred to us. Our prices are cheaper compared to the price of water delivered from Surigao City. With the help of the delivery service motorcycle and pump boat, we are able to accommodate and satisfy the needs of these additional customers.” ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

MINING NEWS

< Page 40 THE CURRENT TRENDS With evolving standards in mining, modern strategic tools in project management definition and execution must now be able to support: • Projects becoming more complex due to geological, environmental, and legal factors; and as well as increased pressure from a socio-politicalcultural perspective. • Teams requiring more data transparency so they can respond quickly and accurately. • Collaboration via digital platforms, which will disrupt the traditional approach to project management solutions. This paves the way for Paramina Earth Technologies, Inc. to offer a unique opportunity for the Philippine mining industry to address all the problems mentioned above. THE SOLUTION With Dassault Systèmes’ ENOVIA™ powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE® Platform, the challenges of mine project management can be addressed by providing a digital approach to connecting people, data, and processes. This makes your projects be in “full alignment” with the goals of your mine by making it: • More collaborative • More productive • Faster • More agile • More visible COLLABORATIVE APPROACH Key to the success of any mining project is the ability to share and utilize relevant data and content in a seamless and accurate manner. Nobody wants to screw up mine feasibility figures such as drillhole data or mineral grades. These pertinent information are spread and used across multiple departments, resulting in projects being late or even disastrously failing altogether. With the nature of mining business having its personnel working across different locations and spread across varying business units and departments, ENOVIA™ Project Management on the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform improves collaboration by removing silos and connecting all stakeholders in the mining blockchain, fostering project success. This is not possible in an of-

fline electronic solution but can only be done in an online data-driven software. INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY Approximately 30% of an engineer’s time can be spent performing non-value-added activities like updating project schedules, looking for the latest version of mining files, reporting status, attending meetings and other activities not related to the focus of their role. ENOVIA™ Project Management on the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform eliminates non-value-added activities by connecting data directly as deliverables on project tasks in a single platform. With a single drag-and-drop, ENOVIA™ enables employees to better focus on project deliverables since project status are translated into trackable tasks, both for the manager and the team members, which will improve the overall productivity of the mine. SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS In today’s global economy, the competitive landscape critically pushes to have a project management system that is adaptive to the needs of the mine – rather than a standalone tool. ENOVIA™ Project Management on the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform brings together people, processes, and data on one platform allowing companies to execute mining projects with the same resources as a single source of truth. Projects are executed faster thus maximizing the potential of the mine. MAKING MINES MORE AGILE Traditional project management solutions do not tie tasks directly to the requirements of the mine. As these requirements change, departments involved are oftentimes unaware of those changes and deliver reports that do not meet the new requirements set. ENOVIA™ Project Management on the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform

WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM • ISSUE 1 2021

improves agility by connecting project requirements directly to project tasks, allowing changes to be managed across multiple mining departments with ease. It helps mining companies to allow a much more effective collaboration among different departments – making them be able to sail flawlessly with changes during the project execution versus reacting to changes down the line. VISIBLE SINGLE SOURCE OF TRUTH Many industries today have the perception that implementing electronic reporting improves the ability to communicate project status. However, this is just partially true. The reality is that projects still require manual consolidation of information, which can be prone to errors and most likely already be outdated by the time the report is generated. ENOVIA™ Project Management on the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform improves visibility with data-driven real-time project dashboards and analytics, allowing mine managers to make faster and more informed decisions. It is now possible to see the most accurate and up-to-date status of projects in context of deliverables. This allows for more informed decisions quicker, leading to successful project execution. TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY With ENOVIA™ Project Management on the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform, all stakeholders in the mining blockchain are aligned with the project goals and status – and work well together in achieving and defining your mine’s success. Let Paramina Earth Technologies, Inc. be your driver in your mine’s digital path to sustainable growth. Contact us at paramina_solutions@ paramina.com or reach us through our website www.paramina.com for more information.

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Filipino builders see construction sector rebound this year

he Philippine construction industry is poised for a modest rebound this year as the government ramps up its major infrastructure projects and with sustained support for small and medium contractors who were the most affected by the global pandemic, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported. This is the outlook of the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA), which represents not just the highest-rated construction companies in the country but also small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and suppliers through its chapters and affiliates nationwide. According to PCA President Wilfredo Decena, the construction sector will contribute strongly to the recovery of the domestic economy in 2021 after slumping 26% last year, sending the national gross domestic product (GDP) to a steep 9.5% year-on-year drop. Fitch Solutions recently upgraded its growth forecast for the Philippine construction sector to 9.5% this year, near to its average 10% annual growth before

the COVID-19 crisis that battered economies around the world in 2020. Decena said timely public spending on infrastructure would boost the industry despite soft private construction investments, as the national government has allocated a sizeable P1.1 trillion of the P4.5 trillion national budget this year to infrastructure projects. “We are hearing of contractors, particularly the small and medium companies, being unable to close any projects at this time. Public investments need to fill the gap until investor confidence is restored,” he said during the recent PCA regular membership meeting. As part of the ten-point industry trends and challenges discussed during the meeting, Decena called for the prompt payment of contractors, especially the SMEs, since they were already absorbing extraordinary costs related to COVID-19. The PCA also noted a need to rethink the supply chain conditions and address the cause of spiraling costs of materials. On top of these, there are sectors that had been

pushing for the unrestricted entry of foreign contractors that could further displace Filipino contractors, particularly SMEs, which comprised 97% of all registered contractors in the country. “This is happening while other countries have taken steps to protect and support their local industry amid the global pandemic,” Decena said. He added that the current quarantine conditions have exacerbated the shortage of skilled labor force and skills mismatch. As part of its thrust for the year, PCA is further expanding its knowledge and skills development program nationwide. It also reminded members to be prepared to continue complying with evolving health and safety protocols to make construction sites virus-free. Also identified among the top trends in the construction industry this year are the acceleration of digitization and other emerging technologies to increase efficiency and productivity, and the move towards sustainable infrastructure that is not just green but also resilient.

ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

MINING NEWS

Mining town fisherfolk yield 7,000 kilos of bangus on Christmas week By Nissi Aline S. Alvarez

ust days before Christmas, a bangus farming project sponsored by Taganito Mining Corporation, a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation, reaped and shared a bountiful harvest of more than 7,700 kilos of bangus from their fish pens in barangay Wangke, Claver, Surigao del Norte. The harvest came at no better time as buyers from neighboring barangays and municipalities who were looking to serve bangus dishes during their Noche Buena and day-to-day meals, flocked to get a share of their harvest which were sold at Php 100 to Php 120 per kilo. Their largest buyer, a fish dealer from a neighboring municipality, purchased over 3,000 kilos of their bangus. GAMAWA is an 18-strong fisherfolk association assisted by TMC through its Social Development and Management Program. A total of Php 5.7 million has been mobilized for the project which started in 2017 and was formally inaugurated in 2018. Support included the construction of the fish pens and cottages, provision of fingerlings and fish feed, provision of trainings, and linkages to potential markets. GAMAWA president, Mr. Felix Saranza, is nothing but thankful for their bountiful harvest and the continuous support their organization has received from TMC. “Kami sa GAMAWA magpasalamat gajud mi sa TMC ug sa Comrel sa injo gihatag na pinaskuhan sa amo bisan kuman na panahon na may COVID. Salamat sab sa tanan suporta na inyo gihatag sa organisasyon sa GAMAWA. (We in GAMAWA are very thankful to TMC and Comrel for the Christmas gift you gave us even during this time of pandemic. Thank you also for all the support you’ve given to the GAMAWA organization)”, shared Saranza. Alongside their fish production, GAMAWA has also become a tourist destination within the municipality where visitors stop by to rest in their cottages while

enjoying a view of the fish pens, the sea and of neighboring islands. Bangus is the popular choice for local dishes such as grilled fish, kinilaw, paksiw, sisig, daing na bangus, rellenong bangus, sinigang, and fried fish. Seeking to add value to their product and explore potential markets, GAMAWA members also underwent a training on deboning and bottling where they initially produced marinated boneless bangus, bottled bangus in olive oil, and bottled bangus in tomato sauce.

WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM • ISSUE 1 2021

MINING NEWS

TMC pays P75.5m in taxes to Claver By Nissi Aline S. Alvarez

s part of its commitment to contribute to local economy, Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC), a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), handed over its tax payments amounting to P75.5 million to the municipality of Claver. The payments consist of P65,329,304.37 million in Business Tax and P 10,169,769.60 in Real Property Tax which were handed last December 14, 2020 and January 20, 2021, respectively.

The handover of tax payments was led by Mine Accountant Cristy Mae Comandante-Pariño, Division Manager Salvador Cabauatan and Comrel Manager Roel Paniza. On behalf of Claver LGU, the tax payments were received by Municipal Treasurer Caryl Cagas-Lukban, in the presence of Municipal Administrator Atty. Jeffrey Galido and Sanggunian Bayan members. “TMC is committed to creating a positive impact in our host and neighboring communities and one way we do this is by ensuring timely payment of our taxes which

translates into projects and services for the community. This is on top of our Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program funds,” shares TMC Resident Mine Manager Artemio E. Valeroso. Based on data from the Commission on Audit consolidating the total assets of LGUs in 2019, the mining town of Claver ranked 1st among the richest municipalities in Mindanao with P 1.91 billion worth of assets. Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte ranked 6th among the richest provinces in the country with P 16.68 billion worth of assets. TMC is a four-time awardee of the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative for Excellence in Reporting of payments made to the government. TMC also ranked 14th among the Department of Finance’s list of Top 500 taxpayers who filed their income tax returns ahead of the deadlines which were deferred due to lockdowns during the pandemic. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, TMC has mobilized over P 19.1 million to extend relief goods, medical supplies, test kits and other assistance to its host and neighboring communities in the province of Surigao del Norte. ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

New Cavitex C-5 Link segments underway, finished by Q2 2022

onstruction work on the new segments of the ₱15 billion Cavitex C-5 Link Expressway is on full throttle despite the pandemic, its operator said, adding that the target is to open them next year. Roberto V. Bontia, Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation president and general manager, said that despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pangilinan-led firm would “stick to the timeline as close as we can be” to make the new segments up and running by 2022. “We are doubling our efforts on the construction of Segment 2 and Segment 3A-2 this beginning of 2021,” he said in a statement. CIC said it is implementing

24/7 construction activities for the multibillion-peso project. According to CIC, C5 Link Expressway is comprised of Segments 2 and 3. Segment 2 is a 1.9-kilometer, 2x3 lane expressway from Cavitex (R1) Expressway to a proposed interchange at Sucat Segment 3A-2. The interchange is a sub-section of Segment 3 and is a 1.6-kilometer, 2x3 lane expressway from Merville to RSG Subdivision in Parañaque. The company is eyeing to complete the two segments in the second quarter of 2022. Once operational, the expressway can cater to about 50,000 motorists a day, the operator said. This will also cut travel time to Makati and Taguig from

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Parañaque City, Las Pinas City, and Cavite Province from an hour to about 10 minutes. CIC said motorists may experience traffic congestion as the company will conduct maintenance works starting February 27 to keep performance standard of the 14-kilometer toll road. The maintenance works will last for 60 days. “There will definitely be an

effect on the passage of our motorists in the construction areas,” Bontia said. “We are working together with our [joint venture] partner the Philippine Reclamation Authority and the PEATC (PEA Tollway Corporation) on the implementation of the traffic management activities at Cavitex R1 segment,” he added.

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Makati subway builder inks deal for lot acquisition, financing for project’s main station

isted Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc., the builder of the Makati City Subway, has secured a deal for the financing and land acquisition for the main station of the underground train system project. In a statement on Marct 12, Infradev said its wholly owned subsidiary Makati City Subway Inc. (MCSI) signed a joint venture agreement with Richer Today Inc. (RTI). The company said MCSI formed an unincorporated joint venture with RTI for the “financing, design, construction, development, marketing, and sale of some 5.5 hectares of lots in and around Station 5 of the Makati City Subway Project.” Located near Makati City Hall, Station 5 is the main construction site where tunnel boring machines will be assembled and lowered, Infradev said. Makati City Subway Inc. is the corporate vehicle undertaking the subway project. RTI, meanwhile, is a holding firm primarily engaged in property acquisitions, fund transfers, remittance services, foreign exchange transactions, and other allied activities. It has investments and interests in property development, leasing of office and commercial spaces, food and beverages, and other related businesses. With the joint venture deal, Infradev said lot acquisitions for the main station of Makati’s underground train system are now

in full swing. Under the Term Sheet of the deal, RTI committed to release at least P775 million within 120 days from signing, with at least P234million to be released within 10 business days from execution of the agreement. The firm will also be primarily and exclusively responsible for the marketing and sale of the gross sellable areas of the project, subject to the applicable laws and requirements. For its part, MCSI has already paid P780 million for land acquisition in preparation for the arrival of the tunnel boring machines, which are currently being assembled in China, according to Infradev. “Engineers from China State Engineering, the engineering, procurement and construction contractor engaged by MCSI, are already in the Philippines to finalize the construction plan for Station 5,” it said. In September 2020, Infradev’s MCSI awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract to China Construction Second Engineering Bureau Co. Ltd. for the project. The EPC contract covers civil works, and MEP or mechanical, electrical, plumbing works of the subway project. The construction price under the EPC contract is $1,212,760,000, broken down as $978.6 million for civil works and $234.16 million for MEP works. In July 2019, the Makati City

government and the consortium of Infradev and its partners executed a joint venture agreement for the construction, operation, and management of a subway system within Makati City. In October 2018, the city government awarded the publicprivate partnership project to the consortium of Philippine Infradev (formerly IRC Properties), to be implemented via a joint venture agreement. The consortium counts as members Philippine Infradev and its Chinese partners Greenland Holdings Group, Jiangsu Provincial Construction Group Co. Ltd. Holdings Ltd., and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. In December 2018, Philippine Infradev broke ground for the Makati subway project. The proposed transport system will have 10 underground stations located at key destinations such as Ayala Triangle, Makati City Hall, and University of Makati. There are also plans to integrate the Makati subway with the MRT 3, the Pasig River Ferry System, and the proposed Metro Manila Mega Subway. The project is expected to be completed in 2025. The Makati subway system is seen to significantly ease traffic congestion in the city by providing an alternative transport service for up to 700,000 commuters, and to reduce by 270,000 the number of vehicles plying its streets.

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The World Bank, one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, is taking broad, fast action to help developing countries respond to the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19. This includes $12 billion to help low- and middle-income countries purchase and distribute COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and

treatments, and strengthen vaccination systems. The financing builds on the broader World Bank Group COVID-19 response, which is helping more than 100 countries strengthen health systems, support the poorest households, and create supportive conditions to maintain livelihoods and jobs for those hit hardest.

global knowledge, and partnerships to support the Philippines’ efforts to alleviate poverty, upgrade infrastructure, improve health, nutrition, and education, strengthen resilience against climate change and natural disasters, promote peace, and enhance global competitiveness.

ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM

COMMUNITY NEWS

World Bank OKs US$500m loan to PH for COVID-19 vaccines and pandemic response

Advertisers’ Index Cagdianao Mining 13 Hinatuan Mining 5 International SOS 45 Major Drilling OBC Masbate Gold Project 2 Paperless Trail 15 Paramina Earth Tech 37 PhilChamp 1 Philippine Infrastructure & Construction Club 23 Philippine Mining Luncheon 47 QED IFC RDCL 3 Sandvik 7 Site Group IBC Taganito Mining 11 Weir Minerals 9 48

he World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on March 11 approved US$500 million in funding to support the Philippine government’s program to purchase and distribute COVID-19 vaccines, strengthen the country’s health systems, and overcome the impact of the pandemic especially on the poor and the most vulnerable. The newly approved financing will support the Philippines to vaccinate the population based on vulnerability and risk. Priority groups include frontline health workers, senior citizens, indigent communities, followed by priority groups of teachers, government workers, indigenous peoples, and then the remaining population. Prioritization of vulnerable groups reduces the health and economic consequences of the pandemic, protecting those that are at a high risk of infection and of developing severe COVID and adverse outcomes. “Procuring and administering vaccines provides the country an added layer of defense against COVID-19 on top of public health measures or interventions like social distancing, wearing of masks, and washing hands,” said Ndiamé Diop, World Bank Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand. “Inclusive deployment of vaccines in line with the World Health Organization Fair Allocation Framework is critical for preventing grave illness and deaths from COVID-19, opening the economy in ear-

nest, ensuring a resilient recovery, and restoring jobs and incomes.” Besides the purchase of vaccines, the additional financing will also support the Philippines to continue to implement public health measures until most of the population has been vaccinated or is deemed safe based on global evidence. The use of web platforms to gather citizen feedback on the vaccination program as well as beneficiary feedback surveys to boost engagement with citizens will help ensure effective implementation. The board approved this additional financing to the ongoing Philippines COVID-19 Emergency Response Project approved in April 2020 to help the country meet urgent healthcare needs to address the pandemic and bolster the country’s public health preparedness. Implemented by the Department of Health, this initial project currently provides funding to purchase laboratory equipment and test kits, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, gowns; and ambulances as well as medical equipment and supplies such as mechanical ventilators, portable x-ray machines, infusion pumps. The Bank has been a partner of the Philippines for 75 years, providing support to the Philippines’ development programs and projects. Since 1945, it has mobilized funding,

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ISSUE 1 2021 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM