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Environmental Management
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 The Padcal Mine’s Environmental Management System (EMS) sustained its ISO 14001 Certification, which is now on its 10th cycle, showcasing the Company’s advocacy for responsible mining. After seven years of maintaining the EMS, the Company continues to demonstrate its commitment to operate responsibly.
During the year, more than 298 thousand seedlings of various tree species were planted in the reforestation areas, of which 229 thousand seedlings were planted on newly established plantation areas covering 135 hectares, while 69 thousand assorted forest tree seedlings were planted on the existing 200 hectares of the previously established plantation areas for enhancement. To date, about two thousand hectares have been successfully reforested with more than seven million seedlings of various tree species, which the Company continues to maintain and protect throughout the year.
In 2009, the Padcal Mine was awarded First Runner-Up, second to Philex Gold Philippines, Inc – Bulawan Operations, in the “Best Mining Forest Contest” (Metallic Category) during the 56th Philippine Mine Safety & Environment Association’s (PMSEA) Annual Mine Safety and Environment Conference held in Baguio City on November 11-14, 2009. The contest is part of the “Adopt-A-Mountain, Adopt-A-Mining Forest Program”. Since the launching of this Program in 1989, the Padcal Mine has been a consistent top winner, being the champion for the years 1991, 1994, 2000-2002, 2004, 2007 and 2008.
The Company participated in the Earth Day Celebration held on April 22, 2009 and in the Arbor Day Celebration on June 25, 2009. As part of the Company’s social commitment, it has also provided 7,775 assorted planting stocks and seedlings of various tree species to the following stakeholders for their tree planting programs: CENRO-Baguio, CENRO-La Trinidad, PMB-LAWFR, LGU-Itogon, civic organizations, schools, and other local community groups. Likewise, the Company conducted maintenance brushing and enrichment planting at the Philex-Sta. Fe Road, Ampucao, Itogon, and at the Lion’s Park, Kennon Road, Baguio City.
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PMC continues to advocate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) toward its employees and their families as well as in the host and neighboring communities.
For 2009, the Company spent P29.0 million for its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) to develop and support the different community activities and livelihood programs in the countryside.
The Company continues to implement its Health, Education, Livelihood and Employment Enhancement and Public Infrastructure programs, aptly called HELP. These programs were designed to cater to the specific needs of the host and neighboring communities with the vision of fostering partnership among these stakeholders and the Company.
During the year, the Sto. Nino Hospital in Padcal Mine has provided free basic health services to approximately 7,300 patients from the host and neighboring communities. There were also three medical missions conducted in the barrios which benefited 533 patients.
The Company supported 40 college students and to date has produced 11 college graduates. Fifty seven high school students availed of the Secondary Scholarship Program, while 22 students successfully completed their technical-vocational courses at the Baguio School for Business and Technology College and the Philippine Institute of Mining and Quarrying. It has also supported 33 learners under the Department of Education's Alternative Learning System Program. Fifty four students were accepted as trainees under the Summer Special Program for Employment of Students. The Company continues to adopt local schools in the host communities with the main objective of improving the performance levels of the students.
Under its Livelihood and Employment Enhancement Program, the Company supported five local cooperatives. One of the major accomplishments of the program was the launching of four (4) Community Business and Technology Centers where the local workers and residents can learn and acquire entrepreneurship skills in livestock, aquaculture, coffee and meat processing, among others. The program is a tie up between the Company and the Foundation for People Development.
The implementation of the health, education and livelihood programs were supported with improved infrastructures. For 2009, the Company concreted an aggregate of 2.4 kilometers farm-to-market road in the host community. Six units water works were constructed with an aggregate volume of 140 cubic meters for irrigation and domestic purposes.
On December 10, 2009, the Company was conferred the National Outstanding Volunteer Award by the Philippine Government through the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) in recognition of the Company’s exemplary volunteerism in the protection and preservation of life under emergency situations. In particular, the Company actively participated in the rescue and recovery operations in at least four (4) calamity areas – in Tinoc, Ifugao; Mayantoc, Tarlac; Kias, Baguio City; and La Trinidad, Benguet. The Company also joined the road clearing operations along Kennon Road and Naguilian Road in Benguet Province due to the vast landslides caused by Typhoon Pepeng.
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| Tailings Pond |
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About 8.1 million tonnes of mill tailings were impounded at tailings storage facility no. 3 in 2009, which now contains a total of about 141.2 million tonnes of tailings since the start of impoundment in 1992. The Padcal Mine has three tailings storage facilities. Both tailings storage facilities 1 and 2 were already decommissioned and currently undergoing rehabilitation.
The dam embankment of tailings storage facility no.3 is continuously being built up to maintain a freeboard of not less than five meters at its main dike at any given time. The actual freeboard as of December 31, 2009 is 7.1 meters.
Earthworks for the 32-meters wide open spillway of tailings storage facility no. 3 is already completed except for minor excavations in preparation for the plunge pool. The construction of the second silt trap / check dam at the downstream of the said spillway is almost completed.
All the tailings storage facilities are regularly monitored by a Multi-partite Monitoring Team (MMT) composed of representatives from the host communities, LGU, government agencies and local organizations. The stability of the storage facilities is also being checked by an outside consultant.
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Anchored on the principle of partnership building, the Silangan Mindanao Mining Co., Inc. (SMMCI) continues to implement its Community-Based Development and Environmental Management Program in coordination with the local government units, civic organizations and other members of the host communities.
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| Environmental Management |
The Company, as a testament of its commitment to protect the environment, fully supported the operation and activities of the Community Technical Working Group (CTWG). The CTWG conducted quarterly monitoring of the drilling exploration sites to evaluate the Company’s compliance to its Environmental Work Program. During the year, there was no serious complaint raised in the CTWG’s evaluation. The CTWG expressed its appreciation for the efforts of the Company in effecting mitigating measures over the impacts of the exploration project to the environment.
For this reason, SMMCI was bestowed the 2009 Presidential Mineral Industry Environment Award (Exploration Category) for outstanding performance in environmental management and community development.
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| Community Development |
The Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign is continuously being conducted where the Company’s social development programs and updates on the exploration project are regularly disseminated to the host and the neighboring communities. Social and environmental issues are discussed and harmonious relationship is developed through community immersion and regular dialogues with local group leaders and focused group discussions with various sectors such as schools, religious groups and environmentalists.
During the year, through the Education Assistance Program under SMMCI, the Company sponsored 86 scholars from the Silangan Project who were provided with uniforms, school supplies and financial assistance to cover school fees. Of these scholars, 32 students are from the Indigenous People (IP) belonging to the Mamanwa tribe. Training on masonry and carpentry, in partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), was also provided for out-of-school youth (OSY). These OSYs were trained on the job during the construction of some infrastructure projects in the local barangays and schools as part of their practicum. SMMCI also provided financial and in-kind assistance to local school projects like educational trainings for teachers, computer literacy seminars and science fairs.
Technical assistance was extended to the Company’s partner People Organization, the  San Isidro Capayahan Timamana Livelihood Association (SICATILA) through community planning, financial audits and conduct of regular meetings to further strengthen their organization.
In the Municipality of Tubod, SMMCI extended infrastructure assistance to nine (9) barangays and to the local schools in the host communities. The assistance came in the form of supplies and materials to schools, local construction projects, repairs of purok centers, improvement of the provincial road within the barangay, and repair of the drinking water system in the locality.
SMMCI scholars from Mamanwa Tribe in one of the Academic Motivation sessions.
In partnership with the Rotary Club of Metro Surigao and in coordination with the local government unit, the Company provided financial assistance to the Operation Smile Program (cleft palate operation) in Surigao City in 2009. Additionally, a joint project for Cataract Operation was also conducted in Tubod, Surigao del Norte, with Loving Presence Foundation and the Municipal LGU. Free medicines were also distributed to 951 beneficiaries during a medical and dental mission conducted by SMMCI in the neighboring communities. The Company also financed the annual accident insurance premium of the 210 local volunteer workers from three (3) host barangays.
Carpentry and Masonry Skills Training Project jointly being implemented by
MLGU of Tubod, TESDA and the SMMCI.
SMMCI is also an active participant and a financial supporter of community affairs like sports activities, fiesta celebrations and other major cultural activities in the Municipality of Tubod and its barangays.
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