PHILEX ACHIEVES DOUBLE ITS 2017 REFO-PROGRAM TARGETTUBA, Benguet
Philex Mining Corp. had more than double the area it had targeted for reforestation in 2017, planting 144,714 trees and other floras in 110 hectares (ha.) of land in Tuba and Itogon—the two municipalities that host its gold-and-copper operations in this province—between July and October. Leon Mocate, senior forestry coordinator at the Environmental Quality Monitoring and Enhancement Dept. (EQMED) of the company’s Padcal mine, in Tuba’s Sitio Padcal, Brgy. Camp 3, said in a report that about 2,000 of the total number of trees and other tropical plants used last year had been donated to the outlying communities. “Our refo program does not only involve us and our contractors planting trees in our host municipalities, but also us donating seedlings to local governments, schools, and other institutions that have established projects on and are adamant about environmental protection,” Julius Bayogan, EQMED manager, said in an interview. Philex Mining, which has won numerous awards for its various projects on environmental protection, had allotted for its 2017 refo program P345,968 for the maintenance of 50 ha. of land that was on its second year of reforestation, another P637,215 for 100 ha. of reforested land on its third year, and P210,000 for the 75 ha. on its fifth year of reforestation. Its latest environmental award was given last November by the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) as a first runner-up in the Exploration Category of a government-initiated reforestation contest. In formal ceremonies held during PMSEA’s 64th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference, in Baguio City, Philex Mining was honoured for its reforestation program of the disturbed areas at its two production-sharing agreements with the government and in connection with its Padcal operations in this province.