The Platinum Group Metals Corporation (PGMC), FNI’s Surigao-based operating arm, has been awarded the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA) for the Surface Mining Operation Category during the 68th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference held in Baguio City recently.
PMIEA is the highest award given to a mining company by the Awards Selection Committee led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association.
This year, a total of 12 companies received the PMIEA, which was divided into three categories: surface mining operation, quarry operation, and mineral processing.
Meanwhile, PGMC’s Sammy D. Pacoma received the Best Surface Miner accolade for being “devoted and safety conscious” in the performance of his work.
The PMIEA was officially established on February 3, 1997, through Executive Order 399 of the late-President Fidel V. Ramos, in fitting recognition of the initiatives and exemplary achievements of the minerals sectors in protecting the environment.
“The honor reflects our people’s collective commitment to exceed expectations, to be the change we wish to see, and to leave our communities better than we found them. All our employees and stakeholders share in this award as much as the responsibility to uphold its ideals,” PGMC Senior Vice President Carlo A. Matilac said in a statement.
In October, PGMC received ISO certifications for its Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2015), Occupational Health and Safety Management System (ISO 45001:2018), and Environmental Management System (ISO 14001:2015) as an Integrated Management System (IMS).
It remains committed to fulfilling its environmental, social, and governance targets to the fullest and envisions creating an atmosphere that provides continuing and healthy synergies between the demands of its operations and the needs of its stakeholders. PGMC has spent close to P42 million for its pandemic response and P14 million more for disaster relief operations following the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.
“We are confident that we will be able to address climate change, energy transition and human betterment with the wellspring of talents in the mineral industry and the remarkable organizations comprising this award-giving body headed by DENR Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga,” added Matilac.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the winners and awardees for this year, especially the recipients of the prestigious [PMIEA],” Loyzaga said in her keynote address during the awarding ceremonies. “We are certain that your exemplary achievements will set the trajectory, encourage replication, and raise awareness of the mining industry’s vital contributions to inclusive, resilient, and sustainable progress.”
The PMIEA recipients under the surface mining operation were CTP Construction and Mining Corporation-Dahican; Eramen Minerals Inc.; FCF Minerals Corp.; Hinatuan Mining Corp.-Tagana-an; Platinum Group Metals Corp.; Taganito Mining Corp.; and TVI Resource Development (Phils.) Inc.-Balabag Gold-Silver Project.
For quarry operation, the awardees were Republic Cement Mindanao Inc., Republic Cement and Building Materials Inc.-Batangas, and Republic Cement & Building Materials Inc.-Teresa.Coral Bay Nickel Corp. and Mindanao Mineral Processing and Refining Corp. received the PMIEA under the mineral processing category.
In her keynote address, Loyzaga reaffirmed the DENR’s commitment to responsible mining through the implementation of a “pro-people, pro-environment, and science-based legislation, policies, and programs.”
The environment chief also pointed out the vital contribution of responsible mining to the country’s economic recovery and encouraged the mining sector to work with the DENR towards a sustainable future “where no ecosystem and no community are left behind.”