(davaotoday.com file photo of a mining tunnel in Compostela, Valley)
DAVAO CITY — The Apex Mining Company Inc operating in Maco, Compostela Valley said they are responsible partners of their host barangays where they operate.
In a letter sent to Davao Today dated March 5, Gil A. Marvilla, senior vice president and resident manager of Apex Mining, said they follow legal standards set by government regulatory agencies which ensures that they address “both social and environmental needs” of the communities.
Marvilla reacted to the photo accompanying a story published by Davao Today on February 26 titled “2-day probe on effects of large scale mining in Zambales kick-off”.
The photo was taken last 2013 during a coverage by Davao Today in Maco, Compostela Valley where residents who were interviewed blamed the destruction of the river and fish kill to the mining operations.
But Marvilla said “since the resumption of our operation in 2005 the color of water in Masara River was already murky.”
“During early resumption of our operations, the Fisheries Association of Maco, Compostela Valley had a complaint regarding the fish kill at the area and they suspected that Apex operation was the cause. But after the President and the members of the association had visited the mine site, they were convinced that AMCI is not the cause of the fish kill,” said Marvilla.
He said the association also discovered the location of small scale mining operations which are located outside the mining tenement of AMCI that discharge their mill tailings and other wastes directly to the Masara River causing the water discoloration.
“To attest that our operation is within the parameters prescribed by law, AMCI has a mine tailings dam which was issued with an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and a Wastewater Discharge Permit issued by the Environmental Management Bureau,” said Marvilla.
Marvilla also added that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the EMB regularly monitors and inspects their activities to ensure their operation complies with all environmental standards and regulations.
According to its website, Apex Mining reported a consolidated net income of P100 million in the first quarter of 2015, “a significant turn around from the consolidated net loss of P143 million in the same period last year.”
AMCI is a Philippine-owned company with origins in the Maco Gold Mine, formerly known as Masara, in Compostela Valley. (davaotoday.com)
