The PMIEA is the mining industry’s most prestigious awarding ceremony, conferred by the national government and the industry’s regulatory bodies. The awards recognize outstanding dedication, initiatives, and innovations in environmental protection and safety and health management. These accolades carry significant weight as they are conferred by the very agencies that regulate the mining industry, setting the standards for safety, environmental protection, and corporate responsibility.

PNIA members achieved significant recognition at this year’s PMIEA, winning a total of 19 major awards across 8 categories, affirming their commitment to the highest standards of mining excellence. These accolades highlight the companies’ dedication not only to compliance but also to initiatives that go beyond regulatory requirements, advancing sustainability, and fostering social responsibility.

6 of the 7 Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Awards were presented to 6 PNIA members: Cagdianao Mining Corporation, Carrascal Nickel Corporation, CTP Construction and Mining Corporation, Hinatuan Mining Corporation, and Taganito Mining Corporation.

The PMIEA Selection Committee Platinum Achievement Award went to Platinum Group Metals Corporation, Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation and Zambales Diversified Metals Corporation, while Dinapigue Mining Corporation received the Titanium Achievement Award and Most Improved Safety Performance.

PNIA members bagged all of the awards under the Mining Forest Program’s Best Mining Forest Contest as Cagdianao Mining Corporation claimed the top award for Best Mining Forest, with Platinum Group Metals Corporation as 1st Runner-Up, Taganito Mining Corporation as 2nd Runner-Up and Carrascal Nickel Corporation as 3rd Runner-Up. This distinction emphasizes PNIA members’ commitment to environmental stewardship, land rehabilitation, and biodiversity conservation through sustainable reforestation efforts.

Awards in safety were also given to PNIA through Cagdianao Mining’s Best Mine / Plant Supervisor award, Hinatuan Mining’s Best Miner / Operator Award, Rio Tuba Nickel Mining’s Best Safety Inspector Award, Dinapigue Mining’s Most Improved Safety Performance Award, and Carrascal Nickel Corporation’s Award for Runner-Up in Safest Surface Mining Operations.

PNIA President Atty. Dante R. Bravo said, “PNIA members winning awards for safety, environmental stewardship, and operational excellence highlights our commitment to responsible mining and sustainability. In the face of increasing climate-related risks and challenges, it’s vital to remember that responsible mining practices contribute to resilient communities through effective social development, risk management, progressive rehabilitation, early disaster response, and sustainable land use practices that help communities adapt to the changing environment.”

“Our success as an industry is built on strong partnerships with our employees, host community, technical partners, local government units, national government stakeholders, and other stakeholders. These collaborations are essential for ensuring that mining not only adheres to the highest environmental, operational, and safety standards but also creates tangible benefits for communities through job creation, infrastructure development, and economic growth,” Atty. Bravo added.

Meanwhile, PNIA Chairman Antonio Co said, “As a vital sector of the Philippine economy, the mining industry must be seen not only for its economic contributions but also for its role in achieving national development goals. We stand firmly in our commitment to responsible mining practices that contribute to sustainable livelihoods and environmental conservation. By prioritizing both environmental and social impacts, we aim to be a model for industries across the country, showing that responsible practices can drive long-term growth while contributing to national prosperity.”

Co further underscored the importance of excellence in environmental stewardship towards reaching global sustainability goals. “This is a long-standing commitment of nickel miners and the mining industry for our communities and for our country; to promote the practices of Philippine nickel miners of being dedicated stewards of the environment”.

The nickel mining site in Easter Samar (Photo file/THEPHILBIZNEWS)

By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios

The advent of coronavirus that made the world stand still and disrupted many business and economic activities, the country’s mining sector was not also spared. Inevitable slowdown in production due pandemic happened but the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) reports an increase in export value in 2020.

According to a report from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the Philippine nickel sector has produced a total of 18.5 million Dry Metric Tons (DMT) in 2020, a 14% decline in production in comparison to 21.6 million DMT production in the previous year 2019. The decrease in production was mainly brought about by the enhanced community quarantine between March to May 2020 where the movement of mineral products were limited throughout the country.

In terms of export value, the industry posted almost Php 25 billion pesos between January to September of 2020 which is an increase from the Php 24 billion pesos posted from the same period in 2019.

According to PNIA President Atty. Dante Bravo, the increased in performance of export value for the nickel industry was mainly driven by the increase in prices of nickel in the market. The improved world price of nickel in 2020 came from the steady demand in China keeping the local nickel sector’s performance with stable production of nickel throughout the year.

Meanwhile, PNIA members still contribute almost 50% percent of the total nickel production in the Philippines. Based on the recent MGB report, PNIA members produced a total of 7.9 million DMT with an export value amount of Php 11.6 billion pesos in 2020 while in 2019 members of the nickel association produced 9.6 million DMT with an export value of Php 10.6 billion pesos. 

“The industry is grateful that we were able to perform well despite the pandemic and that we were able to contribute to the economy during these trying times. We’re all aware that a large number of businesses closed down in 2020 and some are closing down this year. Most importantly, we’re glad that the nickel industry was able to operate and continue to help our local communities survive during the challenges of the pandemic last year,” emphasizes Atty. Dante R. Bravo, President of PNIA.

The industry’s Social Development Management Program (SDMP), one of the mandated programs under the Philippine Mining Law was also unhampered even during the pandemic. Through this government directive, the mining industry provides livelihood, education, health, public infrastructure and socio-cultural assistance to local communities. In 2020, PNIA members have spent a total of 166.8M pesos in implementing these SDMP efforts particularly in Palawan, Zambales and CARAGA region.

Bravo adds that members of PNIA member companies contributed an estimated amount of Php 49 million pesos in 2020 to COVID 19-related efforts to host and neighboring communities including Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao, when the mining industry redirected 30% of their SDMP funds for COVID relief assistance in April last year. The association further added a total of Php 2.8 million pesos for other COVID and Typhoon Ulysses relief efforts. 

These initiatives focused on food security, protective equipment, medicines and medical assistance to the community and even to local government units (LGUs). Some of these efforts included build-up of isolation rooms and testing centers, provision for ambulance, transportation, supplement supply of thermal scanners, test kits and personal protective equipment (PPEs) to local hospitals as well as provision of food packs, facemasks and hygiene kits to local health workers and front liners. 

For 2021, the industry remains optimistic as nickel consumption is seen to likely increase with the growing demand from foreign markets driven by the infrastructure sector and improved demand from the electric vehicle industry as well as the home appliance equipment manufacturing sector.

“We are hopeful that there will be a continuous demand for the year so that we can also keep our performance and help our local communities by providing them jobs that they can keep. The mining industry has kept to employ 190,000 people in the entire country and this is very important especially that the Philippine government is trying to implement economic recovery efforts from the impact of the pandemic,” adds PNIA President Dante Bravo.