THE MINES and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has clarified that the nickel mining project in Davao Oriental is not an open-pit mine and confirmed a local government鈥s earlier statement that its location is outside the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, a declared protected area and UNESCO World Heritage Site.听听听

鈥Please be informed that the Austral-Asia Link Mining Corporation and Hallmark Mining Corporation (ALMC/HMC)鈥 are nickel mines with valid and existing Mineral Production Sharing Agreements鈥 and employ strip or contour mining method only,鈥 the bureau鈥s Davao regional office said in a statement.听听听

It also said that the companies have 鈥already waived a portion of their mining claims to be part of the protected wildlife sanctuary.鈥澨听

HMC says on its website that it 鈥relinquished 7,200 hectares to adequately expand the Hamiguitan World Heritage Site.鈥澨听

The delineation of the buffer zone boundaries was undertaken in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), according to the mines bureau.听听听听

鈥This office acknowledges the concerns raised by various environmental groups and advocates,鈥 it said. 鈥Rest assured that you are heard and that the DENR is likewise putting its best foot forward to keep our environment and natural resources sustainably managed.鈥澨听

The local government of Mati City, Davao Oriental鈥s capital and host of the project, earlier allayed public concern over the project following photos posted on social media about the mining site鈥s location.听听听

Advocacy group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), Inc. said the mining project鈥s close proximity to Mt. Hamiguitan as well as the Pujada Bay Seascape, also a protected area, poses a serious environmental threat.听听听

鈥Regardless of the claim that it is outside the protected area delineation, we strongly uphold and fight for the ecological rights and integrities of these watersheds from ridge to reef,鈥 IDIS said. 鈥 Maya M. Padillo听

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