Blaan leaders reaffirm support for Tampakan mining project

KORONADAL CITY – Blaan tribal leaders in South Cotabato have reiterated their commitment to honor their tribe’s Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for the large-scale copper-gold mining project in Tampakan, South Cotabato, as the controversial venture moves closer to full operation.

The tribal council, represented by Domingo Collado, the Blaans’ designated representative to the Tampakan municipal council, said they would fully cooperate with Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), the company contracted by the national government to operate the Tampakan Copper-Gold Project.

“We will give SMI full access to all areas covered by our FPIC,” Collado said. “This is a commitment we made not only on paper, but from the heart — for the betterment of our tribe and community.”

FPIC: Key Requirement

The Blaan community issued its FPIC years ago, a key requirement under Philippine law for any project operating in ancestral domains. The document commits the indigenous group to support the mining operations and allow government agencies and SMI to conduct work in mineral-rich areas within their ancestral lands.

Elders and members of the community said they understand the obligations that come with their consent, including allowing SMI personnel and equipment to freely operate in their territories. They also acknowledged the need to welcome officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other government agencies involved in monitoring the project.

Tribal members in neighboring towns — Columbio in Sultan Kudarat, Malungon in Sarangani, and Kiblawan in Davao del Sur — also signaled their readiness to cooperate with the project’s implementation, which spans several Blaan-majority communities.

Fanagey, Giwemon, and Saluni — three Blaan women from Tampakan — said they are well aware of the commitment their tribe has made and the significance it holds for future generations. Farmers Kintew and Lanuba, from one of Tampakan’s remotest barangays, said non-compliance with the FPIC would bring “shame” to their community.

“This is the promise of our tribe,” said Lanuba. “We have to stand by it.”

Mining Project: Gateway to Socio-Economic Development

Many Blaan residents consider the project as a gateway to long-awaited socio-economic upliftment. Local barangay officials expressed hope that the mining operation would lead to better livelihoods, improved public services, and infrastructure for the historically marginalized indigenous group.

To demonstrate their willingness to support the project and environmental stewardship, Blaan communities, in partnership with SMI, local governments, and advocacy groups, have planted over a million forest trees in recent years as part of a reforestation initiative.

Collado said the act of tree planting underscores the community’s desire to balance economic opportunity with environmental responsibility.

“As we uphold our commitment to the FPIC, we also uphold our duty to protect the land that we have called home for generations,” he said.