Sagittarius Mines Incorporated, the mining company of the proposed Tampakan copper-gold project, has again been certified by Germanyโs TรV NORD for meeting international environmental management standards, according to local officials, tribal leaders and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The certification comes as the mining company prepares for a project that could reshape South Cotabatoโs economy and reignite debates over mining, indigenous rights and environmental protection.
Recertified by an international auditor
Officials in South Cotabato said Friday that SMI had passed a new performance audit conducted by TรV NORD, a German certification and inspection organization that evaluates compliance with international environmental standards across industries worldwide.
The recertification was confirmed by Blaan and Tโboli tribal leaders, provincial officials, and representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 12 (DENR 12).
A project years in the making
SMI is the contractor for the Tampakan Copper-Gold Project in the southern Philippine municipality of Tampakan. The company has secured formal Free and Prior Informed Consent from Blaan tribal leaders, a requirement for projects affecting ancestral domains.
Supporters of the project say commercial mining operations could begin as early as 2028. Geological studies conducted nearly two decades ago by government mining experts and international consultants estimated that the area contains copper and gold deposits worth at least $200 billion.
Local oversight remains a priority
South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said the provincial government and local mayors would intensify monitoring of the companyโs environmental programs now that it has been recertified.
“Community participation in monitoring these environmental programs is essential, and the public should remain vigilant,” Mr. Tamayo said.
Certification before production
The mining company first received TรV NORD certification on May 6, 2017, according to company officials, DENR representatives, and Blaan tribal councils. The company has not yet begun commercial mining operations in Tampakan.
The renewed certification is likely to bolster the projectโs standing with national and local authorities, though environmental groups have continued to scrutinize large-scale mining projects in the Philippines for their potential impacts on watersheds, forests and indigenous communities.
SMI’s Tampakan project remains one of the countryโs most closely watched mining developments, promising significant economic benefits while facing ongoing questions about how those gains can be balanced with environmental stewardship and the rights of local communities.
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