Tampakan, South Cotabato — Underscoring its ongoing commitment to responsible mining and environmental protection, Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) joined a simultaneous nationwide tree-planting activity in observance of Environment Month.
Led by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region XII, the initiative brought together SMI employees, contractors, and community partners in a coordinated greening activity held on June 11, 2026 at the slopes of Mount Susong Dalaga in Barangay Lambayong, Tampakan, South Cotabato.
This activity forms part of SMI’s ongoing reforestation and rehabilitation programs in support of forest restoration and watershed protection within its project area, even as the Tampakan Project remains in its pre-operational phase.
It also supports efforts to enhance biodiversity and strengthen ecological stability in key upland ecosystems.
SMI’s reforestation efforts are aligned with its broader rehabilitation strategy, which focuses on restoring vegetation cover, improving soil stability, and protecting critical water sources that sustain surrounding communities and agricultural areas.
SMI remains guided by strict compliance with national environmental laws and regulations, including the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (RA 7942), the Environmental Impact Statement System under Presidential Decree 1586, and related implementing rules and requirements on progressive rehabilitation and continuous environmental monitoring.
The company also aligns its initiatives with the National Greening Program under Executive Order No. 26 and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) guidelines, including DMO 2012-02, which provides replacement requirements for trees that are cut or relocated.
Through these efforts, SMI continues to integrate regulatory compliance with biodiversity conservation and community-centered environmental practices, ensuring that its reforestation programs deliver long-term ecological and social benefits. (30)
