Media Release
26 March 2023
On the Court of Appeals (CA) Decision on the Local Ban on Open-Pit Mining
The following statement is to be attributed to SMI External Affairs and Communications Manager Roy D. Antonio (RAntonio@smi.com.ph; +63 920 950-9231):
Tampakan, South Cotabato – Sagittarius Mines, Inc (SMI) is not a party to the court petition questioning the validity of the ban on open-pit mining in the province of South Cotabato but we welcome and support the decision of the Court of Appeals as it reinforces our position that the Tampakan Copper-Gold Project is a national government project and priority. It also gives flesh to the consent of the Blaan indigenous cultural communities for the Tampakan Project to operate within their ancestral domains as an exercise of their rights to self-governance and self-determination.
Just as we will always respect the decisions of the court, we will continue to respect the position of certain stakeholders who may see the wisdom of the court in a different way.
We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the national and local governments, the host communities and various stakeholders to ensure the attainment of our common goal of creating shared social, environmental and economic values through sustainable and responsible mining.
