Tampakan, South Cotabato – Mayor Tondatu Mamalinta Mangudadatu of Columbio, Sultan Kudarat, expressed on Wednesday his gratitude to Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) for its sustainable social development projects in his municipality.
Mayor Mangudadatu received from SMI a total of PhP1.9 million as part of the mining firm’s financial assistance under its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP), a comprehensive community development plan aimed at improving the living standards of host and neighboring communities.
Being one of the host communities of the mining firm’s Tampakan Copper-Gold Project, the municipality of Columbio annually receives PhP4.5 million of SMI’s SDMP funds. In February, SMI had already turned over the first tranche of PhP1.5 million to the LGU.
Even though the Tampakan Project has not yet started, SMI has invested more than PhP1.5 billion in financing various social development projects and activities to advance the socio–economic, health and educational conditions of its hosts and neighboring communities.
“Maraming, maraming salamat Sagittarius Mines, Inc. sa walang sawa na pagtulong sa aming munisipyo. Hangad namin na magtutuloy-tuloy na ang inyong proyekto para mas marami pa kayong matutulungan,” Mangudadatu said during the simple turnover ceremony.
With all major approvals and permits from the national government secured, SMI is ready to start construction this year and produce its first copper concentrate in mid-2027. (30)
2024-03-21
