Company Owner: RAMON Y. SY (Chairman of the Board)
Company Address: 3304B West Tower,PSE Centre Exchange Road, Ortigas Center Pasig City, Philippines
Official Contact #: +63 2 706-2805/06
Fax #: +63 2 706-2804
Company Website:https://www.apexmines.com/
Company Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/APX-Apex-Mining-Company-Inc-A-131171356967075/
Company E-mail: investorrelations@apexmining.com
Product/Services: mining, milling, concentrating, converting, smelting, treating, preparing for market, manufacturing, buying, selling, exchanging and otherwise producing and dealing in gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc brass, iron, steel and all kinds of ores, metals and minerals
Corporate Social Responsibility:
The Corporate Social Responsibility activities of the Company reflect its commitment to being a responsible miner and a catalyst for community development. These activities include social and eco-friendly programs within its tenements which aim to develop and improve the lives of the local communities and protect the environment.
The Company’s Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) manifests this underlying principle. Thus, it is focused towards the social, economic and environmental conditions of the communities where the Maco mine operates, to play a major role in maintaining sustainable development.
A. Development of Host & Neighboring Communities (DHNC) – P36 Million
The priority programs, projects and activities of the Company under this category are summarized in the acronym HELPS, which stand for Health & Medical Assistance, Educational Support, Livelihood Program, Public Infrastructure Programs, and Socio-cultural and Religious Support. A total of P35.8 million was spent during the year composed of the following:
Health and Medical Assistance – P3.0 Million
The Company is an active advocate in the promotion of good health and wellbeing of the local residents living in its host and neighboring communities.
In pursuit of this advocacy, the Company maintains three (3) community health centers: (a) Apex Clinic at Barangay Masara, Maco, (b) Elizalde Infirmary Clinic at Barangay Elizalde, Maco, and (c) Municipal Health Center at Barangay Binuangan, Maco. Through these health centers, the Company provides free medical consultation, medicines and vitamins, free pre-natal/ birthing/ post-natal services, and other medical related services. In addition, the Company transports local patients who needed to be referred to tertiary hospitals free of charge using the Company ambulance, which is always made available to local residents for emergencies. Medical assistance are likewise provided in the form of monthly salary augmentation to the local medical personnel (nurses, midwives, and doctors) working in host and nearby barangays.
Educational Support – P11.9 Million
Adopt-a-School Program
The Company has adopted a total of 14 public schools composed of nine elementary schools and five high schools all located within the vicinity of the mining area and nearby communities. There were 6,136 student-beneficiaries in 2017.
The Company spent P2.34 million for its Adopt-A-School Program in 2017. Financial supports were provided by the Company in the form of: sponsorship of adopted elementary schools to the Bayanihan Sa Karunungan Program (BSKP) in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Provincial Government of Compostela Valley covering the period March 2017 to September 2017; cash subsidy and allowance per month to several public school teachers; constructions materials and cleaning supplies for the improvement and beautification of the schools as part of Brigada Eskwela Program; distribution of free school bags and hygiene kits to elementary school students; and cash donations for year-long school activities, among others.
Work Immersion and Scholarship Programs
As part of its advocacy to provide quality education, the Company promotes industry exposure for senior high school students through the creation of Work Immersion Program. In October 2017, a Memorandum of Agreement between the Company and the DepEd, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Company and the Center for Industrial and Technician Enterprise (CITE), DepEd, Provincial LGU Compostela Valley, and Municipal LGU Maco, were signed respectively, to formally launch the Work Immersion Program.
A total of 169 students from different high schools joined the Work Immersion Program – 109 students from Elizalde National High School, 32 students from New Leyte National High School, and 28 students from Thompson Christian School.
The Company spent another P4.4 million to finance its scholarship programs composed of 43 tertiary scholars enrolled at CITE Technical Institute, Cebu City, 38 all-female senior high school scholars enrolled at Banilad Center for Professional Development (BCPD), Cebu City, and 17 college beneficiaries from Davao and Tagum Cities under the AMCI SDMP College Scholarship Program.
In addition, the Company also offered the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) during summer vacation, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment. The 24 students who availed of this program received cash allowances during the duration of their contracts.
The Company continued to provide free shuttle buses for the local students to-and-fro their residences and schools, which expense amounted to P2.0 million in 2017.
Livelihood Programs – P1.3 Million
The Company actively supports the establishment of alternative livelihood programs to create empowered and self-reliant communities, which need not be totally dependent on employment generated from the Company’s mining operation. The objective of the programs is to promote cohesion among the members of the local communities by organizing themselves into an association or cooperative, and help themselves to generate income from identified income generating projects. In the process, local residents become self-reliant, sustaining the continued development of these communities.
Among the projects being supported follow:
· Sponsorship / conduct of various forums, skills trainings, and capacity building seminars covering among others cacao farming and management, Lamayo fish processing, abaca fiber classifiers and macro propagation, and practical management skills. Beneficiaries mostly came from the Barangay Tagbaros Farmers Group, Barangay Elizalde Rural Workers Association (BERWA); Malamodao Farmers Workers Association (MAFAWA), New Barili Upland Farmers Association, and Apex Homeworkers’ Association.
· Financial support to different local organizations and associations covering the start-up capital needed for cacao and bamboo planting, cacao bean production, cacao fermentation facilities, abaca fiber project, manpower services, and goat raising project.
Public Infrastructures – P16.3 Million
In line with its goal to improve the lives of local residents, the Company has established a housing project, called the Apex Village, in Barangay Elizalde, Maco where decent housing units were constructed by the Company. As of December 2017, 30 housing units out of 90 housing units have already been turned over to local families residing in geo-hazard areas. 26 additional units are now under construction under Phase 2 and are expected to be awarded to beneficiaries in 2018.
In addition, various public infrastructure projects were also constructed, implemented, and partially supported by the Company which includes among others, river clean-up, improvement of covered courts, rehabilitation and maintenance of roads, installation of street lights, and financial support to the on-going construction of the Immaculate Conception of Mary Parish Church.
Socio-Cultural & Religious Support – P3.3 Million
Eight host barangays, eight neighboring barangays, two municipalities, and the Province of Compostela Valley were beneficiaries of P3.3 million worth of assistance from the Company. The cash assistance was used to support identified programs, activities, celebrations, events and other socio-cultural undertakings, including donations to the earthquake victims in Surigao del Norte and relief operations for Marawi.
The Company continues to provide free transportation services to the barangay local government units (LGUs) and partner organizations especially during community celebrations.
B. Information, Education & Communication (IEC) – P6.61 Million
The IEC program aims to institutionalize greater public awareness on responsible mineral development and the promotion of geosciences and related technologies.
In line with this, the Company conducted 15 seminars and forums in 2017 attended by members from multi-sectors (residents, youth, students, engineers, indigenous people, barangay officials, and employees). Among the topics discussed were as follows:
Social Justice and Clay Fluids
Responsible Mining, Social Development, Management Program Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program Best Practices
Surface Rights and Land Improvements Compensation
Boundary Conflict Settlement
IEC on responsible mining and best practices of Social Development and Management Program & Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program implementations
Pre-Planning Workshop for the 5-Year SDMP and ASDMP 2018 of AMCI
5-Year SDMP and 2018 ASDMP Planning Workshop
SDMP & Community Development Plan Presentation
C. Development of Mining Technology & Geosciences (DMTG) – P4.31 Million
In 2017, the Company spent P2.2 million worth of sponsorship to various symposiums, forums and events for the promotion of mining technology and geosciences. Participants were mostly engineering students from colleges and universities around the country, mining and geology professionals from the private and government sectors, and the Company’s engineers and geologists.
The Company also provided financial support for the following mining and geosciences research and studies: (a) Collection/ gathering of ore resource sampling in Sitio Bango, Barangay Ngan, Compostela Valley, and in SABENA Mines Area, Barangay Camanlangan, New Bataan, Compostela Valley; (b) Water Sampling Activity in Barangay Elizalde; and (c) National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS) Research, UP Diliman.
As a responsible miner, the Company takes care of the environment and the surroundings where it operates. Preservation of natural resources is foremost in the Company’s advocacies. On top of its fully complying with the mandated rules and regulations, the Company takes extra more steps to pursue protection and rehabilitation of the environment.
In 2017, the Company has achieved 101.8% accomplishment of the target activities specifed in its Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP), spending a total of P36.75 million for various EPEP projects. The Company ensures that these activities are continuously being implemented, monitored, and sustained.
In the same year, the Company was awarded by the Environmental Management Bureau-XI as one of the mining companies with the most improved adopted waterbodies under the “Search for Model Estero” in Region XI. The Company has adopted two waterbodies – the Malumon Creek and Buenatigbao Creek.
Tree Planting / Reforestation
The Company operates and maintains a central nursery and two satellite nurseries which produced 339,394 assorted forest and fruit tree seedlings, such as Falcata, Acacia mangium, Mahogany, Rubber, Durian, Bamboo, Narra, African tulip, Cacao, and Mangrove among others during the year. The seedlings were used for planting on disturbed, abandoned, and denuded areas within the local barangays and the camp site, while some seedlings were donated to the local communities and government agencies in support of various tree-planting programs.
A total of 21,851 seedlings were planted in an aggregate area of 14.31 hectares at the mine site and at the mangrove projects located in Barangay Bongabong, Pantukan and Barangay Bucana, Maco, Compostela Valley under a joint project with the LGU’s of Pantukan, Maco, and the DENR.
As of end of the year, 96,055 trees that have survived, planted in an area of 80.99 hectares, are being maintained and protected from killer vines and other competing vegetation. In addition, a total of 18,572 assorted seedlings have been replanted in all failed spots to catch up with the younger plantations.
The Company conducted tree planting activities during the celebration of the Philippine Environment Month and World Environment Day with a theme “Connecting People to Nature” at an abandoned kaingin area in partnership with Barangay Teresa Council and its contituents.
The Company also provided seedlings to LGU’s, DENR, civic organization, schools, employees, private individuals, and neighboring communities in support of the National Greening Program of the government. There were 26,846 assorted seedlings planted over an approximate area of 53.7 hectares. In addition, the Company also planted seedlings along the coastal area of Barangay Bucana, Maco (3.20 hectares) and Barangay Bongabong, Pantukan (6.87 hectares).
Tailings Management Facility
In furtherance of being a good environmental steward, the Company conducts regular monitoring on its tailings embankment facility to ensure that this is well-maintained in accordance with Philippines standards and has no adverse environmental effect to the nearby communities or any local body of water. Regular effluent monitoring at different established stations are also being done to ensure compliance to water quality standards. Other environmental mitigation measures being undertaken include regular de-silting at Lumanggang creek, maintenance of tailings pipe lines, maintenance of drainage canal and spillway along the tailings pond, and detoxification at polishing pond on the toe drain discharge. Tree planting was also conducted along the perimeter of the tailings pond.
The construction of Phase 3A dam raising to elevation 650 meters has been completed and Phase 3B to elevate the dam to 655 meters commenced. At the end of the year, 40% completion has been achieved, maintaining a free board of 4.6 meters. The study of the design to further raise the dam to 6.7 meters was initiated in early 2017. The third-party consultant retained to do the study has submitted the final drawings for the Company’s evaluation and review.
River Clean-up Activity
In celebration of the Philippine Environment Month & World Environment Day, National Clean-up Month, and World Water Day, Company employees together with Barangay Teresa constituents conducted river clean-up activities in the adopted waterbody of Buentigbao River situated at Barangay Teresa, Maco, Compostela Valley Province. A total of 491 kilos of domestic wastes were collected during the said three events.
Chemical Waste Management
The Company observes and practices proper handling and disposal of used and waste oil materials generated from its various operations by engaging the services of fully accredited third-party disposal groups permitted by the Environment Management Bureau. During the year, a total of 320 drums of used oil, seven drums of waste oil materials, and 765 pieces of used lead acid batteries were disposed. Oil and water separator structures in the different discharge areas were also regularly monitored.
The Company has constructed in 2017 a new hazardous storage facility for empty cyanide bags to ensure that hazardous wastes generated are properly stored and contained.
Domestic Waste and Scrap Management
In compliance with RA 9003, “Ecological Waste Management Act of 2000”, the Company continues to implement solid waste management activities. The Company conducts regular free collection and retrieval of domestic wastes not only from Maco minesite but also from its four host barangays. The garbage are thereafter segregated at the materials recovery facility located at Barangay Teresa. The Company has established a new integrated material recovery/ scrap materials storage facility situated at Level-805 Don Fernando Vein area, where all metal scraps and metal chips/cuttings generated from various mining operations are temporarily collected for proper disposal.
Air Quality Monitoring
The Company makes sure that there is adequate supply of clean air within the minesite especially in the underground where a sound ventilation system process is implemented. In case of emergency, respirator apparatus are readily available for use. Pollution control devices were also installed in every stationary source within the Mill plant.
The Company regularly conducts in-house emission opacity monitoring using Ringlemann Chart on stationary sources for its generator sets and boilers. During the first quarter, the Environmental Management Bureau Region XI conducted source emission testing of one unit 200ph boiler at the Mill plant with no negative findings. Further, the Company engaged a third-party accredited environmental service provider in June 2017 to conduct a Smoke Stack Testing (SST) on the Company’s stationary resources such as gensets, smelting furnace, and boilers.
The air quality within the minesite, is being monitored using the PM10 Ambient Air Monitoring device, which showed that the measured particulate matter concentration is within the DENR standards. Road spraying is also being done regularly to suppress dust particles caused by moving vehicles especially during the dry season.
Road and Surface Maintenance
The Company continues to do maintenance work on the Maco mine’s surface areas such as desilting of creeks, river channels, sumps, drainage canals, and earth sumps. Rehabilitation measures are also done through construction of riverbank protection along the Masara River, construction of cross-drainage, and regular cleaning and maintainance of all access roads leading to the minesite.
IEC, Trainings, and Research
To provide information and generate public awareness about the Company’s activities and programs on environmental protection and enhancement, the Company conducts regular Information Education Campaign (IEC) in its host and neighboring communities. Employee-representatives were sent to attend seminar-workshop for Pollution Control Officer with the theme “Green Power: PCO’s Dexterity to Environmental Convergence” facilitated by the DENR-EMB RXI and APCOMI. The Company also participated in the Society of Filipino Foresters Inc. convention held in Davao City.
In research, the biodiversity assessment of the Maco mine and its significant carbon storage at Masara, Maco, Compostela Valley, covering its MPSA’s 225-2005-XI and MPSA 234-2007-XI was finalized and a copy furnished to the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee in June 2017.
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