Mining firm eyes gold, copper, silver in 2 Iloilo towns
A Korean – Filipino firm is seeking approval of the Iloilo Provincial Government for a planned exploration of precious minerals in the mountainous areas of two Iloilo towns.
Two towns that according to the firm could use some “industrialization” being “relatively depressed agricultural towns.”
In search of gold, copper, silver and other associated minerals, project proponent is T & D Kim Phil. Incorporated with project site within Ajuy and Lemery, Iloilo.
Slated to operate in a two-year period, documents obtained by The News Today (TNT) showed over P3.4 million in estimated cost of exploration work. Actual exploration though if approved will follow after months of research work, reconnaissance survey and geological survey on rock types present here.
Further still is a geophysical survey out to clarify what is termed as “geochemical anomalies” in the project site alongside the determination of possible drilling targets. T & D Kim Phil. Incorporated will also conduct a subsurface investigation “to determine the extent of the mineralization at depth and to arrive at reliable estimate or size of the mineral deposit.”
With the P3.4 million allotted to the exploration work proper, another P365,000 was also appropriated for exploration “aftershocks” identified as “Cost for Environmental Protection and Enhancement.”
The firm in its own description of existing environment of the project site acknowledged that the surrounding area here “falls within the portion of Alienable and Disposable lands and within timberland classification.” In fact, it is well aware that the project site area’s agricultural land consists of rice paddies, fruit trees and coconut plantation.
Ajuy and Lemery, the firm also gathered and reflected in its technical report “are relatively depressed agricultural town (sic) in the north central to eastern part of the Province of Iloilo, island of Panay.”
The firm believes that the two town’s economic growth is dependent mainly on its agricultural sector with “vast and rich area best suited for agriculture.”
As such, it identified “industrialization” as a “good potential considering that it has biggest bulk deposits of white clay, for ceramic industry as well as traces of gold, copper, iron and other metallic minerals.”
T & D Kim Phil. Incorporated has Alma Sabulao as president and local contact person. Sabulao submitted the request for endorsement and SP approval as part of the requirements called for in its exploration permit application.
The firm vowed to undertake management and mitigating measures to prevent or avoid environmental damage during the two-year planned exploration works. It further manifested to undertake mitigating measures in preventing or minimizing pollution effects in the drainage system of the area set for exploration.
Also part of the firm’s commitment was the conduct and implementation of environmental management measures “that would practically reduced if not minimized into acceptable level mandated under existing laws the damaged inflected to the Flora and Fauna of the proposed project site.”
Lastly, T & D Kim Phil. Incorporated assured the restoration of all disturbed and damaged areas affected by the exploration activities.