The Alyansa Tigil Mina Blog

From the company’s own quarterly report - update on a nickel mining project in Romblon.
Download from rapidshare here.

MPSA AREA OF RIO TUBA MINING INSIDE NON-ALLOWABLE AREAS OF PALAWAN

By ELAC

The proposed mining area in Bataraza of Rio Tuba Nickel Corporation (RTN) is found inside the non-allowable areas under the updated Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) Map of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD).

RTN held a mining lease contract over an area along the ridge of Mt. Bulanjao which was granted in 1970 and converted to a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) in 1998. In 2002, the Hydrometallurgical Processing Plant (HPP) complex, another project of RTNMC together with other Japanese corporations as major stockholders was approved. But the approval of MPSA and issuance of another ECC in 1997 did not ensure RTN’s continues mining operation.

Major portion of the MPSA area was categorized as Core Zones and Restricted Use Zones under the updated ECAN map of PCSD. Under the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP), or the law particular to Palawan, a graded system was established for the protection of the Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN). According to the ECAN, areas included in the *CORE ZONES and RESTRICTED USE ZONES are CLOSED TO MINING.

RTN failed to get clearance from PCSD for their cutting permit in 1998. To make matters worse for the mining company, Resolution no. 1 of Bataraza was passed on January 2006 which integrated the ECAN map into the municipal Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan (CLWUP). Thus, declaring the Mt. Bulanjao closed to mining.

Recently, however, RTNMC was able to get the support of the LGU which resulted in the enactment of municipal resolution no. 30 on March 14, 2006 requesting the PCSD to amend the ECAN map that will subsequently allow mining activities in Mt. Bulanjao range. RTNMC has also filed a request to PCSD on April 19, 2006 to allow their mining in the said mountain.

Palaw’an tribal members and residents of Sumbiling and Taratak, Bataraza filed their petition to PCSD and Sangguniang Panlalawigan on June 20, 2006 opposing the amendment of the ECAN zonation and CLWUP that will allow further mining of RTNMC.

Presently, the issue is undergoing a deliberation process at the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of PCSD. PNNI Bantay Mina and IP members attended the committee’s last meeting to raise their strong opposition to the amendment of the zonation that will allow mining in Mt. Bulanjao.

other news:

Overdue tax share released to the province

Mining ventures fuel controversy in South Palawan

ROGUE MINING COMPANIES WARNED

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=13171
By Madonna Virola
Inquirer
08/03/2006

AFTER a secondary school for all Mangyan tribes was built in Sitio Danlog, Barangay onteclaro, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, in 1999, a Mangyan federation decided it was time to pursue its members’ dream of a community and culture-based elementary school.

“All these years, children had been used to growing up without any education at all. The big rivers isolate the interior communities from schools, which are all situated in the villages near the road,” said Sr. Aristea “Thea” Bautista of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM).
Bautista serves as the director of the newly built Pamanaka Elementary School in Sitio Balingaso, also in Monteclaro. Pamanaka stands for Paaralang Mangyan na Angkop sa Kulturang Aalagaan. (more…)

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200608020708.htm
By Rocel C. Felix
The Philippine Star 08/02/2006

Rapu-Rapu Processing Inc. (RRPI), the local subsidiary of Australian mining company Lafayette Mining Ltd., expects to proceed very soon with the final phase of the test run of its polymettalic mine and processing facility in Albay.

“Permission (from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources) to initiate stage three of the commissioning sequence is expected shortly. Processing of the ore will result in the production of first concentrates within a few days,” stated David Baker, Lafayette managing director, in the company’s quarterly report submitted to the Australian Stock Exchange. (more…)

PIA Press Release -
http://www.pia.gov.ph/news.asp?fi=p060802.htm&no=02

2nd August 2006

Davao City (2 August) — North Davao Mining Corporation (NDMC) is being eyed by three Chinese investors aside from the 34 other foreign mining firms that showed interest in acquiring the said mining firm..

Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-XI) head Engr. Edilberto Arreza in an interview during the launching of the Green Philippines Highways Project graced by Secretary Angelo Reyes of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said that the three Chinese investors would like to know the production capacity of the site. (more…)

CCNMatthews -
http://www.ccnmatthews.com/news/releases/show.jsp?action=showRelease&searchText=false&showText=all&actionFor=605983

AUGUST 1, 2006

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - MBMI RESOURCES INC. (TSX VENTURE:MBR)
“MBMI” reports that the company has received shareholder approval for all management resolutions proposed in its information circular at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on July 31, 2006. The six Directors proposed and elected include: Michael Mason, Ken Cawkell, David Tafel, Chris Serin, Robert McCurdy, and John Cook.

Update On Corporate Affairs

The past year was a very positive year for our Company that included the completion of several Philippine nickel acquisitions, significant exploration and development activity on the Philippine projects, and advancement on the spin-off of our affiliated company, Garson Resources Ltd., (holder of the Canadian gold properties) to the shareholders. (more…)

http://www.miningnews.net/StoryView.asp?StoryID=62988
Wednesday, 2 August 2006

MEDUSA Mining says it is on track to increase its annual production profile to 40,000 ounces from its Co-O operation in the Philippines during the third quarter of 2006, after producing 2503oz in the June quarter.

The company produced its 2503oz at an average cost of $US334 per ounce, generating gross revenue of about $US1.62 million ($A2.11 million).

Once production is increased to 40,000ozpa, Medusa expects costs at Co-O to fall to below $200/oz. (more…)

Thu Jul 27, 2006
By Dolly Aglay, Reuters -
http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=uri:2006-07-27T115353Z_01_MAN291419_RTRIDST_0_CANADA-MINERALS-PHILIPPINES-TVI-COL.XML&pageNumber=1&summit=

MANILA - A unit of Canadian firm TVI Pacific Inc. said on Thursday it had asked Manila to intervene in a row between small scale miners and tribespeople in its mining area amid fears the dispute could hit its operations.

Officials at TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc., which plans to invest $23 million for a copper and zinc plant at its southern Philippine mine, said they fear anti-mining groups will use the conflict to further blot the industry’s image.

Cyanide spills last year at a plant run by a unit of Australia’s Lafayette Mining brought down the wrath of influential Catholic bishops and set back government efforts to revive the country’s once-mighty mining sector. (more…)

By ELAC

The proposed mining area in Bataraza of Rio Tuba Nickel Corporation (RTN) is found inside the non-allowable areas under the updated Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) Map of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD).

RTN held a mining lease contract over an area along the ridge of Mt. Bulanjao which was granted in 1970 and converted to a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) in 1998. In 2002, the Hydrometallurgical Processing Plant (HPP) complex, another project of RTNMC together with other Japanese corporations as major stockholders was approved. But the approval of MPSA and issuance of another ECC in 1997 did not ensure RTN’s continues mining operation.

Major portion of the MPSA area was categorized as Core Zones and Restricted Use Zones under the updated ECAN map of PCSD. Under the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP), or the law particular to Palawan, a graded system was established for the protection of the Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN). According to the ECAN, areas included in the *CORE ZONES and RESTRICTED USE ZONES are CLOSED TO MINING. (more…)