key endosement

Davao del Sur gov endorses SMI mining project in Tampakan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
10:46 pm | Friday, March 2nd, 2012
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DIGOS CITY—Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas has formally endorsed the Tampakan gold and copper project, which traverses some parts of the province, but his move somewhat surprised the provincial board.
Vice Gov. Arsenio Latasa, board presiding officer, confirmed Cagas’ endorsement following the Department of Environment and Natural Resource’s rejection of the environmental compliance certificate application of Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI).
But Cagas did not inform the board of his endorsement, Latasa said.
SMI, a company jointly owned by global mining giant Xstrata, had lodged an appeal in a bid to reverse the DENR decision against its proposal to develop what is being touted as one of Asia’s largest untapped gold and copper deposits.
John Arnaldo, SMI’s corporate communications media relations manager, said they were happy with Cagas’ endorsement of the $5.9-billion mining project. He said it was not only the governor who formally backed the project but the mayors of the host municipalities as well.