Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation

The Rio Tuba mine site is located in Barangay Rio Tuba, municipality of Bataraza, in the southern tip of the province of Palawan. RTNMC exports saprolite and limonite ore, and provides limonite ore and non-mining services to the adjacent Coral Bay HPAL plant of CBNC. RTNMC also holds an MPSA to quarry limestone that is also used by CBNC.

RTNMC’s host communities -- Brgy. Rio Tuba and Brgy. Iwahig – are among the 22 barangays that comprise this municipality at the southernmost tip of the main Palawan Island. Population data shows that the largest province of the country is home to more than 771,000 people, with over 86,791 of them residing at Bataraza. Palawan is also renowned as home of several indigenous ethnolinguistic tribes and is sometimes referred to as “the cradle of Philippine civilization” because of the great anthropological find at the Tabon Caves in Lipuun Point. RTNMC has identified 48 Indigenous Cultural Communities who are residing around the mine area, 11 of whom are part of the impact barangays, 11 from non-impact barangays within the Municipality of Bataraza and 1 adopted barangay in Municipality of Rizal.

Aside from mining, the other major economic activities important to the province are eco-tourism, agriculture, logging, oil drilling and exploration, and fishing. Palawan is a significant source of fish supply for the country. Tourism is also growing in importance not only because of world-class resorts but also because the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park was declared one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

Awards

  • 1st ASEAN Mineral Awards, Best Practice in Sustainable Mineral Development (2017)
  • ASEAN Mineral Awards, Best Practice in Sustainable Mineral Development, 1st Runner Up (2019)
  • Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (2002, 2003, 2015, 2018, 2020)
  • Platinum Achievement Award (1999, 2000, 2001, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2017)
  • Titanium Achievement Award (1998, 2009)
  • Excellence in Ecology and Economy Awards by Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Finalist (2020)
  • Safest Mining Operation (2018)
  • Safest Surface Mining Operations (2018)
  • Most Improved Safety Performance (2017)
  • First Aid Competition - Annual National Mine Safety Environment Conference, Mine Safety Field Demonstration
    • Champion (2018, 2019)
    • 1st Runner Up (2017)
  • Best Safety Inspector - Surface Mining Category
    • Mr. Jeffrey Pizarro (2014)
    • Mr. Bernard Balino (2018)
  • National Fire Olympics, 1st Runner Up - Industrial Category (2018)
  • Regional Fire Olympics Overall Champion - Industrial Category (2017)
  • Largest Tax Payer in Palawan (2017, 2018)
  • 2nd Largest Tax Payer in Palawan (2019)
  • Best Mining Forest Program, 3rd Runner Up, Annual National Mine Safety Environment Conference (2019)
  • Special Award- Mine Rehab Strategy, Annual National Mine Safety Environment Conference (2011)
  • 30 Million Safe Manhours Worked without Lost Time Accident (July 2014- September 2017)
  • Safety Excellence Award and Recognition, 3rd OSHE National Convention by WASPI (2017)
  • Excellence in Reporting Award, Non- Metallic Mines by PH-EITI, 1st Place (2020)
  • Best Practices CHAMPION in Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Towards Sustainable Development (2017)
  • Gawad Maka-KALIKASAN for exemplary efforts in successfully implementing eco-efficient measures and advocacy that contributes in mitigating environmental impacts and its effects, consequently protecting environment, life on land/below water and our mother earth (Awarded by: JCI-Puerto Princesa Oil) (2018)

Land Area: 4,538.44 has

Permit: MPSA 114-98-IV Amended I

Date Amended: 28 October 2019

ASEAN Mineral Award