Rio Tuba Nickel Mining hailed as “environment champion”

Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) was honored as an “environment champion” by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) during the 25^th year anniversary of the Strategic Environmental Plan Act (SEP - RA 7611) for the Province of Palawan.

Nickel Asia Corporation President and CEO Gerard H. Brimo accepted the award from by DENR Undersecretary Marlo Mendoza and Palawan Governor Jose Chavez Alvarez, who is also the current Chairman of PCSD.

In accepting the recognition, Mr. Brimo said that the SEP has helped make the initiatives of RTNMC for environment sustainability become among the best practices in the industry.

“For a mining company to be honored as an ‘environment champion’, he added, “is such a great achievement.”

The gala event for the awarding ceremony, held last June 19, 2017 at the Princesa Garden Resort Hotel, was attended by other recipients which include : Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC) and the Local Government of Bataraza (co-awardees of RTNMC), Malampaya and Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Local Government of El Nido and El Nido Resorts, Local Government of Cagayancillo and Tubbataha Reefs National Park, Local Government of Balabac and Jewelmer International Corporation, City Government of Puerto Princesa and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Local Government of Narra and Katala Foundation, Local Government of San Vicente and the Local Government of Bataraza.

According to PCSD Executive Director Nelson Devanadera, the SEP champion awards are given to local government units and organizations embodying the SEP principles in their programs and projects.

RTNMC and CBNC were awarded for remarkable and positive development through partnership in the municipality of Bataraza.

In his message, delivered by Undersecretary Marlo Mendoza, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said the best indicator of local sustainable development is eradication of poverty.

“The best strategy that we can adopt is the eradication of poverty, the provision of livelihood, employment opportunities for the people and ensuring tha availability of basic services”, stressed the DENR secretary.
PCSD is a multi-sectoral and intergovernmental body mandated to enforce the Strategic Environmental Plan Law for Palawan that was signed by former President Corazon C. Aquino on June 19, 1992.