Mayor Al David Uy of the Island Garden City of Samal hopes the construction of the PHP23 billion Samal-Davao connector bridge will finally start under the new administration. “(It’s) possible, (I’m) praying,” Uy said in a text message Friday. Uy noted that bidding for the project was completed last year, and that winning bidder China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) is just waiting for the signing of the loan agreement. On January 14, 2021, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the contracting firm signed the Design and Build Contract Agreement after CRBC won the bidding. “It is one of the most important projects, and we are hoping for its construction. The ball now is with the Department of Finance and the Office of the President,” Uy said. Earlier, Uy assured the local government will focus on the realization of the Davao-Samal connector, which he said would be vital for the island-city's tourism industry. With a length of 3.98 kilometers, the bridge will provide a vital link for trade and tourism for both areas through reduced transport costs and faster flow of people, goods, and resources. Conceptualized 40 years ago, the bridge project has been identified as among the big-ticket infrastructure initiatives under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. Meanwhile, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) also vowed to push for the big-ticket projects for Mindanao, including the Davao-Samal connector project to the new administration come July this year.   "We don't want Mindanao to be left behind when it comes to infrastructure. We need the connectivity within Mindanao with other areas in the Philippines and BIMP-EAGA,” MinDA Secretary Mabel Sunga-Acosta said in a recent interview. By Che Palicte   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency 

Photo: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte leads the inauguration of the new Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Head Office Building in Barangay Ugong, Pasig City on Monday (May 23, 2022). Duterte enjoined the private and public sectors to invest in safer and responsive infrastructure as these provide a foundation for a strong economy. (Screengrab from RTVM) President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday enjoined members of the public and private sector to invest in “safer” and “responsive” infrastructure as these provide a foundation for a strong economy. He made this call during the inauguration of the new Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Head Office Building in Barangay Ugong, Pasig City. “Whether in the public or private sector, I strongly urge you to invest in safer and responsive infrastructure. I urge all of us to invest in our people and country,” he said in his speech. Duterte said he is hoping that the new building complex would encourage both officials and employees to continue working hard for a “sustainable, resilient, dynamic, and most of all, people-centered” MMDA. “In the coming days, we shall see just how helpful this project is in helping the agency achieve its goals. It is my hope that the momentum that we have gained through this project, as well as in our other previous projects, will motivate other government offices and institutions to invest in similar undertakings,” he added. Meanwhile, he also congratulated the MMDA for the successful completion of its new home, which he said would provide everyone in the organization the space they need to function more efficiently. He also commended the MMDA for its “tireless” service in addressing the needs of the people. “As if it was not hard enough, the Covid-19 pandemic made transport management, waste management, disaster prevention and public safety in Metro Manila even more challenging. What makes me proud is that in the past two years, the men and women of the MMDA bravely and wholeheartedly took to their task a genuine service to their fellow Filipinos,” he said. During the event, Duterte and MMDA Chairman Romando Artes unveiled the building marker, together with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. Artes said the new building complex shows the MMDA’s commitment to strengthening the organization and providing better services to its clientele. “We started with an idea, and now we stand in the actual building of our lifetime dream – a state-of-the-art government facility, catering to the needs of our employees as well as the clients and partners of Metro Manila. We now have a safe, structurally sound, sustainable, and productive headquarters we can call home,” he said. The new 20-story MMDA building, with roof deck and helipad, will be certified by the Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) with a one-star accreditation. BERDE is a tool to assess, measure, monitor, and certify the performance of green building projects. The conception of the new MMDA building started during the time of the late Chair Danilo Lim in 2018, through the collaboration with the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP)-Makati Chapter, by holding a national design competition for the facility with the theme: "MMDA moving towards a sustainable, resilient, dynamic, and people-centered metropolis." During the same year, a partnership was forged between the MMDA and the Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) for the construction of the office. The winning conceptual design by Architect Daryl John Abaygar, entitled “Solihiya Moderno” was used as an inspiration. The “Solihiya Moderno” was influenced by the traditional home silhouette and “solihiya” weave pattern. MMDA employees will start moving into their new building this year.   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Photo: South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. Photo from the South Cotabato provincial government Facebook page The South Cotabato government has created a Technical Working Group (TWG) to study the Sangguniang Panlalawigan's (SP) amendment to the province's environment code that lifted the open-pit mining ban. In an interview Friday, South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said his decision on whether to veto or not the lifting of the open-pit mining ban will depend on the TWG’S recommendations Tamayo said he has yet to receive the amended ordinance. Within 15 days, the governor can veto or approve the amendments to the province’s environmental code before it lapses into law. “An Ordinance Providing for the Environment Code of the Province of South Cotabato” was passed on June 9, 2010. “For now, I cannot say because I don’t want to preempt the decision and findings of the TWG, but I assure you that we are looking at what is good for everybody,” Tamayo said. In a meeting Thursday with Bishop Cerilo Alan Casicas of the Diocese of Marbel, who supported the open-pit mining ban, the governor said the provincial government must consider several issues and concerns before arriving at a decision. “Quarrying is part of an open pit, and what the SP approved in Lake Sebu is also an open pit. It will be contradicting if the open-pit mining ban will not be lifted,” Tamayo said. “We will sit again together with the Bishop and Sagittarius Mines, Inc.  (SMI) to talk about what is right or wrong, and it is important that I can come up with the decision two days before the deadline,” he noted. Meanwhile, Casicas said he hopes the governor will decide "based on the wisdom of the majority" of South Cotabato residents. During Thursday's meeting with the governor, the bishop led a group of some 3,000 protesters to the provincial grounds. “The most important factor is the wisdom of the people more than our voices and SMI,” Casicas said. Meanwhile, Board Member Ester Marin Catorce, an anti-mining advocate, denied the amended ordinance was recalled by the SP majority group. On Monday, 11 of 15 SP members approved the measure to lift the 12-year-old open-pit mining ban in the province. The SMI has been pursuing the Tampakan gold project in the province for years amid stiff opposition, primarily from the local Catholic diocese. By Roel Osano   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Photo credit: Sagittarius Mines Inc. Senator Francis Tolentino said the Tampakan copper-gold project being pushed to resume by Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) in Tampakan, South Cotabato will be beneficial to local residents. Tolentino said on Thursday the Tampakan copper-gold project will be "cost-effective" and safe. "Cost effective yung extraction ng open-pit mining kasi mababaw lang ang paghuhukay niyan eh, makukuha agad yung mina (The open-pit mining extraction is cost effective because the excavation will be shallow and the mine will be easily extracted)," he said in "Sa Ganang Mamamayan" program of Net25. Tolentino, however, said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) should see to it that the rehabilitation plan will be properly implemented. "Ang nakikita ko lang dito, ganon din siguro sa mga outlying communities, sundin yung rehabilitation plan kung meron man yung DENR. I-monitor naman ng DENR, huwag pabayaan ng DENR. Dapat nakatutok lagi sila. (What I can see here, just like maybe the outlying communities, follow the rehabilitation plan if DENR has. DENR should monitor, DENR must not ignore. They should always focus)," he said. After the Tampakan copper-gold project halted four years ago, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed in April 2021 the lifting of the moratorium on open-pit mining. The South Cotabato Provincial Board also lifted its ban on open-pit mining giving the SMI a go-signal to proceed with its stalled USD5.9-billion project. DENR Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna vowed they will ensure that SMI will comply with its rehabilitation obligations and environmental protection, assuring that the environment will not be sacrificed. "We will also require SMI to invest in equipment and manpower to ensure mitigation in case of any adverse impacts from the mining operation,” Sampulna said. According to SMI, the Tampakan project is noted as one of the largest untapped copper and gold minefields in Southeast Asia. The mining company expects the project to yield an average of 375,000 tons of copper and 360,000 ounces of gold per year. By Wilnard Bacelonia   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Photo credit: The Department of Public Works and Highways The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be assisted by Japanese experts in enhancing capabilities of DPWH engineers with the end in view of applying latest technologies in the Philippines to address road disasters on hazard-prone mountain areas. DPWH Secretary Roger G. Mercado and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines Office Chief Representative Takema Sakamoto signed on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 the Record of Discussions to formally commence a technical cooperation program on road disaster preventions and other countermeasures on mountainous roads. The signed record of discussions establishes a mutual agreement for implementation of detailed plan for the project to enhance capability on implementation of permanent countermeasure works for slope disaster, emergency response, hazard maps development, and road disaster information management based on road disaster information system. Earlier, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued on April 12, 2022 Special Authority to DPWH Undersecretary and Build Build Build Chief Implementer Emil K. Sadain and Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Mark Dennis Y.C. Joven to negotiate and or facilitate for and on behalf of Government of the Republic of the Philippines and JICA the record of discussions for the ₱178 million JICA grant project. DPWH has been implementing different strategic infrastructure policies and programs which aims to: a.) to ensure safe and reliable national road system through the rehabilitation/reconstruction of national roads with slips, slope collapse and landslides, b.) to provide safe access to highly vulnerable areas; and c.) to rehabilitate, retrofit and strengthen existing bridges. The signing event held at DPWH Central Office was also participated by Undersecretary Sadain of DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations; Undersecretary Maximo L. Carvajal of Technical Services; Acting Undersecretary Constante A. Llanes Jr. of Planning Service; JICA Senior Representative Kenji Kuronuma; and Bureau Directors Ernesto S. Gregorio Jr., Aristarco M. Doroy, Edwin C. Matanguihan, and Reynaldo P. Faustino. Secretary Mercado said that this latest collaboration program is a new seal in the partnership of DPWH and JICA in building safe, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructures resulting in the improvement of the quality of life of millions of Filipinos. Appropriate road disaster countermeasures against landslides, debris flow, and rock collapse are necessary due to yearly occurrence of strong typhoons and earthquakes in the country which renders many roads unpassable. With the willingness of Japanese experts to share their effective technologies on landslides and other road disaster mitigation, the DPWH engineers will be able to apply the best methodology in mitigating and preventing road catastrophes, added Secretary Mercado. Prior to signing of the record of discussions, DPWH Planning Service headed by Acting Undersecretary Llanes held a series of discussions with JICA and other relevant organizations to develop a plan for the project. The technical cooperation project has a three (3) years and a half reckoned period with the Cordillera Administrative Region and Regions 7 and 11 as pilot sites.   Article courtesy of the Department of Public Works and Highways

Photo credit: Apex Mining On March 4, 2022, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna signed the DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2022-04 entitled “Enhancing Biodiversity Conservation and Protection in Mining Operations”.  The Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) jointly drafted the said policy to provide adequate measures for responsible mining towards ensuring biodiversity conservation and protection including progressive and final rehabilitation of mined-out areas. It also aims to minimize negative impacts on biodiversity, thereby promoting the sustainable development and utilization of the country’s natural and mineral resources for the benefit of present and future generations. The said policy emanated from the 13th Meeting of the Conference of Parties (CoP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in December 2016, wherein it was identified that aside from agriculture, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture and tourism, other sectors such as energy, urban and regional planning, infrastructure, manufacturing industry and mining also negatively impact biodiversity.  Hence, as a commitment of the Philippines to the CBD and in response to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, the country developed various plans such as the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) and included priority strategies in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) to address the issue.  On December 9-10, 2020, the MGB and BMB jointly organized a two-day virtual consultation with large-scale and small-scale mining companies regarding the then-proposed policy. Various stakeholders of the mining industry participated in the said two-day virtual consultation composed of representatives from the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines; Philippine Nickel Industry Association; Philippine National Coalition for Small-scale Mines; DENR Regional Offices, BMB, MGB Central Office, and Regional Offices. A total of 187 and 54 participants attended during the two-day virtual consultation with large-scale and small-scale mines across the country, respectively. In addition, the said policy goes to a series of deliberation with the BMB, MGB, and DENR Policy Technical Working Group in 2021.  Accordingly, DAO No. 2022-04 identifies and recommends specific biodiversity-related measures that shall be undertaken in all stages of on-shore and off-shore mining operations. The following are the salient features of DAO No. 2022-04: Biodiversity measures shall be integrated in all stages of mining operations, including exploration, development, and utilization, and closure, decommissioning, and rehabilitation; Detailed guidelines on integrating biodiversity in small-scale mining shall be jointly prepared by BMB and MGB within one (1) year upon issuance of this Order; Mining companies shall integrate biodiversity conservation and protection in the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP); The Contingent Liability and Rehabilitation Fund Steering Committee (CLRFSC), Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC), and Multipartite Monitoring Team as per DAO No. 2010-21 shall include Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) and Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), and their regional counterparts as members; BMB, in consultation with MGB, shall subsequently develop modules and instructional materials on the integration of biodiversity in the mining sector; BMB and the Conservation and Development Division of DENR Regional Offices shall undertake annual monitoring and evaluation using compliance monitoring tools to be developed by BMB; and Mining Contractors, Permit Holders, and Permittees shall include biodiversity measures in their respective Environmental Work Programs, Environment Protection and Enhancement Program, Final Mine Rehabilitation and/or Decommissioning Plan, and Social Development and Management Program. DAO No. 2022-04 was published in The Manila Times and registered in the Office of National Registry on April 21, 2022. The full version of DAO No. 2022-04 can be accessed through this link: https://apidb.denr.gov.ph/infores/uploads/DAO-2022-04.pdf   Article courtesy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Photo credit: The Department of Transportation The construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Malolos-Clark segment reached a milestone on Tuesday with its first use of a launching gantry—a special purpose mobile gantry crane used in bridge construction. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the launching gantry—dubbed ‘Luid’ or ‘Mabuhay’ in Kapampangan—represents the first time such equipment was used in Pampanga province. “Luid will travel 5.5 kilometers between Barangay Lourdes, Minalin in Pampanga and Barangay Gatbuca, Calumpit in Bulacan, and will be utilized to construct the railway viaduct,” the DOTr said on its Facebook post. The launching gantry will lift 16 35-ton pre-casted segmental box girders and combine them into one 40-meter railway viaduct span. “In total, Luid will create 140 railway viaduct spans,” the DOTr said. It said Luid is only one of 11 launching gantries that will be operated in the Malolos-Clark segment of the NSCR system. The use of launching gantries, it said, is an “internationally recognized method of construction to ensure the safe, efficient, and quality construction of the NSCR.” It noted that the launching gantries were procured through official development assistance (ODA) loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The NSCR system—operated by the Philippine National Railways (PNR)—is a mass transport rail system from Clark International Airport (CRK) in Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna. The DOTr said the NSCR is seen to create “over 47,000 direct jobs and 106,000 indirect jobs” during its construction, contributing to post-Covid-19 and economic growth in Luzon, particularly in Region 3, 4-A, and the National Capital Region. By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Photo credit: San Miguel Corporation San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has released a conceptual master plan for its massive, green-designed, and future-ready aerocity development in Bulacan province, envisioned as the “pace-setter” and model for green urbanism in the country.   The project is seen as a major boost to both national and local economies as it will complement SMC’s P740-billion New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project.   SMC President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Ang said that the designs, prepared by top architecture firm Palafox Associates, reflect the vision of a modern Philippine city that provides built-in solutions to various socio-economic, environmental, and climate issues, and correct the mistakes seen in many urban developments of Metro Manila.   SMC tapped the firm, headed by the country’s top urban planner and green architect, Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr., to masterplan the airport-driven city concept.  “These designs presented to us by Arch. Palafox and his team will be close to actual. There will probably be some adjustments by the time we implement, and we will still continue to improve as needed, but in terms of the overall concept, design, and the features, this is it,” SMC president and chief executive officer Ramon S. Ang said.   “It’s very fortunate that when we sat down with Architect Jun Palafox for this project, we had the same vision that the airport and aerocity projects should be sustainably built, geared towards the future, and address social and environmental concerns that have beset our existing cities, including the country’s major financial districts. With Architect Palafox’s help, all of this can be done,” he added.   Ang underscored that the Aerocity development addresses many of the problems experienced in Metro Manila today. It is designed, and will be built, with sustainability in mind. It will be properly zoned, with areas dedicated to agriculture and food production, logistics, health and wellness, aeronautics, finance, science and technology, commerce, residences, education, tourism, entertainment, recreation, and government among others.  It will utilize renewable energy, and will accommodate both traditional and alternative modes of transportation, as well as promote active and healthier lifestyles, he added.  The airport city design will adopt green architectural and green urbanism guidelines over and above the country’s building and zoning codes, and follow structural codes of other countries similarly situated in earthquake zones like the Philippines.   The Aerocity project will have ample open spaces and utilize the latest in digital infrastructure.   It will also feature easily accessible public transport systems, including mass transit systems, bicycle highways, as well as a waterfront area with landscaped walkways and promenades.   Ang said SMC is fully committed to completing the massive projects, which it will fully-fund with no guarantees or subsidies from government, to help boost the country’s post-pandemic economy and improve the lives of more Filipinos by boosting various industries and creating millions of quality jobs nationwide.   SMC’s 2,500-hectare NMIA project will initially feature four parallel runways, a world class terminal, and a modern and interlinked infrastructure network that includes expressways and railways.   “While we need to fast-track the completion of this airport and aerocity to help ease travel congestion and aid in the country’s recovery with more jobs and opportunities for more Filipinos, we are mindful that we need to do this the right way and with a vision for a sustainable future. That is why we tapped Architect Palafox for this project,” he added.  In his decades of experience as an urban planner, Palafox has advocated and implemented some 1,700 projects that integrate the best practices in green, sustainable, and disaster-resilient architecture in about 45 countries worldwide.  Palafox earlier pointed out that that country needs 100 new cities by the year 2050 and he agreed to take on the Bulacan Aerocity development to present it as a model and pacesetter for future green and sustainable cities.   Prior to actual development, the company has committed to restore and rehabilitate the existing mangrove forest cover at the Bulakan coastal areas by planting some 190,000 mangroves, develop and enhance natural habitats of marine and bird species, and clean the rivers surrounding the airport project to help mitigate perennial flooding in the province.    Article courtesy of San Miguel Corporation

Photo credit: San Miguel Corp The Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7), one of the flagship transportation projects of the Duterte administration, is now 63.35 percent complete, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Monday. In a Facebook post, the DOTr said the construction of the project continues to accelerate to serve the public as soon as possible. “Oras na matapos at maging operational ang MRT-7, ang dating 2-3 hours na biyahe ng ating mga kababayan mula North Avenue, Quezon City patungong San Jose del Monte sa Bulacan, ay magiging 35 minutes na lamang (Once the MRT-7 is complete and operational, the previous two to three-hour travel between North Avenue and San Jose del Monte will be reduced to just 35 minutes),” the DOTr said. The MRT-7, it said, will be capable of serving an average of 300,000 to 500,000 passengers in a single day. First conceptualized in an unsolicited proposal in August 2001, the MRT-7’s concession agreement was signed on June 8, 2008. By the beginning of the Duterte administration in 2016, the project had yet to materialize. “Ni walang poste o isang tren man lang ang kanilang nadatnan. Kaya naman, sinikap ng DOTr at San Miguel Corporation (SMC) na simulan at isakatuparan ang proyekto (There was not a single post or train by then. That’s why the DOTr and SMC strived to start and turn the project into reality),” the DOTr said. In December last year, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade unveiled the first six trains to be used in the MRT-7.   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Eleven of 15 members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato approved Monday the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining in Tampakan town. The copper and gold mine project in Tampakan is touted as the largest in Southeast Asia. (Photo courtesy of SP South Cotabato) The majority of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) members approved Monday the amendments to the environment code of South Cotabato province, particularly the provision on the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining in Tampakan town. Voting for the ban's lifting were SP board members Glezel Trabado, who acted as presiding officer in the absence of Vice Governor Vicente de Jesus, Larry de Pedro VI, chairman of the Environment Committee, Dardanilo Dar, Noel Escobillo, Antonio Fungan, Eamon Gabriel Mati, and Henry Ladot. Also backing the move were Indigenous Peoples’ Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Edgar Sambong, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)Federation president Alaisa Marie Fale, Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president Rolando Malabuyoc, and Philippine Councilors League (PCL) South Cotabato Chapter president Grace Achura. Board Member Ester Marin Catorce, who opposed the amendment and was designated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as acting governor, was absent during Monday’s regular session. “None of them objected, as acting governor by the rule of succession I cannot attend the session. Governor Tamayo is out of the country while Vice Governor Vicente De Jesus, who underwent an operation, was not present,” Catorce said. Catorce said she asked a colleague to defer the deliberation of the amendment because of the many issues that still need discussion. Her request, she said, was not granted. SP members Ellen Grace Subere-Albios and Jinky Avance-Samodal, who also both opposed the open-pit mining operation, were also absent in the regular session. Ordinance 04, Series of 2010, entitled “An Ordinance Providing for the Environment Code of the Province of South Cotabato,” was passed on June 9, 2010. In 2015, SP filed a resolution affirming the open-pit mining ban in the province. Pro-mining groups earlier said the open-pit mining ban in South Cotabato hampered the development of the copper and gold mine project in Tampakan, touted as the largest in Southeast Asia. Anti-mining groups, however, said the project endangered not only the environment but also the lives of residents. Sagittarius Mines Inc. has been pursuing the Tampakan gold project for years. By Roel Osano

Photo credit: Weir Minerals As a leader in materials development and advancement, the team of material scientists at Weir Minerals are always pushing for ways to improve the capabilities of our technology for our customers. The advanced laboratories at Weir Minerals develop a variety of materials, from natural to synthetic, to polyurethanes and composite materials. One of these materials is the Vulco® mill liner rubber. Vulco® rubber is renowned throughout the mining industry for its exceptional wear life and reliability in mill lining systems. These abrasion- and impact-resistant rubber compounds are continuously improved and refined by Weir Minerals’ team of engineers and material scientists to keep them at the forefront of mill lining systems technology. Having identified a need for higher-wearing rubbers for mill lining systems, the material science experts developed an industry-leading, premium-grade rubber compound with superior wear life and performance in mill lining applications. The result: Vulco® R67 rubber – an optimum material which is manufactured with proprietary new compounds and innovative methods of processing to deliver outstanding wear life and longer uptime. This new elastomer material was developed through extensive laboratory testing which was optimised and refined to further improve the material’s properties for aggressive mill system applications. The outcome of these improvements is a rubber compound which delivers an increased wear life of more than 20%, resulting in significant cost savings for our customers. The Vulco® R67 rubber compound offers a high hardness, elongation, tensile and tear strength, making it suitable for lifter bars, head/shell plates and grates. When used in conjunction with metal cap mill liners, the result is a versatile, economical, and efficient product that weighs up to 50% less than steel alone. The added benefit is a lighter product that’s faster, easier and safer to install, as well as a measurable reduction in mill downtime and reduced maintenance costs. “The Vulco R67 compound is a significant improvement to extend the wear life of mill linings.  The longer life results in lowering customer’s production costs and also allows more uptime to potentially increase throughput of the plant due to the higher annual mill availability.” – Tony Millar, Weir Minerals Director of Product Management Produced locally in Australia, as well as North and South America and South Africa, our customers can feel assured that they have a market-leading product that is backed by decades of experience, expertise, and proven effectiveness. Connect with our mill lining experts today: https://info.global.weir/vulcor67

Photo credit: Apex Mining Apex Mining Co., Inc. finished the first quarter of 2022 with consolidated revenues of P2.2 billion, a growth of 46.11% yoy. The growth comes from increased milling tonnage of 23.3% and increased gold grades of 19.7%, as well as, a 7% increase in selling prices. The ramp up in production volume is part of the planned increase from 2,000 tpd to 3,000 tpd. The mine and mill operation is ahead of budget production rate of 2,250 tpd for the year and has encountered better grades than expected. Net income for the first quarter stood at P645.5 million, a 131% increase yoy. Translated to earnings per share this is equal to P0.114 vs previous year’s number of P0.049. Meanwhile, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 11 conferred the Safety Milestone Award to Apex Mining for recording 7,549,768 man-hours without lost time accidents between 11 March 2021 and 20 March 2022. Apex Mining also earned the Compliant Tenement Holder for CY 2021. Both honors were conferred to Apex Mining at the Stakeholders Forum held at the Grand Regal Hotel in Davao de Oro on 08 April 2022. The forum’s theme was, “Harnessing Disaster Resiliency Through Responsible Mining”. Also in March this year, Apex Mining’s fully owned subsidiary, Itogon-Suyoc Resources, Inc. (ISRI) received the Safety Seal from the Department of Labor and Employment-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOLE-CAR) — the first mining company in CAR to get the seal.   Article courtesy of the Philippine Stock Exchange 

Photo credit: Department of Public Works and Highways Tunnel boring activity of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at south portal of the twin tunnels of Davao City Bypass Construction Project has kicked-off on Thursday, May 12, 2022. In his report to DPWH Secretary Roger G. Mercado, Undersecretary and Build Build Build Chief Implementer Emil K. Sadain said that the simultaneous tunnel boring activities at north and south portals will result to the speedy construction of the 2.3-kilometer first-ever long distance mountain tunnel in the Philippines. The kick-off ceremony for the tunnel works on northbound direction of south portal in Barangay Matina Biao, Davao City was attended by Consul General Yoshihisa Ishikawa of the Consular Office of Japan in Davao; DPWH Undersecretary Sadain; Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative in the Philippines Takema Sakamoto; and DPWH Assistant Secretary Rolito D. Manalo. Also witnessing the first excavation on south portal’s northbound direction of the two (2)-tube mountain tunnel project are Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista of DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) – Roads Management Cluster I (Bilateral); DPWH Region 11 Director Rey Peter B. Gille; Project Managers Joselito B. Reyes and Joweto V. Tulaylay; Davao City District Engineer Richard A. Ragasa; Engr. Earl Nicholas F. Rada; officers of the consultants Nippon Koei Ltd., Katahira & Engineers International, Nippon Engineering Consultants Co., and PhilKoei International Inc.; and other public works officials. With the simultaneous tunneling works on the north and south portals, the joint venture companies of Shimizu Corporation, Ulticon Builders Inc., and Takenaka Civil Engineering and Construction Company Limited can ramp up their construction towards rapid completion of the project so that people of Mindanao can finally enjoy the convenience and its other benefits, added Undersecretary Sadain. Designed to have better seismic resiliency by Japanese experts, the tunnel construction activities at the south portal - southbound and northbound directions were earlier started in November 2021 and March 2022, respectively. Davao City Bypass Construction Project is among the flagship infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program implemented by DPWH UPMO Operations headed by Undersecretary Sadain to reduce congestion in Davao City and cut travel time between Toril, Davao City and JP Laurel, Panabo City to 49 minutes from the current one (1) hour and 44 minutes. The construction of the bypass road will improve transport logistics and mitigate congestion in the Davao City urban center to contribute to the economic and social development of Mindanao. In his sent message, Presidential son and newly elected Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte expressed excitement for the Davao City Bypass Construction Project as it will greatly improve the city's accessibility and traffic condition by the opening of this new road network that will also usher more developments outside the city center. Undersecretary Sadain said that as the Philippines transitions to a new administration by June 30, DPWH will continue to work hard in delivering the completion of on-going infrastructure flagship projects and is looking forward to build more new pipeline projects towards the next administration to sustain rapid growth, attract investments and attain economic inclusion for all Filipinos. While construction of the tunnel is the centerpiece of Contract Package 1 - 1, the contract also includes construction of a 7.9 kilometer four (4)-lane road, three (3) pairs of bridges with a total length of 500 meters, two (2) underpasses, two (2) overpasses, a dozen box-culverts (waterways), and four (4) at-grade intersections. The tunneling activity uses specialized equipment such as drill jumbo, concrete spraying machine and articulated dump hauler to excavate tunnel that has a diameter of 10 meters. The on-going Contract Package 1-1 costing ₱13.23 Billion is financed by Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) Loan between Philippines and JICA under loan agreement numbers PH-P261 and PH-P273.   Article courtesy of Department of Public Works and Highways

Diversified engineering conglomerate DMCI Holdings, Inc. reported a 165-percent increase in first-quarter earnings from P4.3 billion to P11.3 billion, its highest ever for any given quarter. Its record-setting performance was mainly driven by the robust operating results of its coal, nickel and power businesses amid rallying commodities and electricity spot prices. Excluding a non-recurring gain of P179 million last year mainly from the deferred tax remeasurement impact of CREATE Act on Maynilad’s service concession asset and a P12 million gain on sale of land of DMCI Homes, consolidated core net income surged by 177 percent from P4.1 billion to P11.3 billion. “Semirara exceeded our expectations while DMCI Mining and DMCI Power both grew double-digits,” said DMCI Holdings chairman and president Isidro A. Consunji. “But our construction and real estate businesses are showing signs of slowdown because of knock-on effects of the pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war,” he added. Net income contribution from Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC) skyrocketed by 544 percent from P1.3 billion to P8 billion on the back of record-high coal production, shipment and average selling prices, and further boosted by higher spot electricity sales at elevated prices. DMCI Homes contributed P1.4 billion, a 7-percent decline from P1.5 billion owing to lower construction accomplishments, fewer new accounts that qualified for revenue recognition and higher sales cancellations. Net income contribution from DMCI Mining grew 20 percent from P415 million to P499 million on higher nickel ore shipment and forex rates. D.M. Consunji, Inc. recorded a 7-percent drop in net income contribution from P393 million to P367 million mainly due to the absence of a one-time related party transaction for a joint venture infrastructure project. Maynilad contribution rose by 11 percent from P287 million to P319 million on lower personnel, utilities and interest expenses. DMCI Power contributed P132 million, a 12-percent upturn from P118 million because of higher generation and sales across all its service areas. Income from parent and others retraced by 38 percent from P13 million to P8 million on lower interest income.

Photo credit: Department of Transport The revival and development of the Lucena-San Pablo stretch of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) continues as it is set to reopen before the end of the Duterte administration in June, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Tuesday. Construction of the Lucena-San Pablo line is ongoing with the rest of the PNR Bicol which links Metro Manila and the Southern Luzon provinces. “As the Duterte administration nears its conclusion, Secretary (Arthur) Tugade made a covenant with the Filipino people not to waste even a single day at work. There is no time to relax even until the last day of office,” the DOTr said in a Facebook post. Once reopened, the Lucena-San Pablo line will reduce travel time between San Pablo, Laguna and Lucena, Quezon to one hour and 30 minutes and is seen to help boost the economic corridors of both provinces and neighboring areas. The line is part of the 560-kilometer PNR Bicol scheduled to be operational by 2027. PNR Bicol will have 35 stations and will run from Manila through Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Albay, an extension line in Sorsogon, and a branch line in Batangas. By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency