October is United Nations Month with its main celebration last 24 October 2021. In response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) launched their first sustainability report to highlight the industry’s contribution and impact to local communities for 2020. They presented their report via a Zoom media launch last 20 October 2021. This online event is the 4th episode of the Nickel Initiative Webinar Series.
The sustainability report is titled “Global Goals, Local Action – Sustainability as our way of life in nickel mining”. From PNIA’s press release, “The report underscores the industry’s social and economic contributions in the country consistent with the UN SDG global policy goals which are policy framework aimed at achieving sustainable living for current and future generations.”
PNIA is a non-stock, non-profit association that was established in 2012. PNIA was organised “to be the single voice of the industry in championing and positioning the nickel development sector as a globally-competitive and responsible driver of inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the Philippines”. PNIA is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The web-launch was moderated by Charmaine Olea-Capili (Executive Director of PNIA). Other speakers for the online even included Ferdinand M. Pallera (PNIA Chairman), Atty Dante R. Bravo (PNIA President), DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, Undersecretary Jim O. Sampulna and MGB Director Wilfredo G. Moncano.
Later in the day, an open forum was moderated by Dr Robin Garcia of the University of Asia and the Pacific. The discussion featured two distinguished speakers, DENR Asec. Nonita S. Caguioa and Professor of University of Asia and the Pacific, Dr Bernardo Villegas.
Atty Bravo stated, “We are glad to share this report because it is the heart and soul of all the PNIA members’ efforts and contributions in the past year. We aspire to share to the people that the industry takes our jobs very seriously - we value our communities; we rehabilitate the environment to the fullest extent, and we are committed to make the industry sustainable for future generations. We go beyond our business goals.”
According to the SDG report for 2020, PNIA members were able to contribute to 15 out of the 17 UN SDGs, particularly on the direct and indirect economic impacts. The report also highlights the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP) where PNIA devoted PHP531.7 million for environmental restoration of mined areas, as well as for other environmental risk-mitigation projects. They also reported that PHP166.8 million was spent for the Social Development Management Program (SDMP) which are evident through the generation of jobs, livelihood trainings, food security programs and construction of schools, churches, multi-purpose halls and handwashing facilities in their host communities.
PNIA stated, “This highlights the member companies’ commitment to mitigate environmental risks while largely supporting life in the communities particularly during the pandemic.”
According to Pallera, “What makes this report even more meaningful is that we have known and seen by our very eyes the direct impact of all these programs that adhered to the SDG, to our local communities--- families having jobs, children going to schools, our scholars in college, food security during the pandemic. Seeing all that, we know we’ve went over and beyond our business goals and have made real impact in people’s lives. It also inspires us to improve and do more.”
Furthermore, PNIA stated that “the association’s performance goes beyond numbers, continuously prioritizing their host communities by ensuring implemented projects are geared towards the improvement of the quality of life of their local communities, through infrastructure investments, improvement of education, supporting health and safety and other initiatives with indirect economic impact such as installation of water and sanitation systems.”
Based on the report/SDG document, most of the PNIA member programs and projects for 2020 are focused on SDG 9 -- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure with a total of 61 projects related with the assistance to infrastructure development like construction of roads.
Other programs:
- SDG 3 - “Good Health and Well-Being” – includes 27 projects in their host communities mostly dedicated to pandemic response, relief and support of essential services
- SDG 4 - “Quality Education” – includes 31 projects marked by the provision of new learning environment tools during the pandemic
“The members of PNIA further commit to continuing their sustainability journey by maintaining programs and projects that will contribute to various SDGs, mentioning that this is just a kickstart of a long-term vision. The association commits to learning more and to continue being a partner of the government in upholding initiatives that that will lead to the achievement of a sustainable future and actual inclusive growth for their communities.”
More on the views of the United Nations Development Programme, they published an article titled “How can mining contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals?”.
According to UNDP, the heads of 193 UN member states have created the 17 SDG. These 17 goals will be the shared global development framework for the future generation. They saw that mining companies have the potential to become the leading partners in achieving the SDGs. [1]
“Through their direct operations, mining companies can generate profits, employment, and economic growth in low-income countries. And through partnerships with government and civil society, they can ensure that benefits of mining extend beyond the life of the mine itself, so that the mining industry has a positive impact on the natural environment, climate change, and social capital.”
United Nations Development Programme also believes that mining companies may be called on to extract with responsibility, produce with less waste, use safer processes, incorporate new sustainable technologies, promote the improved wellbeing of local communities, curb emissions, and improve environmental stewardship.
“Mining companies committed to the SDGs will benefit from improved relationships with governments and communities and better access to financial resources; those that fail to engage meaningfully with the SDGs will put their operations at risk in the short and long term.”
UNDP have been working with the World Economic Forum, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) to create a shared understanding of how the mining industry can most effectively contribute to the SDGs.
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Reference:
[1] Source: https://www.un.org/africarenewal/news/how-can-mining-contribute-sustainable-development-goals
For more information about PNIA, please visit www.philippinenickel.org or https://www.facebook.com/philippine.nickel.
