Photo credit: Nickel Asia Corporation Facebook Page

Nickel Asia Corporation recently announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 with an attributable net income (net of minority interests) of P6.17 billion, 168% higher compared to the P2.30 billion achieved in the same period last year. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to P11.01 billion compared to P5.93 billion in the prior period.

The higher net income was primarily the result of higher ore sales prices. The Company sold a total of 14.4 million wet metric tons (WMT) of nickel ore at the weighted average realized price of $27.96 per WMT in the first nine months of 2021, compared to 14.0 million WMT at $20.10 per WMT in the same period last year. Accordingly, total revenues increased by 39% to P21.06 billion from P15.11 billion in the prior year.

Breaking down the ore sales, the Company exported 8.73 million WMT of saprolite and limonite ore to customers in Japan and China at the average price of $38.69 per WMT in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021. This compares to 7.50 million WMT at $30.53 per WMT in the same period last year. Likewise, the Company delivered 5.68 million WMT of limonite ore to Coral Bay and Taganito HPAL plants, the prices of which are linked to the LME, and realized an average price of $8.20 per pound of payable nickel. This compares to 6.52 million WMT at $5.97 per pound of payable nickel in the same period last year.

Following higher Nickel LME prices in 2021, the Company recognized gain from its equity share in its investments in the two HPAL plants in the combined amount of P340.4 million in the first three quarters of 2021, compared to a loss of P11.1 million in the same period last year. Furthermore, due to the stronger US Dollar, the Company recognized net foreign exchange gains from its US Dollar denominated net financial assets in the amount of P587.2 million for the first nine months of 2021, a turnaround from the net foreign exchange losses of P333.5 million in the same period last year.

Total operating cash costs increased by 13% year-on-year to P8.86 billion from P7.83 billion in 2020. On a per WMT basis, total operating cash costs increased to P615 per WMT of ore sold from P559 per WMT in 2020.

“Chinese stainless steel production was up 12% year-on-year and nickel ore prices as well as LME Ni price have continued its upward momentum, despite the slowdown in Chinese GDP growth” said Martin Antonio G. Zamora, President and CEO of the Company. “While the Chinese economy is currently facing short-term uncertainties, the surging EV industry remains the main driver of nickel demand over the long-term,” Mr. Zamora added.

Finally, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the declaration of a special cash dividend of P0.22 per share of common stock, payable on December 2, 2021 to shareholders of record on November 18, 2021.

 

Article courtesy of the Philippine Stock Exchange

Photo credit: Bilyonaryo

Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation (“Atlas Mining”) reported net income of Php3.48 billion for the three quarters of 2021 compared to the net income of Php490 million for the same period in 2020. Higher metal prices and the stable production in the three quarters sustained the improvement in net income.

Metal prices remained high in the third quarter this year pushing average copper price higher by 60% to $4.22/lb and gold price by 4% to USD1,803/ounce compared to the same period last year.

Atlas Mining’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Carmen Copper Corporation, reported higher copper production and shipments in the third quarter compared to the second quarter due to improvements in copper head grades and recovery. Quarter-on-quarter, copper metal produced increased by 11% from 22.80 million lbs to 25.36 million lbs while gold produced increased by 44% from 5,829 ounces to 8,386 ounces. Year-on-year, copper metal production decreased from 81.62 million pounds in 2020 to 64.09 million pounds in 2021, due mainly to the decrease in copper grades by 20% from 0.309% to 0.246% as ore milled in the first quarter was sourced from stockpiles. Gold production decreased year-on-year by 45% from 35,814 ounces to 19,562 ounces due also to lower gold grades from 8.05 grams/dmt to 5.38 grams/dmt.

Cash costs decreased by 3% year-on-year from Php7 billion in 2020 to Php6.82 billion in 2021, due to overall lower volumes of shipments and production. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was Php8.02 billion for the three quarters, 31% higher compared to Php6.13 billion in 2020. Core income for the period was Php3.34 billion in 2021 compared to Php1.64 billion in 2020.

Atlas Mining continues to strengthen its overall financial position supported by its improving earnings, efficient operations and robust metals market.

 

Article courtesy of the Philippine Stock Exchange

Photo credit: Department of Public Works and Highways

Construction of the 3.169 kilometer Panguil Bay Bridge Project in Northern Mindanao is moving ahead, with bored piles for the piers and abutments halfway done.

In his report to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Acting Secretary Roger "Oging" Mercado, Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations Emil K. Sadain said that a total of 29 bored piles are already completed off-shore.

The inter-island bridge project will require 54 bored piles for the 32 piers, two (2) abutments at Tangub City, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao Del Norte, and two (2) pylons of the main bridge.

The ₱7.38 Billion Panguil Bay Bridge Project is one of the flagship infrastructure projects implemented by the DPWH - UPMO Roads Management Cluster 2 (RMC 2).

The off-shore construction activities by Korean joint venture contractor Namkwang-Kukdong-Gumwang across Panguil Bay was inspected on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, by Undersecretary Sadain together with Undersecretary Eugenio Pipo Jr. and Assistant Secretary Ador Canlas of DPWH Regional Operations in Mindanao, UPMO RMC 2 Project Director Sharif Madsmo Hasim, DPWH Region 10 Director Zenaida Tan, and Project Manager Teresita Bauzon.

According to Undersecretary Sadain, each of the completed bored piles are subjected to cross hole sonic logging test after 7 to 14 days of concrete pouring in order to ensure quality by assessing the integrity of materials used in the cast-in-site pile as well as load test to determine the safety factor.

A three (3) meter diameter bored piles is made by producing bore holes with the use of reverse circulation drilling machines on barges followed by the launching of 23 millimeter thick permanent steel casing using revolving crane barges and vibro pile hammers, and until final concrete pouring.

There are two (2) land and sea-based batching plants available for the project, each with supply capacity of 120 cubic meter of ready-mixed concrete per hour.

To move the construction of bridge substructure as quickly as possible, one (1) bored pile is completed within an average period of seven (7) days with all the total requirements aimed for completion by first quarter of 2021, said Undersecretary Sadain.

The bridge project that will provide convenient inter-island travel in the archipelagic topography of Northern Mindanao is funded by a loan agreement between the Philippine government and Korean Export Import Bank.

Through the Panguil Bay Bridge, land travel between Tangub City, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao del Norte is expected to be reduced from two and a half hours to just seven minutes.

The Panguil Bay Bridge will also shorten land travel from Cagayan De Oro and Iligan to Tangub and the northern Zamboanga Region.

To date, the project has provided employment to some 200 individuals that despite the challenges of pandemic, are safely working at full speed. The manpower requirement is expected to reach 500 when the bridge superstructure activities begin in 2022.

 

Article Courtesy of the Department of Public Works and Highways

In celebration of World Bamboo Day last September 18, The Philippine Mining Club presented a webinar/summit titled "Bamboo Economics and Initiatives to Re-Imagine Mining into Social Enterprises -- A Summit on Re-Imagining, Developing, and Sustaining Mining Communities in the Philippines with Bamboo."

 

The summit was a 5-hour online event that was made possible in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry Philippines, Philippine Nickel Industry Association, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, Kilusang 5K, and more.

Photo credit: Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp

The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) is the island’s new pride as it changes the landscape of the country’s main economic powerhouse in the south, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said on Friday.

“Thank you for believing in Cebu and continuing to believe despite the challenges of the pandemic,” Garcia told business tycoon Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), present during the CCLEX’s main bridge connection ceremony.

Garcia said the bridge would ease Metro Cebu’s traffic congestion and bring more opportunities for trade, commerce, and employment to other parts of both the mainland and Mactan Island.

“This link gives hundreds of thousands of Cebuanos in the southern part of the mainland, who otherwise would have to venture further north to use the first two bridges, greater access to Mactan island and vice versa,” she added. “The possibilities are exciting and limitless.”

The governor represented the province of Cebu during the ceremonial walk with the leaders of the local governments of Cebu City and Cordova Municipality to commemorate the connection of the two sides of the CCLEX.

The CCLEX has reached a major construction milestone with the final main bridge piece now cast, after more than three years in the making.

After years of construction, the deck of Tower 2 is now connected to Tower 1, a symbolic achievement of linking the town of Cordova in Mactan Island to the highly urbanized Cebu City on the mainland.

Cebu City officials headed by Acting Mayor Mike Rama and Cordova town officials led by Mayor Mary Therese Cho met in the middle of CCLEX after a ceremonial walk.

It has been 1,300 days since the PHP30-billion project broke ground. By Carlo Lorenciana

 

Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, production and favorable metal prices for gold and copper have been sustained since 1Q2021. As a result, the Management and the Board of Directors of Philex Mining Corporation recently announced that the Company generated another quarter of positive results. Philex recorded a Core Net Income of Php716 million for the quarter, higher by 55% than the same period in 3Q2020, mainly due to higher copper prices, favorable foreign exchange rates and managed operating expenses. The 3Q2021 Core Net Income of Php716 million rides on the positive and upward profit trend from the Php540 million achieved in 1Q2021 and the Php610 million posted in 2Q2021. This brings the 9M2021 core net income to Php1.865 billion, higher by 116% over the same period of 9M2020, attributable to favorable metal prices, sustained metal output and efficient deployment of operating costs and expenses.

On the other hand, 3Q2021 EBITDA at Php1.168 billion continue to maintain the positive trend during the first two quarters EBITDA of Php2.027 billion, to top up 9M2021 EBITDA to Php3.194 billion, a 57% rise from the same period 9M2020.

Reported net income for 3Q2021 is Php721 million, a 46% increase over the same period 3Q2020, while 9M2021 Reported net income reached Php1.880 billion, a 105% increase from 9M2020.

Production and Revenues

The Company generated higher tonnage in the third quarter of the year. For 3Q2021, total tonnage milled was at 2.006 million tonnes slightly higher compared to 1.985 million tonnes in 3Q2020 and 1.943 million tonnes of 2Q2021.

Philex produced slightly lower gold output at 14,270 ounces in 3Q2021 when compared to 3Q2020 due to lower gold grades while the slightly higher copper grades produced higher copper output at 6.54 million pounds, which mitigated the impact to the total revenues.

The Company was able to maintain a positive trend in metal output since 1Q2021 for both gold and copper mainly due to the resilient execution of the mining plan that resulted to better blended metal grades and sustained level of metal output.

The favorable prices for both gold and copper attributed to the higher revenues for 3Q2021 at Php2.656 billion, a 13% increase over the revenues of the same period of 3Q2020 at Php2.350 billion. The favorable foreign exchange rate contributed to higher revenues in 3Q2021. For the 9M2021 period, revenues at Php7.742 billion was higher by 22% from revenues of 9M2020 at Php6.332 billion. This is attributable to the significant increase in the realized price of copper since 3Q2020 resulting into a higher contribution of revenues from copper at 52% of total revenues for 9M2021 from 40% of total revenues for 9M2020. On the other hand, revenues contribution from gold declined from 59% in 9M2020 to 47% in 9M2021 mainly due to the slightly lower gold output, from 43,136 ounces in 9M2020 to 41,295 ounces in 9M2021.

Operating Costs and Expenses

The Company’s operating cost and expenses for 3Q2021 stood at Php1.603 billion, higher than 3Q2020 of Php1.582 billion. The slight increase is consistent with the slightly higher tonnage milled in 3Q2021 versus 3Q2020. Materials and supplies usage at Php454 million accounting for 28% of operating cost remained almost the same level. Power costs, accounting for 18% of operating cost, was higher at Php290 million, an of 7% when compared to 3Q2020. Overall, the Company continue to manage operating cost efficiently.

For the 9M2021, operating cost inched up by 3% to Php4.843 billion from Php4.686 billion in 9M2020 as a result of higher power and labor costs from higher tonnage milled, and higher excise taxes attributed to the higher total revenues. For the nine months period ended September 30,2021, the Company recorded its share in the net losses of its associates amounting to Php510 million, inclusive of the Company’s share in the PXP Energy Corporation provision for impairment of assets and goodwill related to Peru block Z-38, net of proceeds from the settlement agreement with third party. As a result of the extension of the Padcal mine life from December 31,2022 to December 31,2024, the Company recognized a net reversal of the previously recorded impairment provision in its mining assets amounting to Php374 million.

Positive outlook and extension of Padcal life of mine

By itself, 3Q2021 ushered in a more stable and continuing positive outlook for the mining industry, brought about by significant developments in the previous quarter. In April 14, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Executive Order No. 130 which amended Section 4 of Executive Order No. 79 and lifted the moratorium on mineral agreements that had been existing for the past 9 years. This will pave the way for the development of stalled mining projects, leading to renewed investor’s interest in our Silangan Project.

The Company is currently exploring options on viable financial packages that would bankroll a phased development approach (In Phase Development) of Silangan.

The extended Life of Mine from December, 2022 to December, 2024 will ensure the continuous employment of 1,831 Padcal employees and support the social development of the Host Local Government Units (LGU) and neighboring communities especially in this time of COVID- 19 Pandemic. It will also give more time for the Company to bring the Silangan Project to development and commissioning stages.

“In response to this global trend of strong demand and strong metal prices, as well as responding to the Government challenge for the revitalization of the mining industry, Philex will keep improving on how we do things and undertake innovative initiatives related to the promotion of right and principled mining,” according to Eulalio B. Austin Jr., President and CEO. “The pursuit for excellence is a continuous journey and we have to keep raising the bar.”

“With higher metal prices and a better economic outlook for the mining industry moving forward, we can maintain the momentum of last year’s exemplary performance into this year, notwithstanding the pandemic and the challenges we have faced in our operations,” concluded M.V. Pangilinan, Chairman. “Time and again, the women and men of Philex have proven their resilience during tough times. With the extension of Padcal mine life for another two years, the prospect of a viable financial package for our Silangan project, and the rollout of our vaccination program for our employees and their dependents, it looks like the full year 2021 will produce excellent results for your Company.”

 

Article courtesy of the Philippine Stock Exchange

Photo credit: Oceanagold

OceanaGold Corporation reported its financial and operational results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021. Details of the consolidated financial statements and the Management Discussion and Analysis are available on the Company’s website.

Scott Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer & Acting CEO of OceanaGold said, “I am very pleased with the financial performance of the business driven by strong EBITDA and profits. The main drivers of this financial performance relate to a strong quarter at Haile and Didipio, where we are pleased to announce the completion of gold-copper 2 concentrate transportation. Despite this strong performance, we have much work ahead of us to progress the safe restart of Didipio processing and mining operations, complete the Haile Technical Review and get the New Zealand operations back on-track while continuing to manage the ongoing risks associated with the pandemic.”

“The Didipio restart activities continue to exceed our expectations with recruiting and training activities progressing to plan despite the ongoing risks associated with COVID-19. We are pleased to announce the resumption of underground mining and the delivery of underground ore to the ROM pad early in October, one month ahead of schedule. Stope development is expected to commence in the coming weeks and we will continue to ramp-up underground operations to full mining production rates over the course of the next eight to nine months. Processing activities are tracking ahead of plan with recommissioning of the primary crusher completed in the third quarter. We expect milling at Didipio to recommence in mid-November with ore sourced primarily from stockpiles and supplemented progressively with higher-grade underground ore.”

“At Haile, the operation achieved a better-than-expected quarter of production with costs in-line with expectations. Although the fourth quarter is expected to deliver softer production from mining and processing of lower grades, we are well positioned to finish the year strongly. We are pleased to increase Haile’s 2021 production range to 175,000 to 180,000 ounces of gold reflecting the better-than-expected operating performance over the first nine months of the year. The Haile Technical Review continues to advance well, and we are expecting to complete a new mine plan within the first half of 2022.”

“In New Zealand, both operations were adversely impacted by the two-week nationwide lockdown. At Waihi, the impact related to the shutdown and subsequent regional lockdowns was greater than first expected with carry over impacts in our supply chain beyond the two-week closure. Additionally, recent updates to the resource models impact material planned for the fourth quarter. As a result, Waihi is now expected to deliver 30,000 to 35,000 ounces of gold for the full year. Despite the challenges Waihi has had recently, ramp-up of Martha Underground mining rates continue to advance and the Company expects a stronger fourth quarter and 2022. At Macraes, we are focused on delivering a strong fourth quarter of production to achieve the narrowed guidance range of 138,000 to 143,000 ounces.”

“Looking ahead, the Company reaffirms its full year guidance range of 350,000 and 370,000 ounces of gold at an AISC of $1,200 to $1,250 per ounce sold.

Operations

Consolidated gold production for the YTD 2021 was 256,216 ounces, including 79,177 ounces in the third quarter. YTD gold production increased 27% above the prior YTD driven by higher production from Haile partially offset by lower production at Macraes. Third quarter gold production decreased 16% due to softer production from the New Zealand operations, principally related to the two-week nationwide COVID-19 lockdown and lower production at Haile from lower grades as expected.

YTD and third quarter consolidated AISC were $1,218 per ounce and $1,200 per ounce on gold sales of 276,226 ounces and 97,445 ounces, respectively. AISC was flat quarter-on-quarter and YTD, attributable to higher gold sales that are largely offset by higher sustaining capital investments.

In the Philippines, the Government renewed the Didipio FTAA for an additional 25-years effective June 19, 2019. The renewal in mid-July paved the way for the resumption of operations and commencement of restart activities including the recruitment and training of the workforce, delivery of equipment and supplies, the transportation and sale of gold and copper inventory (both doré and concentrate), process plant maintenance and recommissioning and underground inspections and upgrades.

The Didipio restart activities continue to advance well with recruitment tracking to plan. The Company expects 90% of the workforce to be in place by the end of the year subject to continued management of COVID-19. Process plant restart activities continue to progress ahead of expectations with recommissioning of the primary crusher completed prior to the end of the quarter, completion of upgrades to the Ball and SAG mills and delivery of supplies ahead of first ore feed in mid-November. Underground mine inspections were completed in the third quarter along with upgrades and delivery of new Sandvik equipment. In the third quarter, the Company began ore mining, one month ahead of schedule while stope development is expected in November. First underground ore was delivered successfully to the ROM pad at the end of the third quarter.

During the third quarter, the Company sold 19,151 gold ounces and 3,356 tonnes of copper from inventory on hand at Didipio. All gold-copper concentrate has been delivered successfully to the San Fernando port and the Company has received $38 million of cash as at the end of the third quarter. The Company expects to progressively receive all payments associated with the sale of gold-copper concentrate prior to the end of the year.

In the United States, Haile produced 147,491 ounces of gold YTD, including 45,910 ounces in the third quarter. Haile’s YTD production was 67% higher than the corresponding period in 2020 due to increased head grade as expected and operational improvements. Third quarter production was slightly lower than the previous quarter; however, a positive reconciliation led to better than planned production for the quarter. Haile’s YTD AISC was $1,028 per ounce and cash costs of $653 per ounce on gold sales of 148,529 ounces. Third quarter AISC and cash costs were $1,208 per ounce and $581 per ounce on gold sales of 44,013 ounces.

In New Zealand, Macraes delivered YTD gold production of 92,902 ounces, with lower-than-expected gold production of 25,720 ounces in the third quarter. YTD 2021 gold production was approximately 9% lower than YTD 2020 due to geotechnical challenges at Coronation North leading to reduced mining rates in higher grade ore zones and extended downtime related to planned and unplanned process plant maintenance leading to decreased throughputs. Third quarter production was 21% lower than in the second quarter mainly related to the two-week nationwide lockdown and subsequent slower than expected ramp-up of operations. Macraes’ YTD AISC was $1,468 per ounce sold while third quarter AISC was $1,573 per ounce sold.

The Waihi operation produced 7,547 ounces of gold in the third quarter, and 15,823 ounces YTD. The YTD production was approximately 30% higher due to ongoing ramp-up of Martha Underground. Third quarter production increased quarter-on-quarter following the completion of plant upgrade works in the second quarter. The quarter-on-quarter increase was partially offset by the two-week nationwide lockdown and slower than expected subsequent ramp-up of operations. Waihi’s YTD AISC was $1,589 per ounce while third quarter AISC was $2,072 per ounce sold.

Financial

YTD 2021 revenue was $536.1 million, a 62% increase over the corresponding period in 2020 related to higher sales from Haile and Waihi and sales related to Didipio following the renewal of the FTAA in mid-July and a higher average gold price received. Third quarter revenue of $204.6 million was 12% higher quarter-on-quarter related to Didipio gold and copper sales, partially offset by decreased sales from Haile and Macraes and lower average gold price received.

Adjusted EBITDA (excluding idle capacity costs related to Didipio carrying costs) for YTD 2021 was $259.2 million, reflecting a 173% increase year-on-year. Third quarter adjusted EBITDA was $97.3 million, 2% above the previous quarter in line with higher gold and copper sales.

YTD 2021 adjusted net profit was $111.7 million or $0.16 per share, compared with an adjusted loss of $40.5 million over YTD 2020 related to higher revenue from increased sales at Didipio and Haile and a higher average gold price received. Third quarter adjusted net profit was $53.0 million, or $0.07 per share, which was significantly above the comparative quarters.

Cash flows from operating activities were $152.4 million for the YTD including $69.0 million in the third quarter, which was 9% and 92% above the prior September and June quarters respectively. Relative to EBITDA, operating cash flow offset by physical settlements of the gold prepayment arrangement whereby 8,889 ounces valued at $17.1 million were delivered in the third quarter. A total of 40,000 ounces valued at $76.7 million were physically delivered for the YTD. The Company has no further physical deliveries due or other hedging arrangement in place.

Cash flows used in investing activities totalled $236.0 million in the YTD, which was 45% above the prior year driven by higher growth capital investments at Haile related to the expansion of waste storage facilities, the Golden Point Underground development at Macraes, and the ongoing development of Martha Underground at Waihi.

Fully diluted cash flow per share before working capital movements and exclusive of gold prepayments was $0.12 in the third quarter and $0.34 for the YTD.

During the third quarter the Company drew down $50 million of debt under its revolving credit facilities and established an additional short-term working capital facility of $30 million. As at September 30, 2021 the Company’s revolving credit facilities remained drawn to $250 million with $30 million undrawn. At the end of the third quarter, the Company had available liquidity of $143.2 million including $113.2 million in cash. The Company’s net debt position was $256.5 million, an increase from the previous quarter of $224.8 million as increased capital expenditures were partially offset by higher sales.

Consolidated capital expenditure in the third quarter of 2021 was $91.2 million, a slight decrease quarter-onquarter, primarily lower growth capital invested partially offset by higher pre-stripping capital. YTD capital expenditures of $255.4 million increased 30% over the prior year, reflecting capital investments related to increased pre-stripping capital at Haile and Macraes, and growth capital associated with the Haile expansion, Golden Point Underground at Macraes and the ongoing development of Martha Underground at Waihi.

Third quarter capital expenditure of $55.5 million at Haile was primarily related to the ongoing expansion of mining operations, including construction of the third tailings storage facility wall lift and heavy earthworks related to the 7 construction of potentially acid generating (“PAG”) waste storage facilities. Pre-stripping capital at Haile is tracking higher than originally guided, reflecting a higher allocation of mining costs to capital expenditure than previously forecast. Haile pre-stripping capital for 2021 is now expected to range between $65 and $70 million. As this is a reclassification from cash costs, there is no change in total mining costs or AISC as a result.

Outlook

On a consolidated basis, the Company expects to achieve its full year gold production guidance of 350,000 to 370,000 ounces at an AISC of $1,200 to $1,250 per ounce sold and cash costs of $725 to $775 per ounce sold. The consolidated guidance reflects the changes to the Haile and Waihi guidance ranges and is inclusive of Didipio’s fourth quarter guidance.

In the United States at Haile, the stronger than expected production YTD has a resulted in the Company increasing Haile’s full year outlook, whereby production is expected to range between 175,000 and 180,000 ounces of gold compared to 160,000 and 170,000 ounces of gold previously guided. Haile’s 2021 AISC guidance range remains unchanged at $1,100 to $1,150 per gold ounce sold and at a lower cash cost of $650 to $750 per ounce sold.

The Haile Technical Review continues to progress with a comprehensive review of mining and processing operations, costs, capital investments and water and waste management including open-pit/underground tradeoff studies. This review is expected to reflect historical and forecast operational data and cost inputs and resequencing of mining activities, with an aim to maximise cash flows over life of mine while incorporating more effective capital allocation. The Company expects an updated mine plan in the first half of 2022, with ongoing implementation of operational changes and value realisation over the next 18 months.

The timing of a new mine plan is also dependent on receipt of the SEIS final Record of Decision and associated permits. Based on feedback from regulators, the Company now expects the Record of Decision and related permits to be completed within the first quarter of 2022. These permits relate to the expansion of the operating footprint to accommodate waste stockpiles, increased capacity through the water treatment plant, as well as development of the Haile Underground. Engagement with the US Army Corps of Engineers and South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control is ongoing as the Company responds to inquiries received post release of the Draft SEIS.

The Company expects Macraes’ gold production for the full year to range between 138,000 to 143,000 ounces of gold from 135,000 to 145,000 ounces previously, with higher throughput and stronger grades expected in the fourth quarter. Following the two-week New Zealand national lockdown, the ramp-up of operations in September was slower than initially expected. Now into the fourth quarter, Macraes operations are ramping-up to expectations. The Macraes AISC guidance range remains unchanged at 1,300 to 1,350 per ounce sold.

The Waihi operation is expected to produce between 30,000 and 35,000 ounces of gold compared to its original 2021 guidance range of 35,000 to 45,000 ounces of gold. The decrease in forecast output is due to resource model updates affecting material planned for the fourth quarter related to grade reconciliation. The Company does not expect this to have a long-term impact on the operation, with resource definition and grade control programmes well advanced. The COVID-19 two-week lockdown compounded the impact by deferring alternate high-grade panels to 2022. The Waihi AISC guidance has been revised to $1,525 to $1,575 per ounce sold.

Preparation for the lodgement of a consent application for the Waihi North Project, inclusive of Wharekirauponga (“WKP”) Underground Mine, continued to progress with environmental assessments nearing completion. The Company expects to lodge its formal consenting application inclusive of stakeholder feedback with the regulator in the first half of 2022.

The Company continues to advance the technical studies as part of the consenting and Pre-feasibility Study (“PFS”) workstreams. This work is ongoing and supported by resource conversion drilling at WKP. Although the PFS is contemplated for completion in the first half of 2022, the Company may increase the scope of the work and expand drilling efforts to further enhance the project value proposition. The impact on the timing of such work is being considered and could result in extending the date of completion of the study.

In the Philippines, the Company will continue to advance restart and ramp-up activities while managing the ongoing risks associated with COVID-19. For the fourth quarter, Didipio is now expected to produce between 7,000 and 12,000 ounces of gold (previously 5,000 to 10,000 ounces of gold) and 1,000 tonnes of copper with the range reflecting the ongoing risks noted. For the full year, Didipio gold sales are expected to range between 25,000 and 30,000 ounces while copper sales are expected to range between 4,500 and 5,000 tonnes. 2021 AISC is now expected to be between $100 and $150 per ounce sold while by-product cash costs are expected to range between $25 and $75 per ounce sold with higher copper pricing increasing by-product credits. Full year 2021 sales are expected to range between 25,000 and 30,000 ounces of gold and 4,500 and 5,000 tonnes of copper.

Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, the Company expects milling at Didipio to commence in mid-November, with ore feed sourced primarily from lower grade stockpiles and supplemented with higher grade underground ore as the underground mining operations ramp-up. Underground mining activities have commenced, one month ahead of schedule and the Company expects first stoping in November, also ahead of schedule.

 

Article courtesy of OceanaGold 

The government of Republic of Korea is ready to extend financial support in the conduct of engineering services for the much-awaited inter-island bridges project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Western Visayas.

DPWH Acting Secretary Roger G. Mercado said that moving forward soon following the completion of supplemental feasibility studies by the Koreans is the detailed engineering design (DED) of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridge Project.

The soon to be longest bridge in Region 6 will be the fastest way by land where people can leisurely cross Iloilo, Guimaras, and Bacolod for commerce, tourism, and other essential travels, added Secretary Mercado.

The minutes of discussion for the financial support on engineering services including preliminary and detailed engineering design and procurement assistance required prior to the construction of the bridge was signed on Thursday, October 28, 2021 by DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Management Office Operations (UPMO) Emil K. Sadain and Country Director Jae-jeong Moon from Manila Representative Office of the Korea Export-Import (KEXIM) Bank.

The signing ceremony was also attended by Deputy Director Soohhyung Han and Ana Labella of KEXIM Bank, and Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista of DPWH UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 (Bilateral).

Undersecretary Sadain said that the Koreans has committed official development assistance (ODA) loan to the Philippines through the KEXIM Bank - Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to financed the DED of this immense flagship bridge project. The loan will be formalize with the signing ceremony scheduled in December 2021.

The proposed island bridges connecting Panay Island, Guimaras Island and Negros Island has two (2) components.

These are the 13 kilometers Panay-Guimaras or Section A that will have a sea-crossing bridge length of 4.97 kilometers; and Guimaras-Negros or Section B or with a total length of 19.47 kilometers including sea-crossing bridge length of 13.11 kilometers.

The supplementary feasibility study report and engineering service provision for the project was approved by the NEDA Board’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee in August 2021.

The 32-kilometer bridge is a large and complex project which requires comprehensive and high-standard engineering works that service by consultants who have extensive experience in long-span bridge will help DPWH prepare the construction in an efficient and timely manner, Undersecretary Sadain added.

Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the DPWH Korean government-funded flagship infrastructure projects are steadily moving forward.

KEXIM Bank-EDCF is presently supporting civil works on the Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Measures (IDRR-CCA) in Low-Lying Areas of Pampanga to boost disaster resilience; Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project connecting the Pacific towns in Northern and Eastern Samar and bolster the agricultural and fishing industry in Eastern Visayas; and Panguil Bay Bridge connecting Tangub, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao Del Norte.

Photo credit: Blazinfiremax

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade on Thursday said improvements in Cebu’s premier airport will play a big role in boosting the tourism economy in the province.

Tugade, who led the inauguration of the six-story Mactan-Cebu International Airport’s (MCIA) new corporate building, said the completion of such a project came in time with the approval of the request to increase the airport capacity amid the effort to recover the economy.

He noted that Cebu is recognized as a tourism hub in Central Visayas.

Tugade noted that Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority General Manager Julius Neri requested to increase the airport’s capacity to 2,000 from the existing 1,000.

“As you request to increase the capacity. You have to commit and assure me that there will be no congestion. Ibig sabihin ang mga passenger ay madaling makalabas ng (That means passengers can go out fast from the) airport,” the secretary said in his speech.

The passengers coming from different places in the country or abroad should not be inconvenienced by spending so much time in queuing either for quarantine processing or taking of the swab specimen for the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, he said.

The DOTr chief also prodded Neri and other airport officials to make the second runway project by April or a month ahead of the revised target date of completion next year.

The second runway worth PHP2 billion was originally contracted to finish in 730 days.

However, Neri said during the succeeding press conference that because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the contractor was confronted with the shortage of personnel as well as some hitches in the delivery of aggregates used in building the runway.

The delay forced airport officials to revise its target completion date from February to May in 2022.

Record showed that the second runway is at 53.11 percent complete.

“As we put this office building, the airport terminal and the second runway, we are telling to the whole world: come to Cebu and make this as your place of business. Here, you can be conveniently attended to. As you do business, you can be a tourist. We are creating a platform of tourism booster,” Tugade said.

Meanwhile, the newly inaugurated corporate building will house MCIAA employees in a single edifice that is complete with modern equipment and facilities and is featured with a command center.

Neri said the new corporate building is standing in a 16,000 square meter lot inside the airport complex and is worth PHP744 million.

The building is set to have elevated passageways that are connected to the terminal buildings for the convenience, safety, and protection of workers and staff.

Community airports

Tugade also highlighted the effort of the DOTr to develop existing community airports like the Bantayan Airport in the town of Santa Fe in Bantayan Island and the Medellin Airport in northern Cebu province.

Tugade said the Bantayan Airport will officially be operational by April 2022 as President Rodrigo Duterte pledged PHP150-million funding for the completion of the airport's runway expansion project.

“This project will allow others to experience the beauty of Bantayan Island and easier access to this beautiful destination,” the DOTr chief said in Tagalog.

The project will also pave the way for more commercial aircraft to land on the island, known for its white sand beaches, to boost tourism and other economic opportunities in the northern part of the province.

The project involves the widening of the existing narrow runway and the construction of taxiway and apron areas.

The expansion effort will ensure compliance with established safety standards and will make the Bantayan Airport equipped for night-time flight operations and commercial aviation activities.

The DOTr chief also said he will inspect the Island of Camotes in Cebu province’s western seaboard to check the viability in the opening of another airport in the area. By John Rey Saavedra and Carlo Lorenciana

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 4^th 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.

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 4^th 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.

As of September 30, 2021, construction progress of the 8.9-kilometer Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) project was at 85.38 percent.

The P30-billion toll bridge, which will be substantially completed by the end of 2021, will use an all-electronic toll collection system when it opens in the first quarter of 2022 to provide motorists safe and seamless travel.

The project recently achieved a major milestone with the construction completion of the CCLEX main bridge. On October 5, 2021, the final segment of the 390-meter deck was concreted, covering the remaining two-meter gap. This meant that the expressway finally connected Cebu City and the Municipality of Cordova.

With construction on the main bridge now winding up, all form travelers used to build its pier table and deck were already lowered.

All 56 stay cables holding the deck were installed last month.

Also, all 434 NU (Nebraska University) girders for the entire project were already put in place and the mobile launching gantry used to install these was dismantled.

 

Work on the other segments of the CCLEX project continues to progress.

The substructures of the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) on ramp and off ramp sections of CCLEX, are now complete. Ongoing works are on the installation of precast planks and the concreting of deck slab.

Also finished is the 200-meter pedestrian footbridge beside the CSCR with all six prefabricated steel walkways already installed. The footbridge starts near the U-turn slot of the South Road Properties’ welcome tower and will connect to the on-ramp sidewalk of CCLEX.

At the Cebu viaduct, the construction of deck slab is ongoing. The Cordova viaduct, on the other hand, is now structurally complete with its substructure already done. Installation of handrails and ducting are underway.

At the causeway, works continue with the construction of concrete safety barriers and installation of sidewalk handrails. The placing of 20 vent pipes, which equalize the flow of seawater along the Cordova Channel, is finished.

Also structurally complete are the four low-level bridges along the causeway, which will provide fishermen continued access to their fishing grounds.

Aside from these, works are ongoing for the toll plaza and the CCLEX Operations and Maintenance Center.

CCLEX, highlighted by its iconic crosses on top of the twin pylons of the cable-stayed main bridge over the Mactan Channel, is Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation’s (MPTC) first toll road project outside Luzon.

CCLEX, which will be the third link to Mactan Island from Cordova Municipality to mainland Cebu through Cebu City’s South Road Properties, has a design speed of 80 kilometers per hour (kph) and a navigational clearance or height of 51 meters to allow large vessels to pass underneath the bridge.

Not only is CCLEX seen to reduce traffic and make traveling more convenient but also spur trade activities and open greater economic opportunities for Cebu and the rest of the Visayas region.

CCLEX is a project of Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC), in partnership with the local government units of Cebu City and Municipality of Cordova.

CCLEC is a wholly owned subsidiary of MPTC, the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), a publicly listed infrastructure holding company and a member of the MVP Group of Companies.

MPTC is the largest toll road concessionaire and operator in the Philippines, which expansion goals include establishing toll operations in the Visayas, other parts of the Philippines, and in neighboring countries notably Vietnam, and Indonesia.

TVI Pacific Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of a second shipment of gold doré from the Balabag gold and silver project. Balabag is owned 100% by TVI Resource Development Phils., Inc. a Philippines corporation in which TVI holds a 30.66% interest, and is located in Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines. 

Continuing Gold Production at Balabag Gold-Silver Project :

Further to the announcement of September 30th, 2021, in which the Company announced the first shipment of gold doré from Balabag and reported various operating statistics, TVIRD has further confirmed that Balabag mill plant availability month-to-date has been 85% and that it is currently processing at a month-to-date average rate of 1,064 tpd.  The second shipment in the amount of 894 kg of gold doré has been delivered to the designated refinery and contains 641 ounces of Au and 27,552 ounces of Ag for 992 gold equivalent ounces.  Gross proceeds from the second shipment are US $1.8 million.  The second shipment of gold doré follows the completion of the first shipment on September 30, 2021.  Activities at site continue to be concentrated on optimizing the operation and the ramping-up of throughput to 2,000 tpd.  The average head grade month-to-date has been 1.8 g/t Au and 95.1 g/t Ag while the average recoveries month-to-date have been 93% for Au and 86% for Ag.

The run of mine ("ROM") mineralized stockpile, in-pit stockpile and crushed mineralized stockpile currently contains an approximate 100,000 tonnes of mineralized material, much of which is low to marginal grade and continues to be mined to expose the higher-grade mineralized resource during waste stripping and bench forming.  The stockpiles have an average grade of 1.3 g/t Au and 47.7 g/t Ag.  It is expected that the average grade of feed will increase as higher-grade mineralized resource is mined. 

Ongoing exploration drilling is continuing at Balabag with TVIRD having completed to date twenty-six (26) drillholes for a total meterage of 3,720 meters in its Phase 5B drilling program.  A total of twenty-eight (28) holes are expected to be drilled with an estimated meterage of 4,200 meters.  The Phase 5B drilling program together with assays and reporting is currently expected to be completed in Q4 2021.

"We are pleased with the progress at Balabag having now completed the second shipment of gold doré within days of the first shipment being delivered to the designated refinery.  Our focus continues to be to further ramp-up throughput as we continue to optimize the process but in general the equipment is working well", said Mr. Cliff James, Chairman and CEO of TVI and Chairman of TVIRD, "We look forward also to our soon being able to share with all stakeholders the results of Phase 5B drilling as TVIRD continues to pursue its growth strategy with ongoing drilling at Balabag."

A portion of the Calbayog City Coastal Road project in Calbayog City. The project, which is up for completion in 2025, is now 83 percent complete, the Regional Development Council’s regional project monitoring committee reported on Monday (Oct. 18, 2021). (Photo courtesy of Mel Senen Sarmiento)

About 83 percent of the Calbayog City Coastal Road Project is now completed after four years of implementation, the Regional Development Council’s regional project monitoring committee (RPMC) reported on Monday.

Construction of the PHP1.16-billion project meant to curb traffic jams in Calbayog’s commercial district has been implemented since 2018. 

It involves the construction of a road, embankment, and bridge. 

The government is eyeing to complete the project in 2025.

“The construction of the Calbayog City Coastal Road aims to create alternative routes in the city to decongest traffic in Calbayog City proper. However, certain segments of the already funded network have yet to break ground,” the RPMC reported.

It will start with the construction of a bridge across the Calbayog River since the work will affect the docking of motor boats carrying passengers and products to island communities.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Philippine Ports Authority will find a spot as a temporary dock for the motor boats.  

“Calbayog City is a fast-growing commercial hub. With its flourishing economy comes the need for bigger and better thoroughfares to accommodate the increasing traffic volume and weight,” the DPWH Samar first district engineering office said in a separate statement. 

From 2018 to 2021, the project’s work is centered on the construction of embankment and road with a total allotment of PHP1.14 billion.

Of the total, PHP333.71 million was released in 2018, PHP281.07 in 2019, PHP268.52 million in 2020, and PHP265.76 million in 2021. 

The multi-year project that will build a 4.67-kilometer road and bridge will connect the villages of Rawis, San Policarpo, Aguit-itan, allowing vehicles to by-pass the busy road of Calbayog City’s commercial district. By Sarwell Meniano

 

Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

The Alsons Power group’s 14.5 mega-watt (MW) ₱ 4.5 billion run- of- river hydroelectric power plant at the Siguil River basin in Maasim, Sarangani Province is on- track to begin operations in 2022 to provide a source of renewable power to key areas of Mindanao.

The photo shows ongoing work on the plant’s powerhouse that will contain the hydropower turbine and generator set which will produce electricity using water from the Siguil River. It will also house the power facility’s control Room and offices for administration, operations and maintenance.

Alsons Power- Mindanao’s firs private sector power generator plans to develop at least seven more run of river hydro power facilities in different parts of Mindanao and Negros Occidental.  The group currently operates four power facilities in Mindanao with a total generating capacity of 468 MW serving over 8 million people in 14 cities and 11 provinces.

As the Malampaya natural gas field is drying up, Mindanao might have the indigenous energy resources to energize the country.

In a webinar of Davao International Conference 2021 Thursday, PNOC Exploration Corp. (PNOC EC) vice president for upstream operation Jaime Bacud said Mindanao is rich in indigenous resources that can support the country’s energy requirement.

Bacud said Mindanao alone has three sedimentary basins waiting for exploration for oil and gas resources.

These basins include Agusan, Cotabato, and the Sulu Sea.

“We still think that there is natural gas potential for these areas, and it could be where we could find the next Malampaya,” Bacud added.

The Malampaya gas field, which supplies around 30 percent of Luzon’s power requirement, is the country’s lone natural gas source.

As the government issued a moratorium on new coal projects, Bacud said oil and gas exploration, particularly in Mindanao, could help in the government’s goal to achieve energy independence.

“We still have a lot of natural or oil and gas resources that are still untapped. And this could be our way forward to get closer to what we call energy independence,” he added. By Kris Crismundo

 

Article courtesy of Philippine News Agency

Photo credit: SMA Solar Technology - Catalagan Solar Farm

A lawmaker on Monday appealed to the Department of Energy (DOE) to expedite the process of approvals for power plants, especially for renewable energy (RE), as the possibility of “energy crunch” looms due to the impact of oil price hikes.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said the possible “energy crunch”, or a rise in power and fuel costs, by mid-2022 can cause major problems for countries like the Philippines that import non-renewables for its energy needs, as it could dampen economic recovery.

“The world is facing what could be a year of price hikes on coal, oil, natural gas, and other non-renewable energy sources. We are facing a confluence of factors. Oil is back where it was pre-pandemic. Natural gas is at all-time highs,” Salceda said.

In response to disruptions and price hikes in fossil fuels, he recommended that the country diversify its energy portfolio quickly.

“RE is just 24 percent of our energy sources, when we are both a net importer of fossil fuels, and an excellent location for all sorts of RE. One problem appears to me to be the approval process,” he said.

He noted that the Renewable Energy Law imposes much more requirements on RE players than on traditional fossil fuel plants, which tend to discourage rather than encourage RE power plants.

“We may need to review the Renewable Energy Law to see how we can expedite approval processes. The pre-development stage also tends to be long, up to three years, so we have to see how we can move quicker with that stage,” Salceda said.

He said the ideal mix should be at least 40 percent renewable energy.

“Our international commitment is to get that up to 35 percent by 2030, but we should do ourselves better by aiming for 40 percent, since almost all of our fossil fuels are imported,” Salceda said.

Salceda also suggested that DOE should be a more regular part of discussions on the country’s economic recovery.

“I’ve seen the national employment recovery strategy (NERS) and it says nothing about new power plants, which we sorely need, and which will definitely create new jobs. It’s not even in the National Employment Recovery task force,” he said.

He said approving the creation of pending power plant applications will create new jobs.

“You also need cheap power to create jobs. Moving forward, I hope the DOE is part of discussions on our economic recovery. Power costs remain an investor concern and a dampener on economic recovery,” he said. By Filane Mikee Cervantes

 

Article courtesy of Philippine News Agency

Photo credit: Department of Public Works and Highways

The newly installed Acting Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) immediately made his presence felt on the ground, inspecting the on-going Binondo Intramuros Bridge Project.

Secretary Roger G. Mercado said that although reports can be read inside airconditioned office or while seated on vehicle, best decisions are made if you really get to know and feel the situation in the field.

DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, in-charge of Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations assisted Secretary Mercado in his first project visit as the newly installed DPWH Chief was also the first Cabinet official to step onto the completed deck slab of the two-way four-lane basket-handle tied steel arch main bridge.

Secretary Mercado says with pride that the team of Undersecretary Sadain has done an excellent job in coming with solutions to project implementation challenges as well as mitigated the impact of Covid-19 pandemic to construction activities.

DPWH-UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 together with the contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation has already accomplished about 82.75 percent of work for the Binondo Intramuros Bridge Project.

We are almost there and the project is scheduled to be finished early next year, Secretary Mercado added.

Others who were present in the inspection are Undersecretary Eugenio R. Pipo Jr.; Assistant Secretary Ador G. Canlas; and the Project Directors of five (5) specialized UPMO clusters namely Benjamin A. Bautista of Roads Management Cluster 1, Sharif Madsmo Hasim of Roads Management Cluster 2, Rodrigo Delos Reyes of Bridges Management Cluster, Ramon A. Ariola III of Flood Management Cluster, and Johnson Domingo of Buildings Management Cluster.

According to Undersecretary Sadain, the ₱3.39-Billion bridge project across Pasig River is part of the two (2) bridges financed by a government aid grant from the People’s Republic of China. Another China-granted Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge linking Makati and Mandaluyong was earlier completed and inaugurated by President Duterte.

The new Binondo-Intramuros Bridge is a 680-meter, basket-handle tied steel arch bridge that will soon connect districts of Intramuros (at Solana Street and Riverside Drive) and Binondo (at San Fernando Bridge) in Manila with a viaduct structure over Estero de Binondo.

This new bridge under the Build, Build, Build program funded by Official Development Assistance is expected to not only cut travel time between Intramuros and Binondo but also benefit approximately 30,000 vehicles daily.

 

Article courtesy of The Department of Public Works and Highways

Photo credit: Department of Public Works and Highways

The newly appointed Head of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has formally assume the agency leadership.

Former Secretary Mark A. Villar handed over the stewardship of DPWH to Acting Secretary Roger G. Mercado during the turnover ceremony on October 14, 2021 at the DPWH Central Office, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila.

Appointed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on October 12, 2021 replacing Secretary Villar who stepped down to run in the 2022 elections, Secretary Mercado prior to his new post was the 18th Congress’ Public Works and Highways Committee Vice Chairperson.

The 44th Secretary of the DPWH is a lawyer by profession who hails from Maasin City, Southern Leyte and is known for his Tourism, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture (TEA) Programs in his province as then Southern Leyte lone district Representative.

“It is an honor to work with the professional men and women of DPWH and to be able to continue oversee the completion of Department’s flagship infrastructure programs and projects”, said Secretary Mercado.

“I vow to sustain the current momentum in the Department so we can deliver more high-impact projects that will benefit the Filipino people including those living in remote communities”, Secretary Mercado added.

 

Article courtesy of Philippine News Agency

The ongoing construction of the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge project could possibly open to motorists in the first quarter of the year 2022.

In a media release on Saturday, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) operations Emil K. Sadain said the PHP3.39-billion bridge project across Pasig River was financed by a government aid grant from the People’s Republic of China is about 81 percent in work progress.

Under the leadership of Sadain, the DPWH UPMO – the office that handles large-scale infrastructure programs of the Department under foreign grants – has, over the years, delivered flagship projects that redefined travel experience across the country’s scattered archipelago.

The new Binondo-Intramuros Bridge is a 680-meter, basket-handle tied steel arch bridge that will soon connect Intramuros (on Solana Street and Riverside Drive) and Binondo (on San Fernando Bridge) areas with a viaduct structure over Estero de Binondo.

Sadain personally met and discussed on-site at Binondo on Sept. 8, 2021 with Project Manager Jose Vitorio Arataqiuo of Meralco the DPWH request for immediate reorientation of 37 KV and 115 KV high tension cables alongside Estero de Binondo near San Fernando Bridge affected by the construction of north down ramp at Binondo side and the electrical posts for down ramp at Intramuros side.

Activities are also ongoing for the massive foundation of up-ramp on Magallanes-Riverside Drive and down-ramp on Solana Street at Intramuros side and up-ramp on San Fernando Street.

Sadain said the progress of work will hasten with the expected arrival by this 3rd week of October of the steel box girder component for the ramps fabricated in Shanghai, China.

He added that once the supply of fabricated girders arrived, immediate launching will be done on our completed piers and the already available precast slab will be installed to complete the ramps.

Considered one of the flagship infrastructure projects of DPWH under the “Build, Build, Build” program funded by Official Development Assistance, the project is expected to not only cut travel time between the two busy districts of Intramuros and Binondo in Manila but also benefit approximately 30,000 vehicles daily.

The project is implemented by DPWH UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 headed by Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista with direct construction supervision of Project Manager Melchor Kabiling. 

Photo: Bicol International Airport (Presidential photo)

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday afternoon inaugurated commercial domestic operations at the Bicol International Airport (BIA) after 11 years of delay.

The PHP5 billion international airport facility in Daraga, Albay, will start receiving commercial domestic flights on Thursday and will be ready for international flights a month later.

Duterte, in his speech, said the completion of the world-class airport facility will provide better transportation for people who are traveling to and from the Bicol Region.

“Indeed, today’s inauguration is another milestone in the administration’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program. We are fulfilling our mission of improving the lives of Filipinos by providing quality infrastructure projects that allow greater connectivity and mobility, create more jobs, and boost economic activity in other regions,” he said.

The construction of the airport created 755 jobs with 1,100 more indirect jobs expected to become available once the airport begins commercial operations, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Duterte expressed optimism that the BIA, touted as “most scenic gateway” with the iconic Mayon Volcano for its backdrop, would also treat visitors to an “unforgettable travel experience.”

“I am confident that once fully operational, this airport will be able to serve the needs of an expected 2 million passengers annually and provide efficiency, reliability, and safety standards to ensure modern airport,” he added.

He congratulated the DOTr, local officials, and project partners including the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for turning BIA into a reality after an 11-year delay.

Duterte urged the management and staff of the BIA to ensure that passengers will get “the best quality of service they deserve.”

“Let us look forward to a stronger and more vibrant future of the entire Bicol Region and its surrounding provinces,” he said.

Meanwhile, Duterte also took pride in recalling what he told his economic managers to make Davao, his home region, the last priority for infrastructure projects.

“In hindsight, one of the things disappointed ang taga Davao, di ba sinabi ko sa lahat sa Cabinet, the funds, walang political alignments, walang political color (In hindsight, one of the things the people of Davao are disappointed in is that I told my Cabinet members that there should be no political alignments, no political color). It will be distributed equally. But there was one caveat na sinabi ko kay [Transport Secretary] Art [Tugade], unahin niyo ang ibang lugar huwag ang Davao (I told Art, prioritize other regions, not Davao),” he said.

The feasibility study of the BIA originally started in 1996 and the notice to proceed was issued in July 2009. It was supposed to have been finished in 2016.

Construction works for the runway, taxiway, apron, and fences were mostly left uncompleted in 2012, and budget was reverted to the national treasury.

It was only when the Duterte administration came in 2016 that the construction of Landside Facilities (Project 2A) began. Runway extension and the construction of the Passenger Terminal Building (Project 2B) began in 2017. By Azer Parrocha

Photo credit: TVIRD - TVIRD’s field office and processing plant sit at the crest of Balabag Hill – which provides a good vantage point for monitoring its mining operations and progressive rehabilitation as well as a proper slope for directing effluents to its tailings storage and impoundment facility down below.

Mining stakeholders of this town are jubilant that TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD) finally commenced its commercial mining operations in Sitio Balabag.  Subanen tribal leaders as well as local government officials are likewise optimistic that with this development, people in the region will surely benefit from the increased economic activity in downstream industries.

The news also brought a smile to the 78-year old tribal leader, Timuay Casiano Edal – a member of the Subanen tribal council called Pigsalabukan Gokum de Bayog (PGB) and one of the signatories of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the tribe and TVIRD.  The MOA enumerates the duties and responsibilities of the two parties as the company utilizes the Subanen ancestral lands and harnesses its resources.

“After many years of waiting, finally TVIRD is operational.  I never thought I would still witness its mining operations,” the chieftain told TVIRD Community Relations Officer Lope Dizon.  Edal was among the many Subanens who warmly welcomed the company’s geologists assigned to explore Balabag some 20 years ago.

“He has a heart for his tribesmen.  Because of this, Edal believes that tribal leaders can now implement the development plans embodied in their Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP), which was approved by the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP),” added Dizon.

The government’s partner

Bayog Mayor Celso A. Matias is also confident that his constituents will enjoy more benefits now that the company is operational.  In a recent TV interview, the mayor discussed the economic impact of mining on his town and commended the company for providing employment to his constituents.

In that interview, the mayor also applauded TVIRD for supporting local businesses and its implementation of development projects through its Social Development Management Plan or SDMP.

“Namalit sila sa mga lokal nga produkto dinhi sa Bayog. Sa karne lang, daku nga volume ang ilang ginapalit nga usahay ma-‘short’ na gani ang mga supplier (They are buying their essentials here. They are ordering a large volume of local meat that may sometimes result to shortage of the product from its supplier),” he said.

The mayor who once visited TVIRD’s first project in Sitio Canatuan, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte is hopeful that Bayog can also be elevated from being a third-class municipality to first-class status due to the company’s local taxes remittances – this, in addition to its tax contribution into the national government.

Mayor Matias is referring to the excise taxes paid by mining companies to the national government in which the host province, municipality and barangay will have a predetermined share of the tax as mandated by the Mining Act of 1995.

During its gold-silver and copper-zinc projects in Canatuan, TVIRD paid a total of Php395.2 million in excise tax to the national government.  Records from TVIRD’s Finance Department also show that the company paid a total of Php38.9 million to Siocon town for its business permit from 2004 to 2018 while another Php18.7 million was paid for its real property tax.

Meantime, TVIRD invested some Php173.4 million in its SDMP and Php264-million in royalties to the Subanen tribe during its 10-year run in Canatuan.

To spark hope

Seeing him at work, one can say that Antonio Malco, Jr. is happy and content in working for TVIRD.  Malco, Jr. 38, is a resident of Bayog and father of a teenage son who is already in high school.  He is a crane operator and has been with the company for two years now.

“During this pandemic, when many are hungry and hopeless because of joblessness, I can say that I am blessed to have this job.  My family is assured of food on our table and other basic needs,” he said.

Welder Ariel Arado, 36, likewise shared that he is happy to be back in TVIRD.  He said he likes working for the company since it looks after the welfare of its employees.  “Happy ako sa trabaho ko (I am happy with my job).”

Arado was a member of the Special Civilian Active Auxiliary (SCAA) that helped secure the company’s assets in 2005 and was also part of the exploration team in 2007 until 2008.  Malco and Arado are two of over 750 people working in TVIRD Balabag.

Hiring locals

TVIRD’s 4,779-hectare Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) area spans the three provinces of the Zamboanga Peninsula.  Nearly half of its workers are residents of Bayog, an agricultural town.  Meantime, eligible candidates from neighboring Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and other provinces are appointed to technical positions.

The company likewise honors its agreement to provide employment for eligible Subanens.  Some 13% of its workforce are Subanens – a development lauded by Timuay Lucenio Manda of the PGB and who leads the collective Subanen tribe along with Edal.

TVIRD Balabag Project Manager Jun Gingo said that the company is currently operating at a capacity of 1,000 tons per day and has completed its first shipment of gold doré in the amount of 855 kg containing 932 ounces of gold and 25,959 ounces of silver.

With the Balabag plant and mining activities operating twenty-four hours per day, Gingo draws confidence from the collective experience of its workers and the capability of the newly-installed mill plant – which will enable TVIRD to ramp-up operations to double the current capacity.

 

Article courtesy of TVIRD

Photo credit: Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway

The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) reached a major construction milestone on Tuesday with the final main bridge piece now cast, cementing a feat that is more than three years in the making.

The Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) and its subsidiary, Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp. (CCLEC), wrapped up the construction on the main bridge deck with a special joint concreting rites covering the remaining two-meter gap.

“We are finally at the tail end of the construction of our CCLEX project and I, together with my colleagues, share the incredible pride in this milestone achievement,” said MPTC president Rodrigo Franco, who is in Cebu to witness the activity.

Stitching the remaining gap unites the deck of Tower 2 with that of Tower 1, a symbolic achievement of finally linking the quaint town of Cordova in Mactan Island to the highly urbanized Cebu City in the mainland. The main bridge deck hovers 51 meters above the Mactan Channel.

“After today’s main bridge deck connection, we look forward to another milestone and that is opening CCLEX to the public in the first quarter of 2022. We can’t wait to see Cebuanos enjoy the ultimate expressway experience afforded by using this bridge,” said Allan Alfon, CCLEC president and general manager.

The 8.5-kilometer CCLEX will be using a fully electronic toll collection system once opened to motorists.

MPTC and CCLEC thanked the hundreds of skilled foreign and local workers behind the construction of the main bridge who defied some work challenges. Among these are working at heights in the middle of the Mactan Channel with live marine traffic and following stringent health and safety protocols because of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

CCLEX’s main contractor is Cebu Link Joint Venture composed of Spanish-based firm, Acciona Construccion S.A., and Filipino companies First Balfour and DM Consunji Inc.

CCLEC also engaged COWI A/S of Denmark with the Philippines’ DCCD Engineering Corp. as its technical advisor and Norconsult, a Norweigan consultancy firm, as the project’s independent consultant.

As of August 2021, there was a total of 1,936 workers fielded for the entire CCLEX project rendering 15,199,178 total man-hours.

CCLEX, which will be the third link to Mactan Island from Cordova to mainland Cebu through Cebu City’s South Road Properties, has a design speed of 80 kilometers per hour and a navigational clearance or height of 51 meters to allow large vessels to pass underneath the bridge.

Not only is CCLEX seen to reduce traffic and make traveling more convenient but also spur trade activities and open greater economic opportunities for Cebu and the rest of the Visayas region. By Carlo Lorenciana - (With a report from John Rey Saavedra/PNA)

 

Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

The Department of Public Works and Highways has finally completed road components to open the entire 1.48-kilometer Bonifacio Global City (BGC)-Ortigas Center Road Link Project that will reduce travel time between Bonifacio Global City and Ortigas Center to only 12 minutes.

No less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte joined by Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Senator Christopher Lawrence Bong Go, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Taguig City Mayor Lino S. Cayetano, and Pasig City Lone District Representative Roman Romulo led the symbolic unveiling of project marker at BGC Taguig City on Thursday, September 30, 2021 to formally inaugurate the P1.79 Billion project.

The event was also attended by DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain; Undersecretary Eduardo S. Ramos Jr.; Assistant Secretary Mel John I. Verzosa; NCR Director Eric Ayapana; and Project Directors Benjamin A. Bautista, Sharif Madsmo Hasim, Ramon A. Ariola III, and Rodrigo Delos Reyes.

The viaduct structure, complemented by the already opened 4-lane Kalayaan Bridge section that links Sta. Monica in Pasig City and Lawton Avenue in Makati City, now provides motorists a direct and faster link between the commercial districts of Ortigas and BGC.

“With the opening of the entire BGC-Ortigas Road Link Project, we are seeing significant traffic decongestion, or as much as 20 percent traffic volume from nearby Epifanio delos Santos Avenue and C-5 Road sections,” said Secretary Villar.

Commenced in October 2017, the locally-funded BGC-Ortigas Road Link Project which also covers the rehabilitation and widening of the 362-meter Brixton Street (corner Reliance Street) to Fairlane Street, was implemented by the DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations headed by Undersecretary Sadain.

“Through the efforts of our field workers and engineers who worked 24/7, rain or shine, we were able to finish the 2-lane viaduct component of the project this September. This segment now connects Lawton Avenue to the entrance of BGC at 8th Avenue through up and down ramps,” said Secretary Villar.

Undertaken by joint venture contractor Persan Construction Inc. of Engineer Reynaldo S.L. Perez and Sino Road and Bridge Group Co. Ltd., the project is under direct construction supervision of DPWH UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 Project Manager Ricarte Mañalac and Project Engineer Emmanuel Regodon and Persan Construction Project Manager Jefferson Blay with DCCD Partners & Co. in joint venture with Pertconsult International as technical consultant.

The project is part of a bigger EDSA Decongestion Program which is aimed to bring EDSA back to its original capacity of 288,000 cars per day.