Surigao del Norte — Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga led the ceremonial unveiling of the Silangan Mindanao Mining Company’s (SMMCI) Copper and Gold Project in Barangay Timamana on May 28, 2025, touting the project as a model for “sustainable and responsible mineral development.”
The high-profile event was attended by top DENR officials, company executives, and local government leaders, including Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers and Congressman Robert Ace Barbers. SMMCI President and CEO Eualio B. Austin, Jr. joined Secretary Loyzaga in presenting the underground mining project as a step forward in green mining practices.
In her keynote speech, Loyzaga hailed the mine’s potential contributions to the national economy and emphasized the critical role of copper in powering modern industries — from renewable energy and communication systems to medical technologies.
“This marks not only a milestone for the province of Surigao del Norte but a step forward in the Philippines’ journey towards sustainable and responsible mineral development,” Loyzaga said.
The Secretary lauded SMMCI’s use of underground mining — considered less destructive than open-pit methods — and its inclusion of environmental safeguards and community engagement strategies. She called for continued support for disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and inclusive growth in areas impacted by mining operations.
“Our standard is not just for compliance. It involves commitment — to a better environment, to inclusive and resilient development, and to building a legacy that endures throughout and beyond the life of the mine,” she noted.
The Double-Edged Role of the DENR
While the event was marked by celebration and optimistic rhetoric, the unveiling also reignited public scrutiny of the DENR’s paradoxical role: as both the guardian of the environment and the regulator of extractive industries. Critics argue that the Department’s dual mandate places it in a perpetual balancing act — one that often tilts in favor of corporate mining interests.
Environmental advocates continue to question how the DENR can enforce ecological protections while greenlighting large-scale mining operations known to cause irreversible impacts to ecosystems, biodiversity, and local communities. The tension is especially evident in Mindanao, where mining has historically caused displacement, deforestation, water contamination, and social unrest.
The Silangan Project, although promoted as “responsible,” is still a form of large-scale resource extraction with inherent environmental trade-offs. As copper and gold are removed from the earth, critics warn of long-term consequences including soil degradation, tailings disposal issues, and disruptions to traditional livelihoods — particularly for Indigenous Peoples and farmers living near mineral-rich zones.
“The question is not whether the mine follows better practices than before,” said one community organizer who asked not to be named. “The question is whether such projects are ever truly compatible with the protection of natural ecosystems and the well-being of vulnerable communities.”
A Call for Policy Coherence
The DENR’s consistent messaging around “sustainable mining” reflects a global trend of promoting so-called “green extraction.” However, observers warn that without firm regulatory teeth, community consultation, and long-term environmental guarantees, these narratives may serve more as public relations tools than transformative environmental policy.
As Secretary Loyzaga nears the end of her term, her call for a legacy of environmental stewardship will be tested by how the Department handles mining operations in fragile ecological areas.
With the Silangan Project poised to reshape Surigao del Norte’s economic and ecological landscape, the spotlight now turns to the DENR’s ability — or willingness — to strike a true balance between development and conservation.