The Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) for the controversial Tampakan project, Southeast Asia’s largest undeveloped copper and gold minefield, was extended from 12 to 18 years, now set to expire in 2038, according to an amended order by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). MindaNews obtained a copy of the order issued on June 14, 2022, by then acting DENR Secretary Jim Sampulna, just 16 days before Rodrigo Duterte stepped down as President. This marks the second extension of the FTAA, with the first extending it from 2020 to 2032, approved on June 8, 2016, by Leo Jasareno, then director of the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). Both extensions were not publicly announced, leaving residents and stakeholders unaware until much later. The Diocese of Marbel only learned of the second extension after filing a petition in October 2024 to void the initial 12-year extension. The FTAA, originally granted to Western Mining Corp. in 1995 and acquired by Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) in 2001, has faced challenges, including legal cases, a provincial ban on open-pit mining, and land ownership issues, which SMI cited as force majeure justifying the extensions. Marbel Bishop Cerilo Casicas expressed shock at the lack of transparency, noting that the extensions were not disclosed on the DENR’s website. SMI President Roy Deveraturda highlighted the project’s potential as a key driver of economic growth and social development in Mindanao. On October 4, 2024, over 1,000 people marched in Koronadal City to petition the court to revoke the 12-year extension, with Casicas and various local groups leading the effort. The petitioners are now considering their next steps after learning of the extended term. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)
