NAGA CITY, Cebu, Philippines – Nearly P11.3 million or 122.13 percent of their annual allotment of P9.2 million allocation was actually spent by large scale mining companies in Central Visayas from January to December, 2010 for various social development programs geared towards improving quality of lives of residents in host and neighboring communities.

Of such total investment, 90.61 percent or P10.201 million pesos were expenditures by Cebu-based mining firms; the province also has the most number of large-mining firms in the region.

Carmen Copper Corporation in Toledo City, Cebu topped the list with an allocation of P3.373 million, followed by Apo Cement Corporation/Apo Land & Quarry Corporation in this city with P2.875 million, and Philippine Mining Service Corporation-Alcoy Dolomite Mine/Dolomite Mining Corporation in Alcoy with P1.523 million, JLR Construction and Aggregates Inc. in this city with P908,070, Taiheiyo
Cement Philippines Inc./Solid Earth Development Corporation in San Fernando with P1.129 million, Philippine Mining Service Corporation-Bohol Mine/Bohol Limestone Corporation in Garcia-Hernandez, Bohol with P1.057 million and Quarry Ventures Philippines Inc. in this city with P393,325.00.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 Regional Director Loreto B. Alburo said the allocation is part of the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) of the agency for use in implementing plans, projects and activities of the agency in the sustained improvement of living standards of host and neighboring communities by creating responsible, self-reliant, and resource-based communities.

“The resources are meant to make the communities capable of developing, implementing, and managing community development programs, projects and activities for them to become more empowered,” he said.