TAMPAKAN, South Cotabato, Philippines – The multi-billion-dollar copper-gold project here is expected to benefit the adjacent towns in the province of South Cotabato and nearby localities.

The proponent, Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI), said the Tampakan project has a 2.4 billion metric ton deposit, containing some 13.5 million metric tons of copper, and 15.8 million ounces of gold at a 0.3 percent cut-off grade.

Records showed that in 2010, the project employed approximately 372 employees, and rotational shift work for a further 1,185 contractors.

The Tampakan copper-gold project is located approximately 40 kilometers north of General Santos City.

It is situated on the boundaries of the four provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao del Sur, and represents one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits.

As this developed, the Sagittarius Mines, Inc. was awarded with the Philippine Quill Award of Merit by the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines) for its Interactive Mining Information Center (IMIC) in a recognition ceremony held recently.

It was gathered that this is the second time the IMIC has been recognized as a unique communication tool, having previously received the Bronze Award for Best Public Relations Initiated Campaign in the 2011 University of Asia and the Pacific Tambuli Awards last June.

The SMI submitted the Mining Project Feasibility Study for the Tampakan project to the Philippine government in April, 2010, and is progressing with the Mine and Off-site Infrastructure Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).

In another development, Davao City is now studying the possibilities of exporting durian to the world market, particularly in the United States (US).

City Agriculture Office officer-in-charge Leonardo Avila III said a study is now being conducted to determine the feasibility of exporting the durian fruit from this city.

“We have to study the market and we have to study how to get there,” he said.

Because of the high production of durian in the city, Avila said they are now looking at the possibility of penetrating the foreign market.

“Durian production in Davao City last year reached 26,000 tons and we noticed this year has almost the same in the local market,” Avila said.

“As of this time, there’s durian in the US, but it’s from Thailand. If Thailand can do it, we can also do it. The question is how to make it happen,” he said.

Avila said they are pushing for durian to reach the world market since the city government is bent on focusing on agri-business which is the thrust of the administration of City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio.

“We have to enhance our production in agriculture because we have vast lands in Davao City,” he said.(With a report from PNA)