Q3 MRFC underscores verified results, community participation and regulatory compliance
At the frontline: TVIRD Director for Environment and Tenement Management Jesalyn Guingguing and Greenstone Assistant GM Joey Cameros answer all clarifications on Greenstone’s progress at the MRFC meeting for Q3 2025. Makati City / February 2025 – Following the Third Quarter 2025 Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC) Meeting on February 2 at the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office in Caraga, the Agata and Greenstone projects demonstrated that responsible mining is measured not just by production, but by verified rehabilitation, strict regulatory compliance and accountability to host communities.
Convened under the mandate of Republic Act No. 7942, the MRFC brought together national regulators, provincial and municipal officials, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) bureaus, barangay leaders, indigenous peoples representatives and the religious sector. Beyond a mere routine audit, the meeting functions as a checkpoint for environmental performance, financial security and measurable outcomes in mining operations.
TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD) operated the Agata Nickel Laterite Project from 2014 to 2023 and has since shifted its activities into the final rehabilitation of the mine. Meantime, the TVIRD Group likewise operates the Siana Gold Project under its wholly-owned subsidiary, Greenstone Resource Corporation, and produces weekly shipments of gold and silver doré for its direct markets.
Agata: plans verified on the ground
For Agata, the session focused on a Plan-versus-Accomplishment Review. Accomplishment reports, biodiversity research and the third-year release of rehabilitation funds were examined. The Multipartite Monitoring Team compared approved plans, including the Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Plan (FMRDP) with actual site conditions.
The review checked that environmental protection measures were in place, rehabilitation targets were met on schedule, budgets were properly allocated and community commitments were fulfilled. Minor discrepancies were documented and discussed for corrective action, reinforcing that plans have meaning only when translated into verified results.
Agata also reported engineering and ecological improvements. Settling ponds were expanded to manage siltation during heavy rains. Progressive Rehabilitation continues through reforestation of disturbed areas with indigenous and fruit-bearing species, following the company’s core principle: “Starting it right, keeping the end in mind.”
Adaptive management ensures seedlings are acclimated to local conditions before planting in Agata. An unexpected increase in migratory birds was also addressed through structured harvesting and fruit protection, showing how ecological recovery can coexist with operational needs.
Greenstone: continuous compliance
Greenstone’s review emphasized adherence to its Compliance Monitoring and Validation Report and the Annual Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program. The Committee examined rehabilitation progress, mitigation protocols, updates on the FMRDP, and the Annual Social Development and Management Program.
Site-specific priorities included siltation control at Alipao, rehabilitation of mine pit benches, tree-cutting near Lake Mainit and land issues around Tailings Storage Facility 3. Collaboration with Surigao del Norte State University and Caraga State University likewise supported scientific validation of hydrological and ecological data.
In addition, financial safeguards were highlighted as part of Greenstone’s compliance framework. Its Mine Rehabilitation Fund instruments, including the Contingent Liability and Rehabilitation Fund, Monitoring Trust Fund, Rehabilitation Cash Fund, Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Fund, and Environmental Trust Fund, ensure that rehabilitation is fully funded. The MRFC verified that funds were sufficient and properly used, turning compliance into assurance.
Accountability through community engagement
Both projects rely on multi-sectoral oversight. Barangay officials monitor daily impacts such as dust, road safety, and the proper allocation of Social Development and Management Program funds. Indigenous leaders from the Mamanwa Tribe safeguard ancestral lands and ensure adherence to Free and Prior Informed Consent agreements. Meantime, religious representatives focus on watershed integrity and the ethical dimensions of mining operations.
Agata further strengthens transparency through Information, Education and Communication campaigns in local dialects, a Community Relations office with an open-door policy, and community mine tours that allow local leaders and students to see rehabilitation zones firsthand.
Sustaining responsible mining
The Q3 MRFC session reaffirmed that responsible mining requires continuous oversight. For Agata and Greenstone, it is reflected in verified environmental results, ecological gains, secured financial provisions and active community participation. Coordination with national agencies and local government units also creates layers of accountability that extend from boardrooms to the field.
For these projects, regulatory compliance is only the starting point. The true measure of responsibility is performance that is seen, verified and sustained.
The audit may only last a day. But the discipline it requires continues all year round.
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