From restored land to fresh harvests, the TVIRD Group shows the possibilities of progressive rehabilitation
Balabag Project employees and visitors enjoy the pick-and-pay harvesting of strawberries in the project site’s strawberry garden farm.Makati / September 2026 – Mining and agriculture rarely share the same conversation. One follows the geology beneath the ground; the other follows the seasons above it. One works with extraction, while the other depends on cultivation. Yet across TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD), these seemingly separate worlds meet in places where rehabilitated land is being put to productive use.
At the company’s Agata and Balabag sites, areas dedicated to rehabilitation and agricultural development are producing fruits, vegetables, root crops, and spices alongside mining operations. This August, as harvest season takes center stage, these crops offer a glimpse into how environmental rehabilitation can create opportunities for another kind of productivity. It is also a proof of concept – that mining and agriculture can go hand in hand and actually complement and support each other.
At Agata’s Mabakas Techno Demo Farm in Agusan del Norte, the company has recorded a total harvest of 1,236 kilograms of fruits, vegetables, root crops, and spices. Bananas account for 572 kilograms of the harvest, while dragon fruit contributes another 349 kilograms. Other high-value crops, including apples, grapes, cacao, coffee, and avocado, are also being cultivated as the farm continues to develop.
From harvest to table
Beyond the volume produced, the agricultural initiatives demonstrate how harvests can become part of everyday operations. A trial lettuce production at Agata was served at the mess hall as vegetable salad while mulberries were also harvested and shared with guests.
“Currently the company has produced mulberries which were made into wine while some were made into fruit shake for our visitors,” said Mabakas Administrator Sheilah Mae Arcala.
The initial harvest has also opened opportunities for further production. “Lettuce production will be expanded soon,” she added.
Behind this output is the Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Phase (FMRDP) team led by Agata General Manager Jesalyn Guingguing, EnP., supported by agriculturists, environmental aides, and the Mabakas people’s organization – the company’s livelihood partner. Soil amelioration and microbial inoculation are carried out before planting, followed by brushing, weeding, pruning, and integrated pest management to maintain crop health.
A land of many yields
At the Balabag Gold-Silver Project in Zamboanga del Sur, the convergence of mining and agriculture can be seen in an area that once served an entirely different purpose.
Established in 2024, the Thubig Dleyagen Berries Farm and Permaculture Area was developed within the company’s former Waste Rock Dump 2 as part of Balabag’s progressive rehabilitation efforts. Initially focused on berry production, the site has since evolved into a productive agricultural area, with various crops cultivated alongside ongoing rehabilitation activities. Strawberry harvesting began in August, marking another milestone in the area’s transformation from a former mine waste rock area into a productive and sustainable agricultural space.
The produce also finds its way beyond the farm. Through the Pick-and-Pay Program, employees, contractors, and visitors can purchase freshly harvested strawberries for personal consumption. A portion of the harvest is also supplied to the Clubhouse, where the strawberries are transformed into refreshing fruit shakes, allowing the farm’s produce to be enjoyed by the community.
For Mines Environmental Protection and Enhancement Manager Jjam Cutillas, EnP., the transformation of the former Balabag waste rock dump into a productive agricultural area demonstrates how rehabilitation can go beyond restoring the land. It can also create opportunities for sustainable food production, employee engagement, and community value; turning a once-disturbed area into a space where both the environment and people can benefit.
“From its original purpose of rehabilitating a disturbed area, the initiative has developed the area into a productive and environmentally managed site that demonstrates the potential for sustainable agricultural use,” Cutillas said.
Growing beyond the season
The strawberry farm is only one part of the agricultural landscape at Balabag. Mulberries and vegetables such as pechay, sitaw, cucumber, and radish are also being cultivated at the farm and Permaculture Area.
Sustaining the site requires work well beyond harvest season. The Land Resource Management team oversees land preparation, planting and replanting, watering, weeding, pruning, harvesting, and pest and disease monitoring. Mulberry pruning, for instance, encourages continuous fruit production while generating cuttings for propagation and expansion.
The farm also uses company-produced organic fertilizers and soil amendments, including Bokashi, vermicast, Mycovam, and Bio-N, to improve soil fertility and promote healthy crop growth.
These activities form part of Balabag’s broader agroforestry and environmental rehabilitation program under the FMRDP. Fruit-bearing crops are grown alongside native and forest species to support soil stability, vegetation recovery, and biodiversity. The initiative also creates opportunities for employees to participate in planting and site maintenance and complements community programs through seedling donations, planting materials, and sharing practical knowledge on sustainable livelihood development.
Mining and agriculture may begin with different purposes, but at Agata and Balabag, they share something fundamental: the land.
One draws mineral resources from beneath it; the other draws nourishment from its soil. In the spaces where the two meet, TVIRD is demonstrating that rehabilitation can do more than restore a landscape—it can give it another way to grow.
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