Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc. (TCPI) operates the safest mineral processing plant in the Philippines, according to the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

For the second year in a row, PMSEA and DENR-MGB awarded TCPI the “Safest Mineral Processing Plant” (cement plant category) award during the Safest Mines and Quarries Awards, considered as the Oscars equivalent in the Philippine mining industry.

Meanwhile, Solid Earth Development Corp. (SEDC), key minerals supplier at the TCPI plant, landed third place in the “Safest Quarry Operation” award.

MGB Director Horacio Ramos handed the award to TCPI plant manager Shinichi Aoyama and Romeo M. Gebilaguin, environment and safety section head, during the awards nights at Camp John Hay in Baguio City last Nov. 23.

PMSEA groups mining companies, quarries and cement plant operators, suppliers, service contractors, professional organizations and government agencies. It advocates occupational safety, and campaigns against health and environmental hazards of mining and its related operations.

Bestowed annually, the Safest Mines and Quarries Awards have the primary objective of creating consciousness on and to eliminate occupational and environmental hazards in mining operations.

Award categories include safest surface operations, safest underground operations, safest quarry and cement plant operations, safest mineral processing operations, and safest mining operation. It also recognizes the company with the most improved safety performance.