GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) has started a Bamboo Development Program (BDP) in host communities as part of early environmental and social initiatives before commercial mining operations begin.

The program, guided by policies from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), focuses on cultivating Giant Bamboo (Apos), a fast-growing species that can capture carbon, stabilize soil, and reduce erosion in degraded areas.

SMI began the initiative in 2023 with a six-hectare bamboo plantation in Barangay Pulabato, which reportedly achieved full seedling survival. The program expanded in 2024 and 2025 to more than 35 hectares in Barangay Tablu, maintaining survival rates above 90 percent, according to company data.

Officials said the early rollout is meant to integrate environmental care into project development before mining begins. The program also includes plans for potential community-based enterprises using bamboo, such as construction materials and handicrafts, providing residents with alternative income sources.

The initiative illustrates the company’s efforts to balance environmental rehabilitation with community development in the lead-up to mining activities.