Hallmark Mining Corporation Bolsters Green Mining Initiatives by Completing the Turnover of 100,000 Seedlings

True to its vision and mission, Hallmark Mining Company (HMC) has successfully distributed 100,000 high-value seedlings to partner People’s Organization across Mati City and Tarragona, Davao Oriental. This follows the government’s undertaking of Special Tree Cutting Permit (STCEP) Replacement Planting Initiative.

The turnover, and succeeding tree planting activity, was coordinated in close relation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to ensure that the seedlings are deployed to priority areas for reforestation sites under HMC’s Special Tree Cutting Permit and Earthballing Permit (STCEP).

On top of the priority areas are Brgy. Taguibo, Mati City and Brgy. Limot, Tarragona which received 30,000 and 20,000 seedlings respectively. This success is attributed to strong institutional partnership between government and industry.

The seedlings are guaranteed to act as a critical shield against soil erosion and flash floods during typhoon season. Simultaneously, the company ensures to provide high-value yielding seedlings to farmers.

Crops like durian and cacao are among the high-value crops donated by HMC to farmers as permanent livelihood assets, with the goal of boosting local economy.

Moreover, the involvement of communities and the company’s adherence to the internationally recognized principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) form part of their values. The recent coordination of Hallmark with Indigenous Peoples groups proves their commitment to this principle.

For HMC, complying with government efforts in combating environmental degradation is more than a regulatory requirement; it is a natural extension of the company’s core adherence to sustainable mining and community-led reforestation.

HMC’s mining methods, as echoed by Davao Oriental State University president Dr. Roy Ponce, “pose only a minimal impact on local biodiversity.” By extracting minerals in strategic “patches” rather than through traditional large-scale clearing, this practice ensures minimal disruption to the forest.

Patch mining keeps the surrounding areas intact while providing the ecosystem with sufficient recovery time. While nature heals, the company continues to move forward with its sustainable practices.

Butch Sebua, HMC’s Environmental Manager, stated that Hallmark’s consistency with its company values differentiates it from other mining corporations. “Here, we recognize that we are merely borrowing from nature. That’s why as much as we can, and with the help of the local government, we do our best to give back by ensuring sustainable mining practices.”

Through their environmental and community initiatives, HMC hopes to demonstrate that mining can be achieved without compromising Indigenous rights and with strict adherence to government regulations. This underscores both realization and accountability—successfully balancing the revival of a high-potential industry with a deep-seated duty to protect the land and its ancestral stewards.

Follow and stay tuned on HMC’s Facebook page to be part of the change:

https://www.facebook.com/hallmarkminingcorp

RTOA Davao Unveils Electric Taxis, Signals Shift Toward Sustainable Transport

In photo: LTFRB Region XI Director Nonito “Dondon” Llanos and RTOA Region XI President Ryan Sia lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony, formally marking the launch of EV taxis under the RTOA fleet.

DAVAO CITY, 19 February 2026 – The Regional Taxi Operators Association (RTOA), the largest coalition of local taxi operators in Davao City, has announced a pilot rollout of electric vehicles in its fleet, signaling a strategic shift toward more sustainable urban transport in the region. The initiative was unveiled during a press conference in Davao City, where RTOA presented the initial batch of electric taxi units now cleared to operate as part of its active fleet.

Representing approximately 70 percent of taxi operators in Davao, RTOA’s initiative reflects a collective effort by local operators to embrace cleaner mobility solutions while ensuring full compliance with existing transport regulations set by the local government and agencies such as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“As proud Davaoeños, we stand ready to help lead the shift to sustainable mobility for our kababayans,”  shared RTOA President Ryan Sia. “For decades, we have served Davaoeno commuters, and we welcome every opportunity to raise the standard of service they deserve. Today, we take a meaningful step forward – honoring our responsibility to the public and our duty to the future. We are honored to walk alongside the government in modernizing the local taxi fleet, moving hand in hand with operators and drivers toward a cleaner, safer, and more progressive Davao City.”

RTOA will proactively share operational learnings from the pilot, covering vehicle performance, charging patterns, cost efficiency, and rider feedback, with the local government and transport regulators, including the LTFRB, to help inform a collaborative roadmap for electric mobility in Davao. 

The group noted that regular updates from the pilot can guide practical decisions on charging infrastructure rollout and policy refinements, ensuring that regulations and support systems evolve in step with real-world operating conditions and build a more sustainable environment for EV adoption.

The initiative has the expressed support of the LTFRB, reinforcing RTOA’s position that the adoption of electric vehicles should proceed through established regulatory channels. 

“LTFRB acknowledges the importance of the Electric Vehicles Industry Development Act or EVIDA law. It's very necessary that we have to move forward, we have to transform our taxis into better, comfortable, reliable, environmental, friendly taxis to make sure that the triple S: satisfaction, security, and success will be experienced by our taxi drivers, operators and our passengers,” said LTFRB XI Regional Director Nonito “Dondon” Llanos III during the event.

As RTOA prepares to scale its electric fleet, Sia said the pilot is only the start—an early but important step that strongly positions local taxi operators to stay competitive as electric mobility takes hold in the Philippine transport landscape.