Short:
• The Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative is a key framework for the Philippine mining sector, linking operational resilience to eight interdependent sustainability protocols that address a variety of challenges.
• Recent evaluations show mixed performance among TSM protocols, with high ratings in safety and health but low ratings in climate change and water management, highlighting the need for better implementation and collaboration.
• The initiative encourages mining companies to engage with stakeholders and share leading practices, driving change and promoting a more sustainable mining ecosystem in the Philippines.
As the mining and metals industry grapples with operational complexities, the need for sustainable practices has never been greater. The Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative emerges as an important framework for the Philippine mining sector, emphasizing that the operational resilience of mining companies is closely linked to the eight protocols it contains. This article highlights the TSM initiative, examining its impact on sustainability commitments and the challenges ahead.
Operational Flexibility and TSM Protocol
The TSM initiative is designed to guide mining companies in their sustainability efforts, focusing on key areas such as safety and health, community outreach and social development management, climate change, water management, biodiversity conservation management, tailoring management, preventing child and forced labour, and crisis management and communication planning. Each protocol addresses specific issues, yet they are interdependent, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to sustainability.
Operational flexibility and the interrelationship between the eight TSM protocols is critical to the long-term sustainability of the mining industry. They collectively form a comprehensive framework that enhances a company's ability to adapt and thrive in a complex environment. For example, effective water management not only ensures responsible use of water resources but also reduces risks associated with climate change, which can affect the availability and quality of water, which are critical to mining operations.
Similarly, strong safety and health practices contribute to a more engaged and productive workforce, which directly impacts operational efficiency. When companies understand that these protocols are not isolated issues, but interconnected elements of a larger system, they can develop strategies that address multiple challenges simultaneously. This holistic approach promotes greater flexibility, enabling mining operations to deal with uncertainties while meeting stakeholder expectations and regulatory requirements. Ultimately, embracing this interconnectedness is essential to building a sustainable future in the mining sector.
Recent evaluations of TSM protocols, as I presented at the session “Benchmarking Mining Sustainability: Validating TSM Results and Potential ESG Policy Implications” at Mining Philippines 2025, reveal a mixed performance scenario. The various mining companies were verified by their respective TSM verifiers, whose reports are posted on the website of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines.
In particular, the protocols on Safety and Health and Community Outreach and Social Development Management received the highest verifier ratings. This success can be attributed to stringent regulations and recognition through various awards, which have encouraged companies to prioritize these areas. However, the same cannot be said for climate change and water management, which have ranked as the lowest rated protocols for two years in a row.
Climate change protocols, in particular, have seen minimal progress, with many companies only recently beginning to adopt both climate change mitigation and adaptation concepts. The adoption of the IFRS sustainability reporting standards for publicly listed companies and large companies (over a certain revenue threshold) may prove to be an important driver for the changes we may see in the future for this protocol. Similarly, the Water Stewardship Protocol suffers from low ratings, mainly due to insufficient information on watershed management for some mining companies, as the Philippines takes a ridge-to-reef approach to sustainably manage its natural resources.
Another area of concern is tailings management protocols, where companies that align with international standards, such as the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), perform better. GISTM not only provides guidance on the management of tailings facilities, but also addresses key stakeholder issues including human rights, environmental protection, governance and public disclosure and transparency, with the aim of building trust with local communities and regulators. In such a situation, it becomes more important to adopt standards like GISTM as it will help in overcoming the past failures that have plagued the industry.
opportunity for better collaboration
It should be noted that there remains significant variability in scores between mining companies. While some people excel at the TSM protocol, others find some protocols to be a constant struggle. This disparity presents a valuable opportunity for improved collaboration within the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (Chamber), where companies can move forward by sharing leading practices and supporting each other in the pursuit of higher ratings.
Unfortunately, external stakeholders often generalize industry practices based on the shortcomings of a few, undermining the efforts of those committed to sustainable mining. In such a situation, cooperation is even more important for the Chamber and its member mining companies.
Understanding the important role of stakeholders, value chains and transparency is essential to promoting a sustainable mining ecosystem. The TSM initiative serves as a guide, encouraging companies to engage openly with their communities and stakeholders.
Transforming the Mining Industry
In conclusion, although there is still much work to be done as the Philippine mining industry continues to adopt the TSM protocol, this initiative is clearly facilitating change within the sector.
Adopting the tagline of the TSM initiative, the Philippine mining industry is changing, and TSM is helping to make that change. By embracing this transformational journey, the industry can step up its sustainability commitments and secure a more resilient future.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances require. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Company.
Katrina F. Francisco is a sustainability partner of SGV&Co.
