August 1-august 13, 2006

IBALANGIBOG SA BILOG NA MUNDO, ORAGON AN BICOLANO!

THE VOL. 1 NO. 8

KAYA TA AN RESPONSABLENG PAGMIMINA SA RAPU-RAPU!

NEWSWEEK

The OFFICIAL COMPANY PUBLICATION OF THE RAPU-RAPU POLYMETALLIC PROJECT

AUGUST 1-13, 2006

Amidst

a charged atmosphere where anti-mining students abound, the logical presentation of facts prompted school officials to laud the visiting RRMI/RRPI executive. “We congratulate Lafayette for courageously facing a hostile audience who has institutionally voiced out anti-mining (sentiments) in Rapu-Rapu”, Engr. Virgilio Perdigon, vice president for Academic Affairs, Aquinas University of Legaspi said in the forum. Mrs. Nenia Nieto, adviser of the Political Science Society which sponsored the forum, thanked the RRMI/RRPI and the DENR representatives for having provided facts and data that provided balance to the ongoing debate and controversy raised against the mining company. The audience of more than 300 black-clad students and faculty members of the Department of Social Sciences, Political Science and other courses packed the Daragang Magayon hall; still many had to be refused entrance. It was the first time, after the spill incident, that the company was invited by the academe in the whole of Albay Province to air its side to the student body. It was also the first time in Legaspi City that representatives of both sides would be together in a symposium. The forum, held on August 4, 2006, was part of the celebration of “Himig Tanggulan sa Malayang Talastasan” during the “Buwan ng Wika” and was therefore conducted in Filipino. It sought to inform the Aquinian community about the Mining Act of 1995 and the Mining Operations and its Effects in Rapu-Rapu.

AUL students pack the Daragang Magayon Hall to attend forum on mining.

Mr. Manny A. Agcaoili, president , Rapu-Rapu Processing, Inc. discussed “Mining Operations and Its Effects in RapuRapu”. In his speech, he emphasized the exhaustive efforts undertaken by the company to comply with all mandated requirements and to mitigate negative effects to the environment such as siltation and AMD, as well as the many direct and indirect benefits of the project. Other speakers in the symposium included Engr. Guillermo Molina IV from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau who talked about the salient features of the Mining Act of 1995; Bart Rayco of Karapatan who provided the counterpart with “Why the Mining Act of 1995 Must Be Repealed”; and Nong Rongasa from the liaison Office of the Local Government of Legaspi City who presented the RRFFC arguments to “Why Mining Operations in Rapu-Rapu Must Be Stopped”. The 20-minute open forum provided the opportunity for Mr. Agcaoili and Engr. Molina to address questions raised regarding mine rehabilitation and socio-economic benefits to direct/ indirect impact barangays in Rapu-Rapu. At this point, Engr. Perdigon presented the contrary view of NGOs using the arguments of Dr. Regis and Greenpeace.

Pres. Manny Agcaoili

# $ % ! & ' " ( #* +

Mr. Guillermo “Danny” Molina

& # ) (

It was a powerful kick-off in the series of student symposia that the company plans to do in Albay, following similar successful fora recently conducted in schools in Sorsogon.

Famous Personalities born in July Imelda Marcos George W. Bush, Jr. Arnold Schwarzenegger Princess Diana

! !

" "

VOL. I NO. 8 page 2

AUGUST 1-13, 2006

THE ISLAND NEWSWEEK

A FIRST EVER ENVIRONMENTAL SHOWCASE It was shrugged off by a member of the Rapu-Rapu Fact Find-

ing Commission as just a “for show only” project. To the ordinary person’s eye, it looks like a rice paddy similar to the rice terraces of the Mountain Provinces, albeit too small in comparison. But to the expert, it is comparable to the world’s best design of a natural wetlands system which can effectively trap dissolved metals in wastewater. This is, in fact, a one-of-akind environmental showcase in the Philippines The wetlands constructed at the foot of the Polishing Pond (PP) the environmental area, if viewed from the spillway of the PP, is a picture perfect land structure that has for its wet-
January 2006 February 2006

lands is a background the Pacific Ocean and on a clear day, sky blue and on its mirrored surface. The white cotton clouds reflected simple but ingenious design of geotextile, coconut husk, coconut peat and sandy loam layer as medium for growing Typha Augustofolia reeds, or locally named “tambo” whose root system can effectively trap dissolved metals in wastewater. Its construction started in late January this year and became completely operational by June 2006. The wetlands system required at least 12,000 sacks of coconut husk bought from Bgys. Pagcolbon, Malobago, Binosawan, Linao and Sta Barbara. - CBP July 2006



May 2006

7

& **($ 9 **$ &

8

+

. + 2

& :

1 8 "

& + !

,

2 ; . ' . 7 .

&. &

<= ! &

)

+ .'

' ! !

#

+

Dental mission members of PDA of Albay and Quota Int’l of Legaspi-Mayon

! %&

$ %&

! '( )

,'

!

& & 0 +! * "

"

# '

* '* & &

)

+% .'

& /

&" . & +

1 4

& 2 & " 5& . ( 2 6

Recipients of school bags with Ofel Ante and Ceferina Bolaños

3 & &&

& &

EDITORIAL BOARD Managing Editor: Cecille A. Calleja Contributors: Carmelita B. Pacis, Arnold A. Guadalupe, Gilberto M. Llovit Production: Melanie Valenciano, Kareen Asuncion Circulation: Melanie Valenciano, Nancy Alipar, C.A.R.E. Dept.