The Island Newsweek V1 N09

IBALANGIBOG SA BILOG NA MUNDO, ORAGON AN BICOLANO!

THE VOL. 1 NO. 9

KAYA TA AN RESPONSABLENG PAGMIMINA SA RAPU-RAPU!

NEWSWEEK

AN INTRA-COMPANY OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RAPU-RAPU POLYMETALLIC PROJECT

AUGUST 14-20, 2006

CIVIL CASE AGAINST LPI DISMISSED! ast Friday, 17th August 2006, Acting Presiding Judge Raul E. De Leon of the Sorsogon Regional Trial Court dismissed the Complaint, as well as the Motion to Admit Amended Complaint without prejudice, in a civil class action suit filed against Lafayette Philippines Inc. and the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project. The dismissal was based on the fact that the plaintiff was unable to "issue a proper certificate of non-forum shopping as required by Rule 7, Section 5 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure…" The counsel for LPI was Atty. Cleofe Verzola. Composed of affected fishermen in the coastal cities of Sorsogon, the plaintiff was represented by Atty. Gil S. Gojol. They claimed that due to the two spills that occurred in October 2005 which resulted in mercury contamination of marine

life, LPI should be penalized with damages and the court should issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction. The civil case was filed on February 2006. Although LPI sympathizes with the plight of the fishermen, the case filed was baseless as the tests done by UP NSRI and UP PGH showed that the levels of mercury and heavy metals around the Albay Gulf were all within DENR standards. THE BFAR test results also showed that the fish in Sorsogon and Albay are safe. Thus the case exposes the fish scare as a hoax and was probably due to some misguided elements who wanted the mine closed by spreading false reports without regard to the negative consequences that may impact on the fishing industry and consumers alike in the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon.

In addition to Pres. Agcaoili, there were three other speakers: Engr. Guillermo Molina Jr. IV of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB V) who talked on salient points of the 1995 mining act; Engr. Gilbert Gonzales, regional director of the Environment Management Bureau V who explained the environmental regulatory statutes on mining; and Engr. Virgilio Perdigon, vice rector of the Aquinas University of Legaspi who focused on the two spill events as the bases for the NGO’s fight for the closure of the mine. Streamer outside the BU Auditorium announces Forum on Mining

nly a few days after the mining symposium in Aquinas University of Legaspi, RRPI President Manny Agcaoili once more faced a packed auditorium, this time to students, faculty members, and representatives from the school administration of the Bicol University in Albay. He effectively presented the case of responsible mining in Rapu-Rapu. The “Forum on Mining” was sponsored and organized by the BU Graduate Students Board headed by its adviser Dr. Myrna Lanuzo and held at the BU Amphitheater on the morning of June 12, 2006. Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas, dean of the BU Graduate School (BUGS), opened the forum by stressing the importance of the university’s involvement in important events in the province. As the premiere state university in the Bicol Region, it has the sensitive task as catalyst for a more balanced view and critical understanding of the issues.

BU students listen intently to the power point presentations

The moderated open forum primarily centered on questions about the government’s role to regulate the industry and monitor the environment. Among questions asked Pres. Agcaoili was whether the company would consider scholarship opportunities for BU students. In contrast to the black-clad students of AUL, the students of BU were mostly dressed in pink shirts. Moreover, less tension and hostility and more intellectual curiosity were exhibited by the audience.

L-R: Eng. Molina, Jr., Engr. Perdigon, Reg. Dir. Gonzales, and Pres. Agcaoili

It was an illuminating experience for all the participants. After the forum, many signed up to become independent observers of the test run, taking to heart the challenge made by Mr. Agcaoili: Get to know the project first-hand and not merely from hear-say.

Vol. 1 No. 9 page 2

THE

August 14-20, 2006

NEWSWEEK

EMS Seminar for Management Staff held xpectations regarding Environmental Management System (EMS) was encapsulated in the statement of Ms. Carmelita Pacis, EMD Manager and appointed EMR, “EMS will become an everyday gourmet for all” as stressed in the EMS Awareness Orientation to Management Staff held August 11, 2006 at the campsite’s Conference Room. The 15 participants were acquainted with the importance of EMS in the company as one of the requirements of the government for resumption of operations. The seminar is especially important to management staff since they will be audited during the certification audit of ISO 14001:2004 by Certification International Philippines, Inc., the Project’s certifying body, as soon as the company is ready on areas of management responsibility, structure and defined responsibilities, among others. EMS implementation commenced in August 2005 with the pilot EMS awareness of some employees. To date EMS documentation is ongoing and internal audit is scheduled on September 1-2, 2006.

Famous Personalities born in August: Superman, Mussolini, Bill Clinton, Jackie Onassis, Napoleon, Madonna

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Ruel Avellana Grafil

Renato O. Adora

Rosalie Madraso Jamora

Jose Guañizo Adrao

Roger Rodrigo Lepalam

Sharon Derramas Ang Cherrie Lou Baza Burabod

Edilberto Villajuan Marchan

Lawrence Conda Demorar

Abel Zaragoza Nepomuceno Marie Fatima Esperon Puliran

Noli Bernal Dupoc Erwin Echano Ecal

Adrian Tabigue Robles

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Erwin Bolaños Ecal

Ian Malejana Solomon Edgar Saberon Velarde

C-Jechrist Madarcos Erodias

JOB VACANCIES

RAPU-RAPU POLYMETALLIC PROJECT Department

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MAYLENE SOLIS Staff Geologist Geology Department Hired: August 14, 2006

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Number of Vacancies

Sr. Mine Geologist Geology Staff

1 1

Staff Mining Engineer

2

Cadet Engineer (Dams Geotech)

1

Materials Management

Logistics Officer (Inventory Mngt.)

1

CARE

Sr. Info. Communication and Education Officer (ICE)

1

CARE Officers

2

HRAS

Recruitment & Training Officer

1

Safety

Safety Engineer Safety Officer

1 2

Cadet Safety Engineer

1

Environment

Jr. Environment Engineer

1

Legal Services

Manager

1

Legal Assistant

1

Engineering

Section Head - Design/Planning

1

Commercial

Commercial Assistant

1

Mining

ERNIE BALONZO Pit Technician, Mining Department Hired: August 9, 2006

Position

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