The Island Newsweek V1 N16

IBALANGIBOG SA BILOG NA MUNDO, ORAGON AN BICOLANO!

THE VOL. 1 NO. 16

KAYA TA AN RESPONSABLENG PAGMIMINA SA RAPU-RAPU!

NEWSWEEK

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

RRMI/RRPI’s Base Metal Plant

OCTOBER 2 - 8, 2006

Engineering Departments. With them, the company raised the concept of environmental protection to a higher level. The Environment Department employed several effective methods to rehabilitate the creeks that use to be acidic due to previous mining explorations even before the company came to the island. Those waterways are now within the standards of DENR. Another facility, the wetland, was put in place to further filter the water, mostly rainwater, prior to its release to the sea. Regular sampling of the water and tailings for trace metals are conducted regularly to ensure compliance with the environmental standards. Reports on these activities and findings are submitted to the DENR on a weekly basis.

Halfway through the 60-day extension of provisional permit to run,

the only copper-zinc mine in the country is ready for business and confident that the resumption of the full operation will be granted.

Since the start of the test run, the company opened its doors to the scrutiny of the public. The test run operation was laid bare to 192 individuals coming from various organizations, government and non-government agencies, academe and religious sector, and many others. (More visitors are expected to visit the site before the end of the 60-day extension.) Observers were convinced that the operation of the company is environmentally safe and hence it should merit the permanent lifting order. Valuable inputs were also solicited from them through the feedback forms which unanimously pushed for the resumption of operation. During the test run, third party experts were commissioned to observe the operation. Their assessment reports form part of the company’s compliance to the conditions of DENR. The adoption of environmental measures and adherence to DENR standards put its weight on the competence of Environment and

RRPI and RRMI

spearheaded its landmark Internal Audits on its Environmental Management System (EMB) on 15-16 and 23-24 September 2006 respectively. The EMS Audit covers all the functional areas of With the powerpoint presentation of Engr. Be Pacis, Mr. Berthe companies for a nard Salvo announce the findings of the EMS audit. three-fold objective, to wit: 1. verify compliance of the organization to the planned arrangements, standards and environment management system; 2. check adequacy of the documented system in satisfying requirements of ISO 14001: 2004; and 3. to determine areas for improvement. An opening meeting for both audits was conducted in order to confirm the purpose and scope of the audit and the ISO 14001: 2004 standard to be used. It was attended by the Area Heads and the auditors.

Third party experts were also commissioned to assess and recommend measures with regards to the design of the tailings dam as well as the measures to prevent Acid Mine Drainage. This collaboration ensured Tailings Dam Facility that the facility is environmentally safe as well as structurally stable. The company’s tailings dam can withstand an earthquake of 8.25 in the Richter Scale and it has a containment capacity of 1 million cubic meters of water. In order to prepare the employees for any fortuity, an Emergency Preparedness and Response Program (EPRP) was implemented. These unannounced EPRP drills were conducted simulating incidents like oil spill, rupture of lines containing copper and fuel, security breach, landslide and accidents. The neighboring communities also participated in these simulations. To intensify the campaign on environmental protection, RRPI and RRMI companies formulated their respective Environmental Policy last September. Awareness orientations for top managers down to the employees was conducted and the company hopes to get the ISO Certification by the end of this year. RRPI/RRMI’s new management is committed to sustainable development and in adopting world' s best environment management systems as applicable to the island of Rapu-Rapu. With these systems in place, the company cured the "sins of the past" and should be granted a permanent lifting order by the Pollution Adjudication Board and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Supplemental Feeding, on-going! Supplemental feeding for the children in the three host barangays, Binosawan, Pagcolbon, and Malobago, was launched on Sept 23, 2006. The project under the “Malusog na Bata ng Rapu-Rapu Program” is one of the priority projects of the company for the host communities. The beneficiaries of this project are 38 undernoushed children in Binosawan, 10 in Pagcolbon, and 19 in Malobago. Soya milk and other nutritious food will be served to them for the whole 120 days.

VOL. 1 NO. 16 page 2

Antonio D. Deligero Pangpang, Sorsogon City CARE Officer Hired: August 1, 2006

THE

Ricardo Cawaling Bulua, Cagayan De Oro Security Officer Hired: August 23, 2006

Cherry M. Manrique P3 Binitayan, Daraga Albay Jr. Environmental Engineer Hired: Sept. 16, 2006

OCTOBER 2 - 8, 2006

NEWSWEEK

Diosdado A. Tejero Lutopan, Toledo City, Cebu Sr. Process Technician Hired: August 29, 2006

Fredrich A. Martindale Old Albay, Legazpi City Geology Staff Hired: Sept. 25, 2006

Rey Carlo B. Belgica Cabangan, Legazpi City ICE Officer Hired: Sept. 1, 2006

Ma. Kristinna P. Orlina Cadet CARE Officer P. Paterno St., Guinobatan Albay Hired: Sept. 25, 2006

Alex Madera 62 Figueroa St., Cebu City AVP - Geology Hired: Sept. 7, 2006

Emilio E. Tabilog Pagcolbon, Rapu Rapu, Albay Maintenance Crew Hired: Sept. 27, 2006

Audit schedules and reporting procedures were also presented. Confidentiality of audit documents was also ensured.

NANCY G. ALIPAR EDMAR C. BALONZO Famous people born in October BONDOY D. EDDIE Julie Andrews - Randy Quaid MELVIN B. CANTOR Mahatma Gandhi - Sting JESUS B. DELOVINO Richard Gordon - Neils Bohr ORLAN B. DETICIO John Lennon - James Clavell JOSE L. DINOY Hillary Rodham Clinton Theodore Roosevelt RICKY A. ECHANE Julia Roberts - Bill Gates RICSENOR F. FLORES Winona Ryder GRACE S. LUCAÑAS Christopher Columbus ERNESTO M. MINERO John Keats DOMINGO B. NIVERO SR. Eleanor Roosevelt Luciano Pavarotti ANTONIO D. PULIDO JR Margaret Thacher JULIUS R. REQUILLAS Dwight Eisenhower CAEDMON REY G. ALCANTARA Pablo Picasso LAWRENCE OLIVER G. ARAOJO

There are four (4) EMS auditors for the Pre-Internal Audit who were competent on basis of education, skills, training and experience. They are Carmelita Pacis, Gilbert Llovit, Fermin Nebres and Bernard Salvo. The auditors for the internal audit were Ronnie Falogme, Andrew Conrad Calma, Ronald Verceles, Miguel Villamor, Jason Magdaong, Angel Cao, Carmelita Pacis, Gilbert Llovit, Roy Cervantes and Ma. Criselda Bolaños. The Auditees were all overwhelmingly cooperative and aware of the internal audit conducted. Suggestions were also lifted from them. Mr. Teody Marquez, SVP for Corporate Services, lauded the efforts of the auditees and auditors for this worthwhile undertaking during the closing meeting of the Internal Audit on September 24.

Forty six parents were encouraged to exert their effort and cooperate in mitigating the problem the health situation of their children. They participated in the organizational meeting and the orientation in preparation for the launching which was conducted by Ms. Irma Lanuzo. Irma is a private nutritionist hired to help start the implementation of the project. The project seeks to involve the parents particularly the mothers in the fight against malnutrition by giving them tasks in the actual feeding. Parents’ Committee was formed to ensure a better coordination and flow of each feeding activity and the specific duties and responsibilities were also made clear to them. It is expected that the beneficiaries will be emancipated from undernourishment at the end of the project. Post-project assessment will also be done in order to determine whether or not it is necessary to continue the feeding project. EDITORIAL BOARD Managing Editor: Cecille Calleja Contributors: Ofel Ante, Be Pacis, Gilbert Llovit, Arnold Guadalupe Bicol Translation: Nelson Buenafe, Roy Cervantes Production: Kay Orlina, Mcken Belgica Circulation: Mcken Belgica, Nancy Alipar, C.A.R.E. Dept.

Lead Auditor, Mr. Gilbert Llovit, discusses audit protocol and schedules

In general, the EMS internal audit takes its crucial role of making an accurate picture of the EMS of the Company through adding value in the opportunities for improvement and the good points worthy of emulation for the continual improvement of the system. It is emphasized that the EMS Audit is based on a limited sample done randomly and other nonconformities may exist. The organization remains steadfast in the effective and efficient implementation of the Environmental Management System and in conformance to the requirements of the ISO 14001:2004 Standard. The same aims ISO certification before the end of 2006.