The Island Newsweek V1 N17

IBALANGIBOG SA BILOG NA MUNDO, ORAGON AN BICOLANO!

THE VOL. 1 NO. 17

KAYA TA AN RESPONSABLENG PAGMIMINA SA RAPU-RAPU!

NEWSWEEK OCTOBER 9 - 22, 2006

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

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RRPI/RRMI remembered the anniversary of the “spill” through an activity of donation to the victims of typhoon Milenyo.

On October 11, 2006, during a simple program, the employees who lost their houses were given financial aid. It was the highlight of an evening of singing and renewal of the commitment to the programs and policies that promote the conservation of nature and culture of Rapu-Rapu. Another activity dubbed “Typhoon Damage Assistance” was conducted at the campsite on the 13th of October. Thirty six residents of Brgy. Malobago were recipients of the assistance provided by the company. Mr. Roger Corpus, senior vice president for operations, was present to supervise the distribution of grocery goods and cash.

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A day after the onslaught of Milenyo, an inter-department team was formed to assess the extent of damage suffered by the neighboring barangays. The three departments (CARE, Safety and HRAS) in coordination with the barangay captains found that 13 houses of RRMI/RRPI employees were totally damaged in Malobago, 7 houses in Pagcolbon and 2 in Binosawan. Among the non-employees, 36 houses were totally damaged in Malobago and 6 in Pagcolbon. Before the company’s typhoon damage assistance, the employees donated used clothing. These were sent to the direct host barangays as relief goods. Leighton, an international contractor working with RRMI/RRPI, also gave canned goods and rice. Employees of RRPI/RRMI and residents of the Rapu-Rapu island will long remember the month of October. This time, October is marked by a calamity that rejuvenated the relationship between the company and the communities. Galvanized by time and trials brought by the “spill” last year, both parties realized that they need to co-exist.

The recipients were grateful for the assistance. It was meant to help them recover from the devastation. These recipients are residents of direct host barangays: Malobago, Pagcolbon and Binosawan. Recipients who were not able to participate in the ceremony also received grocery goods through their barangay captains. 299 packs prepared by the employees themselves, containing rice, bihon, canned goods, coffee and sugar, were entrusted to the Barangay Captains of direct host barangays for distribution. 122 of which is for Malobago, 132 for Binosawan, and 45 for Pagcolbon. The aid was extended even to the stakeholders in the province of Sorsogon. Vice-President for Industrial & Comm. Relations, Joey Cubias, a Sorsogueño, facilitated the same for said province.

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The devastation brought by Milenyo is yet another reason for RRPI/RRMI to intensify the help given to the barangays. “The true effect of the typhoon will be felt two months from now,” said Mr. Ebuenga, brgy. captain of Binosawan. “The company must be allowed to fully operate in order for my people to get jobs. Our crops are gone and there is not enough yield from the sea; the company is our only hope now.”

VOL. 1 NO. 17 page 2

THE

NEWSWEEK

OCTOBER 9 - 22, 2006

RRMI/RRPI’s CARE Programs under the Community Relations Department is a main prerequisite of the Philippine mining industry

The Community Relations (ComRel) Department takes care of all social

and community development programs, projects and activities. It intends to promote and enhance the social acceptability of the mining operation amongst various stakeholders, sectors of society and communities.

The company’s SOCIAL LICENSE for its mining operation is established and sustained effectively through CARE (Community Actions, Relations and Education). Previously, mining companies were only required to comply with technical and legal requirements. There was no issue of social acceptability. A new critical and equally important requirement for the industry, so called SOCIAL LICENSE was ushered through the enactment of Philippine Mining Act of 1995. It enshrines the new requirement which serves as a milestone in Philippine mining policy. Social license refers to the general acceptance of the mining operation by various stakeholders, communities and other interested and affected sectors. Most importantly, this level of acceptability must reflect social acceptance of the mining project by the communities directly or indirectly affected by the operations. Among the most essential components of the Social License are: 1. The assurance of environmental protection of areas utilized by the mining operations; it seeks to protect the people and environment from harm; 2. The continuing enhancement and development of the environment alongside with environmental protection for the greater and continuing benefit of the people; 3. The guarantee of health and safety for the residents of direct and indirect host communities where the mining is located; 4. The establishment and provision of economic (livelihood) and socio-cultural programs in host (direct and indirect) communities with the cooperation, collaboration and participation of local government units. The law mandates that the funds allocated and appropriated for these socio-cultural and economic programs must be spent according to designated purposes. In a nutshell, Social License, therefore, is about ensuring that the people in and around the mining areas benefit from the extraction and development of the natural resources. That includes those who may be indirectly affected by the mining operation. It also involves the mandatory protection and safeguarding of the environment: water, air, soil, flora, fauna and habitat, among others. It also requires contribution to the overall improvement of local residents’ quality of life as well as the enhancement of the general welfare of their communities. Prior to the spill incidents, 3 direct and 4 indirect host communities were the focal areas of social development programs of Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project . Abiding with the new mining law, one percent of the mining and milling costs was allocated for these communities for purposes of delivering social, environmental, cultural and economic benefits in the form of various projects and activities. After October 2005, recognizing that socio-environmental impacts transcend geographic and physical boundaries, the company, under its own initiative expanded CARE/ComRel’s area of responsibility. That social responsibility now spans to the whole of Rapu-Rapu municipality, five neighboring municipalities of Sorsogon Province and some communities in mainland Albay, including the City of Legazpi.

Congratulations to Ms. Kareen Gorobao Asuncion for passing the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) given on August 27, 2006. Kareen is an HR Staff of the of RRMI since June 2006. She is the daughter of Malobago Brgy. Capt. Reynold Asuncion. A licensed teacher now, she plans to teach after her stint in the company. EDITORIAL BOARD Managing Editor: Cecille Calleja Contributors: Rene Castro, Ofel Ante, Jason Magdaong, Be Pacis Bicol Translation: Mcken Belgica, Roy Cervantes Production: Arnold A. Guadalupe, Kareen Asuncion, Mcken Belgica Circulation: Mcken Belgica, Nancy Alipar, C.A.R.E. Dept.

Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project’s 5-Year Social Development Management Plan (or SDMP) includes the following broad sectoral programs and social development projects; viz: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

ECONOMIC/INFRASTRUCTURES Village Electrification Village Stairway and Pathway Construction Improvement of Village Access Road Development of Ungay Beach Construction of Maypajo Trail Construction of Village Potable Water-Supply System Repair of Village Multi-Purpose Hall Provision of Village Transport Service Vehicle EDUCATION AND TRAINING Provision of Free School Bags and Supplies to All Grade School Children Vocational-Technical Skills Training Support to Early Childhood Education / Village Day-Care Program Adult Literacy and Non-Formal Education Teachers’ Training (Upgrading of Professional Teaching Competencies) Scholarship/Educational Assistance Capability Training

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HEALTH AND SANITATION Waste Management and Sanitation Provision of Sanitary Toilet for Every Home Medical-Dental Mission / Medical Assistance Botika Sa Barangay (Village Drugstore) Village Health Workers Training Support to Village Health Workers (“Barefoot Paramedics”) Nutrition and Supplemental Feeding (for Undernourished Under-6 Children) Maintenance of Model Forest Outfitting and Enhancement of Rural Health Clinics

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FOOD SECURITY, EMPLOYMENT & LIVELIHOOD Livelihood / Income Generating Projects Labor and Employment Community-Based Forest Resource Management: Sloping Agricultural Land Technology/Vegetable Farming Agri-Silvipasture (Goat-Raising) Community-Based Coastal Resource Management: Aqua-Marine Culture Food Processing

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SOCIO-CULTURAL ASSISTANCE Assistance to Socio-Cultural Activities Leadership Development Population Education Crime Prevention Program

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CAPACITY BUILDING Village Operations Support-Fund Training of Environmental Patrols Assistance to Village Development Planning.

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Through its projects, CARE has been truly with the people, especially those residing in the host communities, in almost every aspect of their lives, from their livelihood, houses, roads, electricity, water, their education, food and nutrition, etc. Hon. Quacky Bolaños, municipal councilor of Rapu-Rapu, recognizes this attention given by the company to his constituents near the plant premises. Grateful for its social development projects, he specifically stressed that the direct impact barangays could not have immediately recovered from the typhoon without the assistance extended by the company. RRPI/RRMI cares.