In an open letter to one of TVI Pacific, Inc.’s harshest critics, TVI Founder and CEO Cliff James, reacting to unfounded accusations against the company, wrote that “when reasonable people see the (Canatuan) project for themselves, and talk to the community, they will find a dramatically different story than the one they have been told.”
He has since been proven right many times as wave after wave of multi-sectoral group representatives visited Canatuan as part of TVI Resource Development Phils., Inc.’s (TVIRD) transparency and open door policy. TVIRD is the Philippine affiliate of TVI Pacific.
Among the “enlightened tourists” are Philippine Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes and Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Sutherland who both referred to TVIRD as a model of best practices in responsible mining.
Last June 17, it was the turn of officers and members of the Zamboanga del Norte Press Club, Inc. (ZNPCI) – the biggest and oldest media organization in the province that hosts the Canatuan operations – “to see for themselves” when they toured TVIRD’s mining operations upon the company’s invitation.
The visitors were, in their own words, impressed with what they saw. They interviewed members of the Siocon Subanon Association, Inc. (representatives of the ancestral domain title holders), toured the mine pit and the mill facility, were briefed on the company’s sustainable development initiatives, and interacted with employees. They also went to the house of a holdover small-scale miner – part of the community that once operated in the area – who has refused to leave the mine site until he is paid a disturbance compensation equivalent to an amount that even the media visitors thought is unreasonable and grossly exorbitant. “Sobra! (Too much!),” one of them remarked. They were in their element during the no holds barred and “brutally frank” interview with TVIRD officials after lunch. Their tour ended with a tree-planting ceremony at Malusok, near the company staff house.
Mostly based in Dipolog City, the provincial capital, the ZNPC officers lamented the fact that anti-mining non-government organizations have been conducting a relentless hate campaign against an enterprise that is providing heretofore-unavailable social and economic benefits to the Subanon indigenous people even as the company conscientiously protects the environment.
“During a forum, I asked an officer of this Dipolog-based NGO what alternatives they can offer to IPs who will be displaced if the NGO succeeds in having TVI’s operations closed,” related a ZNPC member. “The man simply ignored my question and veered the discussion towards another topic.”
Pleased that TVIRD takes seriously all concerns raised by stakeholders and critics alike, no matter how unfounded in fact,10 of ZNPCI’s 15 Board directors as well as two active members who joined the tour wrote down their impressions after the visit:
We saw things different from things we have heard, more specifically on the alleged shortcomings of TVI concerning its focus and attention to waste management and benefits given to IPs. We felt and saw the whole truth concerning the issues against TVI.
– Anastacio L. Junio, Jr., President
Many things have been said against the mining operations of TVI in this province. We take our hats off to TVI for effectively handling the issues upfront – from many different angles – which ultimately opened our eyes and minds regarding the truth about TVI’s mining operations. We hope to experience the economic growth being contributed by TVI in Zamboanga Del Norte.
– Editha Pagente-Tomong, Executive Vice President
Exhilarating and enjoyable! What have been said against TVI are big lies. Nothing has been missed by the company in preserving and protecting the environment. Everything is in place to keep the environment healthy and sustainable. Keep up the good work!
– Franklin P. Gumapon, Secretary
I love nature! And I didn’t see any destructive things being done by TVI, contrary to what anti-mining groups report. I want to make a cartoon (on TVI’s operations in Canatuan) so that I can illustrate my point.
– Samuel B. Amatong (an editorial cartoonist), Auditor
It pays to actually see things for yourself because it is enlightening and it broadens your knowledge. I’m looking forward to another visit to Canatuan.
– Edgar T. Sorronda, Immediate Past President
The tour opened for me a new perspective on the issues raised by anti-mining groups. Personally, I believe the tour is a potent tool to help people discern the truth since they are given the chance to see things with their own eyes. I am also impressed with the way TVI personnel handled the Club’s “brutally frank” questions even if at times they winced at some of the questions that were raised. We as media men now see both sides of the coin.
— Rosemarie P. Miranda, Director and Past President
Now I know the big difference between responsible mining demonstrated by TVI and small-scale mining that is more destructive to the environment and dangerous to the health of man and animals.
— Czarito B. Zamora, Director and Past President
The tour was very informative. It helped clear clouds of doubt on the operations of TVI in the area.
— Ronillo D. Lee, Director and Past President
I thought I was fed with the correct information about TVI. After the tour I realized I was just being misled. The mining company has complied with the law and from what I personally saw, it has not violated any provisions of the Mining Act.
— Ruben B. Legorio (City Fiscal of Dapitan), Director and Past President
TVI is different from what I’ve heard and read in local newspapers. A must-see for one to believe.
— Rene A. Patangan, Director
It was an open comparative look between the issues raised by some Church leaders and cause-oriented groups against TVI, and the company’s clarification with actual see-how of its operations, which we found to be okay.
— Milan A. Laput, Member and Past President
To see is to believe. The tour to the TVI mine site clarified everything. TVI is really different from what we heard.
— Paul James Jauculan, Member
