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Safety first. AMVI takes after TVIRD’s vigilance and excellent track record in occupational health and safety as well as its environmental and social programs. (In photo): The TVIRD lying-in clinic in Canatuan, Zamboanga del Norte received close to 14,000 consultations and admissions every year at the height of its operations.
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The MGB SHES 2015 audit team discusses their overall findings and recommendations in a conference with AMVI Site Management.
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Environment Manager Jesalyn Guingguing presents the company’s mitigation measures to MGB SHES Auditing Team members Nieve M. Fariňas and Engr. Jose V. Desucatan.
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Science Research Specialist Engr. Jose V. Desucatan of the MGB SHES audit team inspects AMVI’s Vermi Culture Facility in one of the company’s satellite nurseries.
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Clear blue. Inspection of siltation control installations around AMVI’s Causeway area was conducted during the recent audit.
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AMVI’s medical staff receive the audit team who are accompanied by the company’s safety officers, Jake Absin and Kurt Torres, at the Base Camp Clinic.
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All is well. The audit team together with AMVI managers visit barangay officials in one of the company’s host communities.
AMVI receives positive feedback in the recently-concluded SHES audit of MGB Central.
Santiago, Agusan del Norte / August 2015 – Following a four-day Safety and Health, Environment and Social Development (SHES) audit conducted by the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) central office in March this year, TVIRD’s Agata Mining Ventures Inc. (AMVI) received positive feedback in the random audit of mining companies in the CARAGA Region and was commended by the agency’s SHES 2015 auditing team. The audit was conducted through the MGB’s Mining Environment and Safety Division (MESD), which is mandated to oversee the development and nationwide implementation of SHES components for mining and quarrying companies. It also marked the first visit of the central office team in Region XIII to carefully assess if mining companies are strictly following government guidelines in properly managing their respective programs.
The SHES Audit Team commended AMVI for being vigilant in complying with the requirements set by the MGB and was happy to see several positive practices and programs being implemented by the company. As for the succeeding audits, they hope to see the company implement all the recommendations of the SHES Audit Team and continue its current record – and even positively exceeding expectations in the promotion of responsible mining practices.
A new, innovative process
The audit pioneered MGB’s innovative “score card” process – a new, law-based validation method that serves as basis for the team to draw conclusions and recommendations in the area of SHES. Moreover, these new score cards are composed of standards and legal provisions that correspond to a points-based system to rate each company’s performance.
Key AMVI officers presented their respective data on the company’s health and safety programs, environmental management initiatives and Social Development Management Program (SDMP). In turn, the audit team composed of Community Development Officer III Gilbert L. Aquino, two senior environmental management specialists and a research specialist conducted an on-field validation of physical program implementation and corresponding accomplishments.
The team thoroughly examined AMVI’s facilities, structures, procedures and protocols, safety equipment, first-aid supplies and medicines. It also looked into the company’s emergency preparedness procedures and emergency response training programs.
Also appraised were AMVI’s environment protection and mitigation measures as well as SDMP implementation and accomplishments that benefit its host and neighboring communities. The resulting data was finally consolidated into a final report and recommendations for the company.
“On behalf of AMVI, we would like to thank the SHES 2015 Auditing Team for its guidance, support and recommendations along with the acknowledgement of AMVI’s efforts to comply with the standards set by the DENR-MGB. Rest assured that the company will keep its compliance record as well as continue its commitment as one of the DENR’s strongest partners in the preservation and protection of the environment,” said Environment Manager Jesalyn Guingguing.
AMVI is currently engaged in various collaborative efforts in maintaining and protecting the environment together with the DENR and the communities located within its mining concession area. These programs include planning, monitoring and evaluation as well as conducting seminars and training to local community members and organizations in the municipalities of Tubay, Jabonga and Santiago – which are located in its Mineral Processing Sharing Agreement (MPSA) area.
The development of AMVI in Tubay Municipality, Agusan del Norte is led by TVI Resource Development Inc. (TVIRD). AMVI has been consistently recognized by the DENR for its successful implementation of the government agency’s Coastal Resource Management and Adopt-a-River Programs while TVIRD was conferred the “Best Mining Forest,” among other notable awards. The Agata Nickel Project is the third project that TVIRD successfully brought on-stream in the past 10 years.
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