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Agata provides relief. The Agata Emergency Response Team (AMVIERT) as well as management and staff assist in the distribution of relief goods during the recent tropical typhoon and heavy rainfall in the province of Agusan del Norte.
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AMVI Executive Assistant Rowena Adem takes a day-off from office work to assist in relief distribution to flood-stricken residents in Barangay Colorado, Jabonga Municipality.
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Public-private sector cooperation. (from left) AMVIERT member and Safety Officer Kurt Zion V. Torres, AMVI VP-Community Relations Edsel Abrasaldo, MSWD Officers Edith Grana and Pamela Conde, MDRRM Officer Georgette Monoy and Assistant General Manager Anthony B. Quijano take a breather after the successful relief distribution activities.
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AMVI volunteers unload relief goods in host Barangay Tinigbasan – a hard to reach community of Tubay, Agusan del Norte.
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Equipped and ready. Agata ERT Volunteers prepare emergency equipment and relief goods provided by the company for local barangays.
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Hon. Alfredo Moran Jr., Barangay Captain of Barangay Colorado, Jabonga, personally supervises while AMVI personnel distribute relief goods to his constituents.
AMVI management and staff distribute food and equipment to residents of adopted barangays
Tubay, Agusan del Norte / March 2016 – Agata Mining Ventures Inc. (AMVI), joint nickel laterite mining project of TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD) and MRL Nickel Philippines, distributed goods as well as emergency and rescue equipment among its adopted communities – particularly the farmers and fishermen in Tubay and Jabonga Municipalities who suffered from floods brought by Typhoon Auring. The company’s key officers, staff and the Agata Emergency Response Team (AMVIERT) volunteers trooped to the communities where close to 1,000 affected residents were provided with relief goods consisting of canned goods and rice. The ERT also provided emergency preparation and briefed residents on necessary actions in times of flood occurrences.
Natural Phenomenon
The constant yearly flooding of the communities within Agata’s 4,995-hectare Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) area in Agusan del Norte Province has been a pre-existing occurrence that has beleaguered residents prior to the entry of mining activities in the area. The calamity is also said to bring fear to Agata’s communities, render them helpless and cause destruction to their livelihood.
This year, the Jabonga Emergency Response Team – trained volunteers and rescuers from AMVI-sponsored Basic Life Support and Mass Casualty Rescue trainings – managed to mobilize residents and spread awareness. They were also able to conduct organized relief missions owing greatly to the readiness of the Barangay and Municipal level officials.
Addressing needs of the community
Fishermen in Barangay Tinigbasan, Tubay Municipality suffered from scarcity of fish and the occurrence of landslides. They were likewise unable travel by sea as the waves were too big while access roads were impassable, making it even more difficult to acquire necessary supplies.
During AMVI’s intervention, Tinigbasan Barangay Captain Dante Mandam was pleased to receive new sets of rescue equipment that will help them address and mitigate calamity-related risks.
“There are natural disasters that we have always expected even before the entry of mining operations. In those times, we were all alone facing them. But now, we have an ally that keeps us properly equipped and confident that we can surpass these (disasters),” expressed Mandam. AMVI’s also equipped the residents with the proper disaster risk and reduction management procedures through the Agata ERT.
Meanwhile, Colorado Barangay Captain Alfredo Morano, Jr. is very vocal about AMVI’s assistance and presence in times of natural calamities – which is essential to keeping the morale of his constituents. “We may not expect many disasters, but we do believe and trust that AMVI is always there when we need them,” said Morano.
From farm to coast
The encompassing commitment of AMVI towards supporting its adopted communities stretches from preparation right until the onset of natural calamities. The company initiated the Incident Command System among its officers and conducted a series of community-based rescue training exercises in partnership with the PDRRMO.
These efforts paved the way for enjoining more volunteers to become part of the community-based Emergency Response Teams that cover both coastal and inland communities alike. The company further equipped them with necessary paraphernalia and safety equipment in order to perform their duties as rescuers.
These volunteers consist of barangay officials, ordinary residents and even the youth – all of them deeply engaged and ready to dedicate themselves in times of emergency.
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