TVIRD initiates multipartite collaboration for sustainable post-mine development
Fully aware that the life of its Canatuan copper-zinc mine in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte is finite, TVI Resource Development (Phils.) Inc. (TVIRD) has made it a top priority in its social commitment agenda to ensure the sustainability of mining-based development and progress in this mountain community. As part of the preparations for the eventual closure of the mine, TVIRD hosted a three-day Mine Tour and Strategic Partnership Caravan for officials and representatives of national government agencies based in Dipolog City, the provincial capital; and of the Dipolog Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
The Caravan seeks to build strategic partnerships between TVIRD’s host and impact communities on the one hand, and established local institutions such as government line agencies and the local business sector on the other. It is hoped that these partnerships will make certain that development in these communities is sustained long after the life of the mine.
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Top photo shows the Caravan leaders (left to right) Siocon CENRO Salahudin Caing, DOST Provincial Director Marcial Dahonan, DTI Provincial Director Noel Bazan and PCA Provincial Manager Ralph Hamoy. In middle photo, Subanon Chieftain Timuoy Jose Anoy (third from right, standing) welcomes the visitors at the SSAI rubber and abaca plantation in Malusok, a district of Canatuan. Bottom photo shows the collaboration meeting attended by national government agencies, TVIRD officials, and leaders of partner community groups from host and impact barangays.
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“We are glad to be back here in Canatuan after a few years,” said Noel Bazan, Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), who had visited the site in December 2006, when TVIRD was still producing gold and silver. “It is good to see how this place has continuously developed over the years. TVI(RD) has definitely done a good job here and we are just too happy to extend our services to enhance the quality of life of people living in the area.”
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Above, TVIRD Mining Engineer John Pauhl Navarro (in white hat) explains the process of extracting copper-zinc ore from the open pit. Below, TVIRD Civil Engineering Services Foreman Nestor Valenzuela (in orange vest) presents the blueprint design of the Sulphide Dam.
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Apart from Bazan, the other government officials who participated in the caravan were Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Provincial Director Marcial Dahonan, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Provincial Manager Ralph Hamoy, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Project Coordinator Ricardo Buot, the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s George Vallente, and Siocon Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) Salahudin Caing. They were joined by Michael Malacca and Judy Ca-ang, president and office manager of Dipolog Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), respectively; as well as Victoriano Miranda and Nicanor Nacaytuna of DTI; and Ariel Tomong, Jerome Gagan and Alberto Espejo of PCA.
Partnership commitments forged during the caravan include the upgrading of existing community livelihood activities through the provision of additional equipment, agricultural technology transfer, product development, marketing assistance, financial management and entrepreneurial training.
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In top photo, Gemma Tolentino (in black shirt), a forester at TVIRD’s Environment Department, shows extent of the company’s reforestation area. Middle photo shows, TVIRD Mine Engineer Deyn Sandiko (3rd from right) explains the safety features of the Sulphide Dam. In bottom photo, mine tour participants visit TVIRD’s Nursery and listen to TVIRD Agriculturist Crisanto Indangan (left) explain the agricultural development program of the company for its host and impact communities.
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The caravan delegation visited the open pit, sulphide dam, reforestation area, copper processing plant, rubber and abaca plantation, and the Sta. Maria Port facility. Timuay Jose Anoy, chieftain of the Siocon Subano tribe and Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title-holder of the area, welcome the group when they visited the rubber and abaca plantation of the Siocon Subanon Association, Inc. (SSAI) in Malusok District.
“We have to prepare the beneficiary communities in terms of their absorptive capacity before we are able to fully deliver to them the various development assistance packages,” Dahonan, who committed a grant of one unit of abaca stripping machine on the request of Timouy Anoy, said. “There is a need to train these people on financial and project management skills. But before everything becomes possible, the most important requirement is the willingness and perseverance of Subanons in Canatuan to work and better their lives.”
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TVIRD Mill Superintendent Rey Carubio (in black shirt) explains the process of separating copper and zinc.
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At the collaboration meeting between the government agencies, the Dipolog Chamber, TVIRD and community groups, various issues ranging from environmental protection, social preparedness of the community, and agribusiness opportunities, among others, were discussed, Malacca expressed concern over the continued practice of kaingin (slash-and-burn farming) by native Subanons inside and around the MPSA area, as well as the seeming overdependence of the communities to the resources and services provided by the company. He pledged to partner with TVIRD and its host communities in the conduct of entrepreneurial training, which will hopefully attract the creation of more business activities in the area.
During an exit conference with TVIRD officials led by Canatuan General Manager Ely Valmores, Bazan and Hamoy, speaking on behalf of the group, both stressed: “As far as complying with government regulations on environment and social development, we only have praises for TVI(RD). The challenge now is for the members of the IP community to prepare themselves and to make the best out of the goodwill of the company. There is also a need for the community to be extra conscious in protecting their natural resources because these provide not only natural protection but could also be the source of raw materials for their livelihood projects.”
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Above, PCA’s Hamoy presents to partner community groups the training opportunities for the development of coco-based products. Below, BFAR’s Buot (far right) and DOST’s Dahonan (second from right) discuss with Sta. Maria folks possible areas of collaboration and assistance.
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Anabelle Combi, President of Siocon Subano Womens’ Association Inc. (SSWAI) responded: “I am happy that we are now being given more attention by people from government; before, it was only TVI(RD) that kept on extending assistance to us. We also realize the importance of protecting the environment as our main source of livelihood. I will personally tell our people that we should conserve and put to good use our resources.”
On the part of TVIRD, Valmores said: “We take pride in our record as a transparent and conscientious company in all our activities. We believe that responsible mining also entails building the capacities of our host and impact communities for sustainable post-mine development. Our company is always open to partnerships with the government and private sectors to realize the full development potential of these communities.”
The caravan delegation proposed to the TVIRD management the creation of a project management office, to be led by the company’s Community Relations and Development Office (CReDO), which will provide updates and oversee the proper utilization of inter-agency development interventions to the community. Likewise, a project proposal "writeshop" is being planned in January 2011, to be followed by a training session on financial management and entrepreneurship for the beneficiary community groups.
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Counterclockwise from top, TVIRD Canatuan GM Ely Valmores, TVIRD CReDO Superintendent Joel Alasco, DTI Provincial Director Bazan, DOST Provincial Director Dahonan, and DCCI President Mike Malacca. “Our company is always open to partnerships with the government and private sectors to realize the full development potential of these communities,” Valmores says.
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The following are the development assistance commitments of the delegation:
For Canatuan and other impact barangays
• Abaca Stripping Machine for the SSAI abaca plantation (grant from DOST)
• Training on Financial Management, Basic Accounting and Entrepreneurship for all community groups (joint technical assistance from DTI and DCCI)
• Technical Training on Meat Processing for hog growers (from DOST)
• Technical assistance and linkage with WESMIARC for the establishment of rubber bud wood garden/nursery
• Marketing assistance for abaca produce (from DTI)
• Technical assistance and seedling sourcing for Robusta coffee, for intercropping with other existing crops (from PCA)
• Technical assistance on coco plantations and coco-based product development for impact barangays (from PCA)
• Technology training on farming (assistance from DA)
For Barangay Sta. Maria
• Additional three units of fish cages and “new look” auxiliary fishing gear for Sta. Maria Fisherfolks Association, Inc. (grant from BFAR, 50-50 counterpart scheme)
• Training Workshop on Fishing Technology and Fishery Laws (technical assistance from BFAR)
• Training on Sardines Processing for women’s group in Sta. Maria (technical assistance from DTI)
Other suggested activities:
• Introduction of giant bamboo species for handicraft production and as alternative source of wood material (prevention of rampant cutting of small timber)
• Inventory and propagation of raw materials for handicraft production (nito, romblon, pandan, tiger grass, etc.)
• Coordination with WESMARDEC for the establishment of a Farmers Learning Center in Canatuan
• Promotion of “enterprise-level farming” instead of simply distributing seedlings to farmers
• Consolidation of abaca and rubber produce to create volume and demand higher price in the market
• Study the feasibility of utilizing Sulphide Dam and other areas as Eco-Tourism destination after mine decommissioning and rehabilitation (Text and photos by Ernie Rojo)
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Above, the caravan with leaders and residents of Sta. Maria, a predominantly Muslim community that hosts TVIRD’s warehose and port facilities. Below, province-based national government agency officials and business leaders pose at TVIRD’s Canatuan Sulphide Plant.
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