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Helping hand. AMVI staff and barangay officials help pack and distribute relief goods for the residents of Barangay San Vicente, Jabonga Municipalty.
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Agata staff distribute relief packs to the residents of Barangay San Vicente, in its host Municipality of Jabonga
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Agata and barangay personnel conduct road repairs in Barangay San Vicente in order to mobilize the transportation of relief goods and people.
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Rocks and debris carried by raging flood waters at the height of Basyang in Barangay Alipao left communities in disarray.
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AMVI ERT rations 40,000 liters of clean water to the residents of Barangay Alipao. Close to 9,000 families were displaced by the tropical storm in Caraga.
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AMVI ERT together with the teachers and students of Alipao Elementary School at the tail end of cleaning and clearing operations of flooded classrooms.
Affected communities receive immediate response
Tubay, Agusan del Norte / February 2018 – In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Basyang leaving a path of destruction in the Caraga Region, Agata Mining Ventures Inc. (AMVI) – a joint venture project of MRL Nickel Philippines Inc. and TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD) – immediately provided relief to affected communities in Barangay San Vicente, Jabonga Municipality, Agusan del Norte Province and Barangay Alipao, Alegria Municipality, Surigao del Norte Province.
Tropical Storm ‘Basyang’ – international name Sanba – ravaged through the region last February 13, displacing almost 9,000 families in Caraga according to the report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 13.
In San Vicente, 130 families were brought to the barangay evacuation center due to the overflowing river where their houses are situated. AMVI was among the first to respond by providing relief packs per family consisting of rice, sardines, instant noodles and a gallon of distilled water each.
“The residents were really impressed by the quick response and were very thankful for the relief goods they received,” said AMVI Community Development Officer Jecil O. Lad.
Moreover, AMVI also assisted the barangay in rehabilitating the local road, which was destroyed by heavy rains. Company personnel and barangay residents worked hand-in-hand to fill potholes and muddy portions of the road with gravel in order to normalize transportation in the area.
In coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and PGMC, Agata likewise deployed its six-man Emergency Response Team (ERT) to conduct water rationing in Barangay Alipao. Senior Safety Officer Aldrin Arieta said the team was sent to provide the locals with clean freshwater since the barangay water supply was damaged. In total, four loads of water, equivalent to 40,000 liters, were distributed to the residents.
The company’s ERT also assisted in the cleaning and clearing operations of Alipao Elementary School where many of the classrooms were flooded and needed to be cleared from mud and debris.
“We wanted the school to resume classes as soon as possible. That’s why, together with the teachers and students, we initiated the cleaning and clearing operations”, said Arieta.
Relief operations in the past
In early 2017, AMVI-led relief operations were able to serve over 1,000 residents affected by Typhoon Auring and the La Niña phenomenon – wherein both calamities stalled the host communities’ fishing and farming livelihood, especially in the vulnerable coastal areas. Additionally, Agata conducted further humanitarian missions in host Barangays Lawigan and Tinigbasan in Tubay Municipality, delivering relief goods to 495 households as well as donated emergency equipment to the local government.
Also in the aftermath of the 6.7-magnitude earthquake that devastated Surigao City, AMVI was among the first to respond to the call for rescue operations. A team of Agata volunteers and its ERT were deployed on a two-day rescue and relief mission – joining other mining companies in the province of Surigao del Norte.
Drinking water, gallon containers and relief goods were given to more than 270 households, along with AMVI’s own water truck, which distributed freshwater to evacuation and residential areas.
Disaster preparedness
The Agata ERT was established in order to put necessary systems in place to safeguard people and properties from imminent risks. Team members underwent rigorous training and regularly conduct drills and demonstrations in order to effectively respond to different emergency situations.
In January 2017, the company’s ERT tied with the PNP-Caraga for the top spot in the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Mass Casualty and Basic Life Support Rescue Exercises. Agata was the only mining company and private sector representative to face the challenge of disaster risk reduction and management across its ranks.
Training the communities
To equip the locals with disaster management skills, Agata partnered with PDRRMO in conducting series of 3-day trainings on Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management last year in Barangays Binuangan, Tagpangahoy, and Tinigbasan in Tubay.
Two years ago, the company and the PDRRMO conducted disaster risk reduction and management trainings to over 160 participants composed primarily of barangay officials, health workers, teachers and civilian volunteers. The training modules included Basic Life Support (BLS), Standard First Aid (SFA) and Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Management.
This was followed by two successive trainings in January this year in Barangay Colorado, Municipality of Jabonga and Barangay E. Morgado, Santiago Municipality. Overall, these trainings served a total of 230 participants who were taught immediate response in the onset of typhoons and flash floods, including where to go and who to contact.
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