TVIRD active in Mindanao business events

10/19/2006



Company’s role in regional development recognized

Reflecting an increasing recognition of the company’s contributions to the socio-economic progress of one of the Philippines’ growth regions, TVI Resource Development Phils., Inc. (TVIRD) was invited as a major participant in the biggest business events in Mindanao this year: the 15th Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) held in Zamboanga City and the 1st Mindanao Trade, Investment & Tourism Congress in Dipolog City.Eugene Mateo, TVIRD President, and Rocky Dimaculangan, TVIRD Director for Public Affairs, were guest speakers at the MinBizCon and the Congress, respectively, where they spoke of the company’s responsible mining practices and sustainable development programs at its Canatuan gold and silver project in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.



Some of the country’s top business leaders and government economic managers attended both conferences, providing insights and comprehensive information aimed at further boosting the business climate in the southern part of the Philippines. Mining is acknowledged as among the country’s “sunrise industries” that will play a significant role in propelling the development of business and the economy, and TVIRD is being recognized for putting in its share to this effort in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

“TVIRD acknowledges the urgent need for business leaders to examine themselves and their activities to bring about positive changes in all areas, taking into account the concerns and interests of shareholders, employees, customers, communities, and advocacy groups,” Mateo told the MinBizCon delegates. “To ensure meaningful public participation in decision making by these stakeholders, TVIRD strives to promote human rights, improve labor conditions, conduct regular monitoring of environmental impact, uphold community rights, and communicate transparently.

At the Congress, Dimaculangan, for his part, said the mining industry, like every other industry, “has hugely greater technological capability today than it did 50 years ago, or even a decade ago; and we also have a much better understanding of the social footprint of our operations, and our responsibility as businesses to the stakeholders we affect. We urge everyone…not to overlook the growing impact of economic growth on the enjoyment of human rights nor the potential of partnerships (with host communities) to deliver benefits even to the future generations.”

The MinBizCon was organized by the Zamboanga Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while the Congress was put together by the Federation of Business Chambers of Mindanao Foundation (FBC-Mindanao) and the Dipolog Chamber of Commerce and Industry. TVIRD was tapped by Congress organizers as partner, along with institutions like the United States Agency for International Development.