Company to work with Human Rights Commission on Rights training in security
TVIRD also took pride in having its officials, led by TVIRD President Eugene Mateo, invited by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights to attend the celebration of the International Human Rights Day at the Malacanang Palace to be presided by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III himself.
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Timuoy Jose “Boy” Anoy (left) is congratulated by TVIRD President Eugene Mateo as TVIRD SVP (center) and COO John Ridsdel looks on during Timuoy’s confirmation as tribal chieftain of the Subanon tribe of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte last year. TVIRD respects indigenous people’s rights and consults regularly with its host IP community members on business matters that may affect community life.
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“Company-wide awareness of, and adherence to, the Voluntary Principles on Human Rights and Security (http://www.voluntaryprinciples.org/principles/index.php) will be one of our human resources development priorities going forward,” says Yody Marzo, TVIRD Organizational Development Director. “In partnership with CHR, specifically with Director Ana Elzy Ofreneo, we will rollout training to all employees in the Voluntary Principles and make it part of our orientation program for new employees.
“The invitation is indeed an honor for us,” says Cliff James, Chairman of TVIRD and President and CEO of TVI Pacific Inc, TVIRD’s Canadian affiliate. “We believe it is a recognition of our track record of using a rights-based approach in the implementation of our Social Development Management Plan for the residents of the host and impact communities of our copper-zinc mining operations in Canatuan, Zamboanga del Norte. We also believe the invitation is a recognition of our efforts to implement the VPSHR in our security arrangements wherever we operate.”
“TVIRD’s security personnel have to undergo a mandatory training on the Voluntary Principles,” Mateo explains. “Through this training, TVIRD seeks to emphasize among security personnel the importance of the protection and promotion of human rights as TVIRD conducts its business, as well as the important role of civil society groups and local government units in advancing these goals. Respect for human rights has been incorporated in training sessions.”
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Above, TVIRD security personnel are required to attend the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights training, which will be rolled out to all company employees in cooperation with the Philippine Commission on Human Rights. Below, the company encourages the formation of community groups, where members are encouraged to speak up and decide for themselves on matters that interest that community and its members.
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Yulo Perez, TVIRD Vice President for Philippine Operations, agrees: “The national theme for this year’s International Human Right Day, “Karapatang Pantao: Kilalanin, Tuparin, Pagyamanin” (Human Rights: Recognize, Fulfill, Enrich), is something we in TVIRD like to think have been subscribing to for years now. In fact, in our recent training programs, security men and women are taught about how to address different situations effectively in relation to peacekeeping and in securing the community and company assets, be they human or material. For example, in a situation where a company employee and a Canatuan resident are involved in a fight, SCAA elements are taught to react in ways that will not violate the human rights of those involved.”
To mark the International Human Rights Day in Canatuan, TVIRD’s Community Relations and Development Office (CReDO) has lined up several activities aimed at raising awareness for the spirit of the event. “We will have a symposium on human rights for high school students, with whom we will discuss the company’s rights-based approach to development,” says CReDO Superintendent Joel Alasco. “We will hold a slogan-writing contest in various languages (Subanon, Cebuano, Tagalog and English), which we will use later for our advocacy campaigns. We have also caused the printing of tarpaulins to express TVIRD’s support for human rights, and these tarpaulins will be hung in strategic areas around the mine site.”
“The advancement of human rights has been TVIRD’s advocacy, as can be gleaned from the company’s pro-employee, pro-people and pro-environment initiatives,” Ely Valmores, TVIRD Canatuan General Manager, says. “Our employees receive salaries and benefits that are above what are required by law. We make sure that the impact of our operations on the environment is mitigated by environmental management and protection programs following international standards. Moreover, we see to it that our host and impact communities derive maximum benefits from our minerals development activities through our projects within and beyond our SDMP and through our royalty payments.”
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TVIRD’s social commitment programs have provided educational and medical facilities and services as well as basic infrastructure such as water systems to the company’s host and impact communities.
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“Respect for human rights following the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is reflected in many facets of our business,” Renne Subido, TVIRD Vice President for Corporate Social Commitments, adds. Article 2 of the UDHR, for instance, states that there shall be ‘No discrimination on the basis of sex, age, race, beliefs, language or creed.’ At TVIRD, we have adopted policies against sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and child labor, as well as policies to ensure hiring of qualified indigenous peoples (IPs) and on respect for IPs. We also conduct regular consultations with tribal leaders on business activities that may have an impact on community life.
“Article 3, meanwhile, specifies respect to life, liberty and security of persons,” Subido continues. “As part of our response, we have deterred attacks from armed groups outside Canatuan because of the presence of our human rights-trained security personnel. Residents in and around Canatuan are now more mobile as public transport now plies the Canatuan route to and from urban centers within the Zamboanga Peninsula. TVIRD’s medical clinic, where we have professional medical personnel on hand 24/7, has reduced incidence of maternal and infant mortality.”
“From a human rights perspective, the presence of TVIRD has intensified and is continuing to increase the presence of government and government services in a location where the State was previously absent,” Cesar Medina, TVIRD Exploration Manager, points out. “Among the mechanisms to achieve this goal has been the partnership of TVIRD and the local governments to deliver a number of joint projects for the benefit of the community, including the building and maintenance of roads that have eased mobility and connected farms in far-flung communities near our operations and exploration sites to markets that now provide a steady source of income and livelihood to community residents.”
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TVIRD VP for Social Commitment Renne Subido (in green, with eyeglasses), attends the first anniversary of the Subanon tribe’s Reunification.
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Gerry Gamelo, Senior Manager for New Projects, says TVIRD Exploration Group’s contribution to the celebration “will consist of the hanging of streamers at our exploration sites at Siennalyn in Zamboanga Sibugay, at Balabag in Zamboanga del Sur, Tamarok in Zamboanga del Norte, and our Ipil Satellite Office. We will also discuss the importance of the observance of the International Human Rights Day with our employees during our ‘Toolbox Meeting’.”
“Minerals development firms the world over have often been accused of human rights violations in their host communities. That is why we in TVIRD consider the conduct of VPSHR seminars for our employees as a critical component of our security and community relations initiatives,” Marzo adds. “Human rights principles have so far been helpful in strengthening TVIRD’s relationship with its host and impact communities because expectations are well defined and acceptable behavior is clearly set.”
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Sergio Tabanes (sitting, third from left), a member of TVIRD’s security unit, attended Alternative Learning System program conducted by the company in cooperation with the Department of Education. In photo, Sergio is joined by his mother Gloria, and father Sergio Sr. (in light blue). TVIRD supports the personal growth of its people.
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