Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur / February 2015 – Adding significance to the Municipality of Kabasalan’s celebration of its 78th Founding Anniversary on February 12 to 17, TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD) has expressed its support and active participation in commemorating the town’s establishment. The week-long celebration, themed “Fostering Unity Amidst Challenges and Diversity,” will be spearheaded by different stakeholders in the community, including the religious and business sectors, the Department of Education (DepEd), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the municipality’s constituents.
The celebration will feature a gathering of the town’s diverse cultural groups composed of Ilocano, Ilonggo, Cebuano, Chavacano, Waray, Bol-anon and Bicolano ethnicities. There will also be a showcase of talents on native “balak” (poetic literature), “harana” (serenade) and “sayaw” (dances) during the LGU Night. The event will culminate in a grand awards night, titled “Gabi sa mga Tipaka sa Kagahapon” (Glimpses ot the Past) to be judged by representatives of ethic groups from neighboring municipalities, including Myrna Edang, wife of TVIRD Officer-in-Charge Col. Valentino Edang
History
TVIRD’s 4,779-hectare Mineral Processing Sharing Agreement (MPSA) area spans the town of Bayog as well as Barangays Lacnapan, Penaranda and Siolan in Kabasalan Municipality. In 2013, the company’s survey team entered the three barangays in coordination with the town mayor, Hon. George Cainglet, and other LGU officials, in order to conduct baseline studies in preparation for the company’s upcoming operations. Once operations come on-stream, increased economic activity is expected to bring both employment and livelihood opportunities to the town’s communities.
Prior to TVIRD’s entry, both Kabasalan and Bayog struggled through years of illegal mining operations that brought about a destructive and exploitive form of livelihood to its citizens, including the indigenous Subanens in the area.
In 2012, the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur implemented a cease and desist order and effectively dismantled illegal mining operations in Bayog Town. Likewise in 2013, the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Government ordered the closure of all illegal mining operations in the province in a directive furnished to the provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office – this, just a few days into Governnor Wilter Palma’s assumption as Sibugay’s highest official. Covered by the directive were the unabated illegal mining operations in Barangay Guinoman in Diplahan town and Barangays Penaranda and Lacnapan in the municipality of Kabasalan.
Palma also expressed that he has to stop illegal mining operations to protect the environment and Sibuguey River, which is the source of water that irrigates thousands of hectares of rice lands in the towns of Imelda, Diplahan, Siay, Titay and Kabasalan – the province’s rice granaries.
Prior illegal mining operations turned the river into a ‘catch basin’ of tailings and chemicals for two decades. Water from the Creek that flowed directly into Sibuguey River found its way to the seas of Zamboanga Peninsula.
Meaningful engagements
In 2013, TVIRD also engaged Kabasalan’s Subanen leaders and local government officials and department heads and showcased its responsible mining practices in Canatuan, Zamboanga del Norte, where it operated its gold-silver and copper-zinc operations since 2004. The company’s concept and practices provided an eye-opener for the participants, underscoring responsible environmental protection and management practices.
At the exit conference of the mine tour, participants are able to differentiate legitimate, responsible mining from illegal small-scale mining that destroys the environment by not providing proper waste disposal from its operations.
TVIRD is primed to bring its gold and silver operations on-stream in Sitio Balabag in Bayog Municipality. It has earned its social license to operate from both provincial and municipal levels as well as from its host Subanens with whom it shares a common development roadmap for the future.
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