TVI Resource Development Phils., Inc. (TVIRD) recently turned over to the local government of Zamboanga del Norte – host province of the Company’s Canatuan Project in Siocon town – a package of documents containing pertinent information on the Project, which highlights the TVIRD’s contributions to the economic development of the province. The turnover fulfills the Company’s earlier commitment to Provincial Governor Rolando Yebes of providing updated data on the mining operations.
The package contains, among others, a Report on the Canatuan Operations,which includes data on Revenues, Taxes, and Employment (January to June 2006), as well as TVIRD’s 2005/2006 Environmental Protection and Enhancement Plan.Also part of the package are a Presentation on TVIRD Social and Environmental Commitment Programs and the Statement on Feasibility of the Copper/Zinc (“Sulfide”) Expansion Project issued by TVI Pacific, Inc., TVIRD’s Calgary-based mother company.
Rocky Dimaculangan, TVIRD Director for Public Affairs, presented the package last July 17 to Atty. Jesgal Sarmiento, Provincial Legal Counsel and Officer-in-Charge of the Provincial Environment and Development Office. The turnover was witnessed by Atty. Rafael Cabanlit, Administrator of Dipolog City (provincial capital); and Rene Patangan, TVIRD Public Affairs Officer.
Governor Yebes had earlier excused himself from the turnover. His secretary advised Atty. Eugene Mateo, TVIRD President; and John Ridsdel, TVI Pacific Corporate Advisor – both of whom were originally scheduled to meet the governor – that the Provincial Chief Executive wanted to study the information before deciding to see the Company officials.
Gov. Yebes has been demanding TVIRD to pay taxes directly to the Provincial Government – something the Company cannot do as this would be in violation of the Philippine Internal Revenue Code. TVIRD has expressed support for the passage of House Bill 1445 which, when enacted into law, will automatically give local government units (LGUs) a 40 percent share of income tax from mining operations. Under the present law, companies are mandated to pay their taxes directly to the national government, which, in turn, allocates a certain portion of the taxes to the LGUs in the form of Internal Revenue Allotment – a process that normally takes several years.
Nevertheless, TVIRD continues to enhance economic activity in the Zamboanga Peninsula from the cost of operating the Canatuan mine, notably in the Zamboanga del Norte municipalities of Siocon, Sibuco, Sirawai and Baliguian to the west, and neighboring R. T. Lim town in Zamboanga Sibugay to the east. In 2005, TVIRD contributed an estimated P300 million in economic activity to the region, on top of P24 million in the form of local purchases, P36 million in wages and salaries, as well as P2.5 million in SSS, Pag-Ibig and Philhealth contributions. These figures are expected to increase as the mine operations expand.
A letter from Atty. Mateo to Gov. Yebes was also handed by Dimaculangan to Atty. Sarmiento. The letter – originally intended to be handcarried by Atty. Mateo – provides a summary of TVIRD’s socio-economic and environmental initiatives at Canatuan.
