Bagged Platinum for Environmental Excellence and Awards on Safest Mining Operations
TVI Resource Development (Phils.) Inc. (TVIRD), local affiliate of the Canadian mining firm TVI Pacific, Inc., bested again this year other large mining companies in the country in its respective metallic category when it garnered the Safest Mining Operations award –for the second year in a row. Along with this award, the Company likewise bagged the equally prestigious Platinum Award for excellence in environmental management–the highest accolade achieved under the surface mining operations category.
Along with the major awards, the company also garnered the awards that include Safest Surface Mining Operation, Safest Mineral Processing-Concentrator category and 3rd runner up for the Best Mining Forest, metallic category given during the recently concluded Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference held in Baguio City November 16.
Among all the companies competing, only TVIRD bagged the most number in the surface metallic mining category–five awards—basing only from the performances of its lone operating minesite in Canatuan, Tabayo, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte where it has been operating inside the ancestral land of the Subanons for more than a decade. This is followed by Apex Mining Company Inc., where its Maco Gold Project got four awards.
Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano, of the Philippine Senate and guest of honor for the occasion urged mining industry leaders to be true believers since he said these are the people that will fight for what they stand for.
In his speech, Cayetano criticized the media’s negative projection of the mining industry to the public and yet encouraged the mining community to fight on. “When you are right, you can boldly fight for it. Pag tama ka, ipaglaban mo. (If you are right, you will fight for it.) You don’t have the spirit of fear. True believers persevere, they patiently examine and explain why they are right and they fight back. Fight back not by hating those who criticize, not by hating those who spread lies and false information about the industry. They fight back by loving one’s country, by loving one’s people and by loving God’s creation. Fight back by patiently correcting the false information and the lies that are being spread. Fight back by evaluating the problem, seeking to solve it by attacking its root cause and not to go from battle to battle but seek to win the war.
The senator said it is okay for him if one is anti-mining and thinks that it is inherently wrong. But he added: “prove to me that really you’re anti-mining. Stop using products that are brought about by mining. Do we have computers, cellphones and microphones if we don’t have mining?” he asked.
“TVIRD was not exempted from these criticisms from the media and the anti-mining advocates even from the beginning,” said Mateo after the Cayetano’s speech.
“The recognition we get now as the leader in responsible mining in the country will speak for our perseverance in demonstrating responsible mining becoming a benchmark in the country,” Mateo added.
It was not the first time for TVIRD to be conferred with such awards.
Last year, it received the Titanium Award for Environmental Management and the other three safety awards. It also cornered the Best Employer in the Province and in the Region awards in 2010 and 2011 by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). On Dec. 5 this year, DOLE will award to TVIRD again its 8th Gawad Kalinga Award or GKK – the DOLE Secretary’s Award of Distinction (institutional category). It is a national award given by DOLE in recognition of the outstanding achievement of establishments and individuals in terms of responding to the safety and health needs of workers, workplaces and community.
The awards are conferred yearly by the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA) to mining companies to recognize outstanding levels of dedication, initiative, and innovation in the pursuit of excellence in environmental management as mining companies explore and utilize the minerals of the country.
The scope of environmental management includes programs being implemented for the environment, development of the host and impact communities and land use improvement after the mine decommissioning.
PMIEA was officially established under Executive Order number 399 on Feb. 3, 1997 and implemented since then. This year is the 59th since it started more than 5 decades ago. (Lullie Micabalo)