Balabag and Siana ERTs geared-up to showcase their skills at the National Fire Olympics
TVIRD Balabag ERT members perform the Fire Extinguishment relay in Pagadian City. The team would go on to win the overall championship in Region IX.
Philippines / March 2023 — The TVIRD Balabag Gold-Silver Project, along with Greenstone Resources Corporation, operator of the Siana Gold Project – both wholly owned and operated by TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. – clinched their respective Regional Fire Olympic championship titles in the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) National Fire Olympics. Siana captured the top plum in Caraga, while Balabag cornered their victory in Region IX.
Competing in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur Province last February 27, the Greenstone Emergency Response Team (ERT) emerged victorious in the following Regional Fire Olympic categories: the Major Rescue and Transfer Relay event, Flammable Liquid Fire Extinguishment, and the Busted Hose and Up-the-Ladder Relay.
Meantime on March 8th, the Balabag ERT asserted their dominance as the overall champion in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur Province by winning the Fire Hose Down, Community Fire Busters, and The Blazing Showdown – Tug of War competitions of this region.
Safety as a practice
The TVIRD Group has always gone beyond expectations in its safety and health performance as well as legal compliance, as proven by its track record. With its recent wins in the BFP Regional Fire Olympics, the group has exceeded its usual best – and are now on its way to compete in the national leg.
The mindset of “safety begins with me; let’s go for ZERO accident” resonates strongly within the group and has driven its performance over the years. During the height of its nickel operations, TVIRD’s sister company, Agata Mining Ventures Inc., garnered three (3) Provincial Fire Safety Olympic crowns and was ultimately hailed as the national Fire Brigade Champion.
This mindset also extends to the group’s communities where it currently operates its gold and silver projects. To date, volunteers have been trained to respond to emergency situations and provide relief during times of crisis.
The road to the national championship
“We faced a lot of hurdles during our training and even in the competition itself, but those things did not hinder us. Instead, these challenges drove us to keep going and win the regional championship title,” TVIRD Group Safety and Health Manager Aldrin Arieta said.
Arieta also concurrently serves as the ERT coach and team manager of Greenstone and Balabag. “The teams have dedicated more than their usual best during these competitions, and we will strategize for a shot at the championship title,” he added.
The two teams will represent Region IX and Caraga at the National Fire Olympics in Baguio City this year. Despite being rivals for the national championship title, both teams maintain a high level of brotherhood within the TVIRD Group.
