Woman power at TVIRD

Behind the company’s success are competent women holding positions of great responsibility

Smart and witty. Charming but strong-willed. These are just a few of the adjectives that aptly describe Danessa “Deyn” Sandiko, Mines Department Superintendent at TVI Resource Development Philippines, Inc.’s (TVIRD) copper-zinc mine in Canatuan. This miner in her late 20s holds a Mining Engineering degree from the University of the Philippines (UP), one of the country’s premier educational institutions. Malambing (Filipino for “affectionate”) and a hard worker, Deyn fits well in an industry dominated by males worldwide.

Julma Esmali-Villanueva, a true-blooded Muslim, on the other hand, is a Junior Program Officer of TVIRD’s Community Relations and Development Office (CReDO). Born and raised in a patriarchal society where women are expected to be submissive, Julma nonetheless exhibits an assertiveness that allows her to be effective in leading medical missions in far-flung barangays, and also in spearheading TVIRD’s campaign to educate women of different cultures – Subanons, Christians and Muslims alike – within the company’s host and impact communities, of their rights and obligations.

Deyn and Julma are just two of the 79 women that comprise TVIRD’s 797 total Canatuan workforce. The company, which has been operating in this Subanon community for nearly seven years now, prides itself with three women department managers out of the total 12, and with three women superintendents out of the total seven.

Conscious of the right of women to be treated as co-equals of men, providing a women-friendly work atmosphere, TVIRD has been giving deserving women within its ranks an equal opportunity to hold high-level positions in the organization.

Fe Daisy Abarquez, a chemist from Cebu who has been with the company since 2007, is at the helm of TVIRD’s Assay Laboratory and Concentrate Management Department. Her deputy is Ma. Wilhelmina Salvatus, a Chemical Engineer. Other key positions in the department are also held by women.

The Human Resource and Administration Department (HRAD), however, holds the distinction of having the greatest number of women employees: 26 out of the total 38.

At the Mines Department, where Deyn belongs, women geologists can easily be mistaken as ‘fresh out of high school’. However, Tamar Pinero and Virna Sanico have proven their mettle as competent Grade Control Geologists. They are taking the lead in field activities such as drilling, ore sample logging, pit mapping, stockpiling and ore mine segregation. They have 16 men working for them, including several heavy equipment operators, whose movements and assignments at the mine pit are orchestrated and coordinated by Tamar and Virna. The two were college friends from school days, the Negros Oriental State University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental province, where they completed their bachelors degree in Geology in 2008. Together they joined TVIRD in December 2008. “Women at our department earn the respect of the men,” Virna, 27, says. “They don’t have problems working with us. They treat us with a high degree of professionalism.”

Tamar, 26, admits that there are some aspects in their field of expertise where their male counterparts perform better, particularly in the area of exploration, simply because of the physical rigors of this activity. “Here at the mine site, however, we are at par with men,” she stresses. “We simply get the job done well.” Both Tamar and Virna are single and share a good sense of humor.

At the company’s Metallurgical Laboratory women power is also visible. Andromeda “Andy” Fernandez and Venice Onog, both 24, are Metallurgists. Apart from being competent and highly skilled, they possess both the beauty and the character that men are looking for in lifetime partners would be proud to show off to their parents. A closer scrutiny of their credentials can be intimidating to some men. Both are topnotchers in the professional licensure examinations for Metallurgical Engineers. Andy, whose beauty can easily pass for an East Asian actress, finished first place in the 2009 examinations. That year, she joined TVIRD as research metallurgist. “Patience and meticulous attention to details are just some of the best qualities that make women more effective laboratory workers than men,” the comely UP graduate herself explains. But, with a smile, quickly adds: “no offense meant.”

Venice, the charming morena beauty, meanwhile, placed fifth in the 2008 examinations. A graduate of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan City, she is a native of Isabela City, Basilan province in Mindanao. Along with Jun Omipig, also of the Metallurgical Laboratory, Venice was recently sent by TVIRD to Ontario, Canada to participate in an advanced training course on Research and development.

Not to be left out is TVIRD’s Environment Department, run by three women. The department manager, Nilda Callora, is a native of Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay who finished her degree in Chemistry at Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City. Her deputy is Geronima “Emma” Buyayo, of Ifugao indigenous peoples descent. Emma, in turn, is ably assisted by Gemma Dandana-Tolentino, a Subanon. The two are foresters who spearhead the rehabilitation and revegetation of mined-out areas of Canatuan. Callora, Buyayo and Tolentino, sometimes referred to as “The Green Triumvirate”, leads 19 men in ensuring that the impact of TVIRD’s operations on the environment are properly and adequately mitigated.

At the moment, Canatuan’s HRAD is currently being headed on an OIC capacity by Superintendent Rodanie Biadora-Francisco. Fondly called “Ms. Rhoda” by employees, this bubbly lady oversees the administration of employee benefits, hiring new employees, maintaining the housing facilities, and advancing the well-being of company personnel. Her 26 women staff members are as competent as their male counterparts.

Each of the 79 women in the TVIRD Canatuan workforce has her own story to tell about their experiences in a male dominated world. All of them, however, are proud that they belong to a company where gender equality is the norm, women are highly regarded, and the rights of all are respected. (Lullie Micabalo and Joseph Arnel Deliverio)