Amidst the pandemic, Agata distributes vitamins, water equipment and sanitation fixtures
Santiago, Agusan del Norte / September 2020 – Further strengthening its commitment to develop resilient and future-ready communities, Agata Mining Ventures Inc. (AMVI) continues to roll-out projects for its beneficiary communities, notwithstanding the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Agata recently turned over more than P100,000 worth of vitamins, sanitation (bathroom) fixtures and water metric systems to Barangays Tagbuyacan and La Paz in host Santiago Municipality through its Development for Host and Neighboring Communities (DHNC) program – a component of its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP), which aims to help the communities achieve holistic social development through education, livelihood, health, infrastructure and sociocultural services and initiatives.
This year, the company has earmarked over P11.5 million for its DHNC program and its components, including Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and Development of Mining Technology and Geosciences (DMTG).
Delivering on commitment
Since 2014, the company has been operating the Agata Nickel Project, which spans the adjacent municipalities of Tubay, Jabonga and Santiago of this province. The recent handover aims to address the public health needs of both barangays as well as the proper distribution of running water and overall sanitation among its residents.
“Agata has been helping and supporting us for a long time, and overall, the community definitely agrees that the company has provided many benefits,” expressed La Paz Barangay Councilor Rudy Cebrian.
Despite the vast challenges brought by the current pandemic, Agata continues to ensure that its communities still receive benefits and development provisions as earlier committed.
Holistic development
In previous years, Agata provided financial support and school supplies to scholars, conducted medical relief operations, provided health care equipment, and supported the development of social enterprise through its SDMP.
It has also provided infrastructures that are essential to the communities’ development: water systems, places of worship, day care centers, facilities for the elderly, evacuation facilities, streetlights as well as farm-related infrastructures for its beneficiary communities.
Inclusive benefits
Particularly for its indigenous hosts, the company rolled-out its Community Royalty Development Plan (CRDP) for the Mamanwa Tribe. The CRDP has already yielded long-term income generating projects, including the establishment of Falcata, Abaca and Cacao plantations as well as the commercial production of organic fertilizers, peanuts, corn, livestock and community (Sari-Sari) stores.
To date, the company has released a total of Php107 million in royalties to its indigenous hosts.
The successful implementation of Agata’s SDMP underscores its philosophy of Starting it right and keeping the end in mind. These future-oriented values further ensure that communities will continue to thrive beyond the life of the mine – and that their towns will continue to prosper long after the mining project is concluded.
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