300 mining engineers vow promotion of responsible mining, sustainable development

by Joyce M. Mejillano

LEGAZPI CITY, July 15 (PIA) -- Some 300 mining engineers and members of Association of Mining Engineers of the Philippines from different parts of the country convened here recently for a three-day confab.

The convention forms part of the sector's regular assembly and campaign to promote responsible mining and sustainable development.

The activity started Wednesday, July 13, with sports competition like bowling, lawn and table tennis and golf.

During the program proper Thursday, several topics confronting the mining industry were discussed followed by open forum.

Sulpicio Bernardo of Filmera Resources Corporation expounded on the “Masbate Gold Project to Aroroy” Towards Developing Sustainable Communities” while Rocky Dimaculangan of TVI Resource development Inc. and Coalition for Responsible Mining in Mindanao tackled the topic “Communicating to Stockholders-The TVI Model”. Roy Antonio of Sagittarius Mines, Inc. talked about the SMI experience in addressing local interventions in their mining projects.

Artemio Desini, Chairman and Director of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines discussed the topic “Philippine Mining—How the People See It What it Really Is”.

Carmelita Pacis of Rapu-Rapu minerals also tackled the best practices in environmental management of the Rapu-Rapu Polymettalic Project, while Carlito Apari, Administration and Safety Manager of Goodfound Cement Factory talked about the Palanog Cement and how it answers the cement needs of the region.

Other topics tackled during the second day of the activity were “Stability Analysis of Tailings Dam, which was delivered by Marcelo Bolano of Benguet Corporation); “Mining Assay Lab in Green Chemistry’ by Guill-Bern Corporation, ”Overview of Coal Mining Industry in the Philippines” by Redentor Morelos of Coal and Nuclear Mineral resources Development Division of the Department of Energy and the “National land Use Act”, which was discussed by Edna Berces, Chief Economic Development Specialist of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) V.

On Friday, the group will visit some big mining companies in the region like the Filmenera Mining firm in Masbate, the Rapu-Rapu Mining Project and the Palanog Cement Factory in Camalig, Albay.

Legazpi City Councilor Roly Rosal, a mining engineer himself and one of the members of the board of directors of Mining Engineers Association of the Philippines in Bicol said that one of purpose of said activity is to make sure the provisions included in the Environmental Compliance Certificate, along with responsible mining and sustainable development are properly observed by mining companies in their projects. (MAL/JMM, PIA V)

Feature:

Gawad Kalinga village in Prieto Diaz ventures on seaweed-noodles production

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, July 15 (PIA) -- One can now buy in the markets of Sorsogon province the cheap yet most nutritious noodles locally produced in Prieto Diaz town and made from seaweeds.

Imelda Romanillos, provincial field officer of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said during an interview with Philippine Information Agency (PIA) provincial office here recently that DOLE has allocated some P284,000 for the procurement of the needed equipment for the production of seaweeds noodles.

"The project will be managed and operated by the Gawad Kalinga Tarabang Village Association (GKTV) of Prieto Diaz," she said.

The project communes with President Aquino's thrusts of Poverty Reduction and Empowerment of the Poor and Vulnerable Sectors, second to his wish lists belonging to his four pillars for development.

According to Romanillos, DOLE as an instrumentality of national government leads in the provision of fund assistance in the reduction of poverty through empowering local communities to utilize and benefits from indigenous materials and promote local employment.

Seaweeds is abundant in the coastal towns of Sorsogon second congressional district including Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Barcelona, Bulusan, Matnog and Sta Magdalena.

"We are trying to coordinate and facilitate interventions by identifying our resources and how these resources and technical assistance can be maximized and harmonized for the development of employment in our rural communities," she said.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) meanwhile also provides the necessary technical assistance, DOLE for fund assistance and the Department of Agriculture-Regional Fishery Training Center (DA-RFTC) for indigenous resources identification in local communities.

Beneficiaries here of the Gawad Kalinga are also provided values formation sessions and the right knowledge in the implementation of Solid Waste Management Program aside from livelihood development.

Maynard Doluntap of DTI Sorsogon bared that the agency has assisted the GKTV in terms of capability building through entrepreneurship, organizational development, costing and pricing including product development, packaging and labeling.

Doluntap also said that in the just concluded Small and Medium Enterprise -Work on Wheels (SME-WOW) Caravan, this product has been displayed and sales were generated.

"We are proud to say that developing the nutri-noodles can also answer the problems of malnutrition in the countryside. Specially now that we are celebrating Nutrition Month, we can recommend seaweeds noodles for snacks and even as a viand, it being a rich source for iron, calcium and other minerals," Doluntap also explained.

The seaweed-noodles are now being sold in Prieto Diaz market. It is now distributed in schools and in the local stores here. Packaging comes in 100 grams which sells at P10.00 each. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

LGU Camaligan bares one year-accomplishment, implements Pinoy’s priority agenda

by Lizel S. Macatangay

CAMALIGAN, Camarines Sur, July 15 (PIA) -- Attributing his successful feats to a virtuous and upright leadership, Camaligan Mayor Emmanuel “Emman” Trinidad Prado believes that a morally outright principle should be the prevailing guiding rule for every leader.

In his “Pahayag sa Banwaan 2011”, Prado enumerated his various accomplishments in the fields of education, health, livelihood, social services, food security and poverty alleviation programs, agriculture, environment and provision of facilities to his constituents.

ON EDUCATION

Following President Benigno Aquino III’s campaign to promote quality education, Prado has initiated the granting of various scholarships to college and vocational/ technical college students, particularly in Sto.Tomas High School and distributed school supplies and books to indigent students. He has also increased the number of municipal scholars and strategically partnered with the Naga College Foundation (NCF) Educational Assistance Program to provide more opportunities to his constituents.

ON HEALTH

Under his health agenda, Prado has also directed his attention to the well-being of his people, particularly focusing on the women and children sector. He has implemented a regular feeding program for every barangay and public schools which benefited more or less 400 malnourished children. He has also rallied for the support of the Ligtas Sa Tigdas Campaign being spearheaded by the Department of Health (DOH).

Prado also strongly supported the launching of PhilHealth Sabado in his municipality, resulting to the distribution of 1,892 Philhealth cards to various individuals. This is also in support of the Aquino government’s agenda of providing social protection and safety net for the vulnerable and the poor.

He will continue to push more programs for health through the continuous implementation of the solid and liquid feeding to 56 children categorized under very low and below normal malnourished type. In the upcoming months, Prado will also lead the distribution of 400 sets of Ovicidal/Larvicidal (O/L) traps for Dengue mosquitoes and 100 rolls of Olyset nets to impede the rising case of dengue in the province.

ON TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

In recognition of its exemplary performance in internal housekeeping evident in various areas of implementing its mandate, the local government of Camaligan was among the lucky recipients of the Seal of Good Housekeeping Award granted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).Prado attributed this accomplishment to righteous governance, coupled with Good Planning, Sound Fiscal Management, Transparency and Accountability, and Valuing Performance Management. This, he said is also in compliance with President Aquino’s mandate of encouraging a complacent, credible and reliable public servants who could be role models for good and transparent governance.

The award is a pilot implementation of the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) for local government units that seek to provide incentive to local government units to align project implementation with the national government’s strategic thrusts and goals. It is being granted to all 4th, 5th and 6th Class municipalities that passed the test of good housekeeping.

This has inspired Prado to implement more projects, putting the people’s money where they ought to go. Some of his accomplishments include the finished road at Tampa-Sua, Barangay Tarosanan Riprap project, construction of 20 units of Core Shelter Housing Project, and the erection of 6 units of Shallow well pumps to provide potable and safe water to far flung areas, among others.

Prado vowed to serve his people during his remaining reign while strongly adhering to the Aquino’s crusade of Matuwid na Daan.” (PIA Camarines Sur)