Mining firms within and outside Caraga Region and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau came together to give relief assistance to victims of Super Typhoon Odette in the Provinces of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.
Scores of affected communities have reaped benefits from the relief efforts and other means of support of the Caraga mining firms and other mining firms from other regions. The much-needed assistance came in the forms of financial aid, food supplies (rice, assorted canned goods and grocery items) and packs, mineral/purified water, mosquito nets, waterproof canvas (trapal) and construction materials (GI sheets and other supplies). Mining firms have also provided lorries to ration water for domestic use to barangays and even diesel fuel for generator sets. At the same time, mining firms have provided the necessary manpower, equipment and utility vehicles to carry out rescue as well as clearing operations to remove materials obstructing the roads for faster movement of emergency responses.
The mining firms that extended relief assistance are as follows:
Agusan del Norte
• Agata Mining Ventures, Inc.
• SR Metals Inc.
Agusan del Sur
• Mindanao Mineral Processing and Refining Corporation
• Philsaga Mining Corporation
• Rosario Manobo Mining Corporation
Surigao del Norte
• Adnama Mining Resources, Inc.
• Greenstone Resources Corporation
• Hinatuan Mining Corporation
• Pacific Nickel Phils., Inc.
• Platinum Group Metals Corporation
• Silangan Mindanao Mining Company, Inc.
• Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation
• Taganito Mining Corporation
• Toronto Ventures, Inc.
Surigao del Sur
• Carrascal Nickel Corporation
• CTP Construction and Mining Corporation
• Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation
Province of Dinagat Islands
• Cagdianao Mining Corporation
• Century Peak Corporation
Maco, Compostela Valley
• Apex Mining Company Inc.
To manifest their support to the affected MGB Regional Office No. XIII employees, the MGB Central Office, MGB Regional Office No. XI and MGB Employees’ Association Region III and X Chapters sent invaluable relief assistance in the forms of financial aid and goods.
For the part of MGB Regional Office No. XIII, relief assistance was also extended to approximately 100 residents who live within the vicinity of the Office Compound through the free charging stations that were set up at the waiting shed by the guardhouse. For three separate days leading to Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, the employees particularly from the Mine Management Division prepared and cooked snacks and lunch that were distributed to around 300 people as well as 50 evacuees who took shelter in the MGB Regional Office No. XIII Training Center. In addition, the Office facilitated the distribution of relief goods courtesy of Apex Mining Company Inc. to 205 affected families in Surigao City and Province of Dinagat Islands.
Employees from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. X in Cagayan de Oro City, namely Virginia Verdejo, Cecilia Tan, Ai-Let Castro and Elvert Eludo, together with the representative of Republic Cement Mindanao, Inc. in the person of Nisa Sampaco, conducted relief operations on January 13, 2022 in Barangay Alegria, Hikdop Island, Surigao City. Relief food packs were distributed to 210 beneficiaries. This endeavor was made possible through the unspent Social Development and Management Program funds of Mining Contractors and Permit Holders in Region X, in cooperation with the Community Relations Officers and Practitioners Association in Region X and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. X. The Mining Contractors and Permit Holders that contributed to the said relief operations are as follows:
- Republic Cement Mindanao, Inc.
- Holcim Resources and Development Corporation
- Lafarge Holcim Aggregates, Inc. (Angono, Rizal)
- Ricky Crushing Plant
- ORO NQA Enterprises Corporation
- Bai Aggregates
- E & K Ventures Corporation
- Rainbird Trading and Equipment Rental
- MLE Enterprises
- Gravelden, Inc.
- Animas Bros. Construction Corporation
- Jejor’s Construction Corporation
- Epics Motors and General Merchandise
These collaborative efforts of the Caraga minerals industry, mining firms from other regions and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau affirm their support to the welfare of communities that were affected by the onslaught of Super Typhoon Odette. Communities in the three of the hardest hit areas, the Provinces of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands and Southern Leyte, bore the brunt of the calamity. Strengthened by a strong faith in God and a renewed sense of community spirit, the typhoon victims see much hope in the months to come despite the trail of destruction left by Super Typhoon Odette in at least five regions in the nation, namely Caraga, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Mimaropa.
