IBALANGIBOG SA BILOG NA MUNDO, ORAGON AN BICOLANO! KAYA TA AN RESPONSABLENG PAGMIMINA SA RAPU-RAPU!

THE NEWSWEEK
VOL. 1 NO. 17 AN INTRA-COMPANY OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RAPU-RAPU POLYMETALLIC PROJECT OCTOBER 9 - 22, 2006

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RRPI/RRMI remembered the anniversary of the “spill” A day after the onslaught of Milenyo, an inter-department
through an activity of donation to the victims of typhoon team was formed to assess the extent of damage suffered by
Milenyo. the neighboring barangays. The three departments (CARE,
Safety and HRAS) in coordination with the barangay captains
On October 11, 2006, during a simple program, the employ- found that 13 houses of RRMI/RRPI employees were totally
ees who lost their houses were given financial aid. It was the damaged in Malobago, 7 houses in Pagcolbon and 2 in Bino-
highlight of an evening of singing and renewal of the commit- sawan. Among the non-employees, 36 houses were totally
ment to the programs and policies that promote the conserva- damaged in Malobago and 6 in Pagcolbon.
tion of nature and culture of Rapu-Rapu.
Before the company’s typhoon damage assistance, the em-
Another activity dubbed “Typhoon Damage Assistance” was ployees donated used clothing. These were sent to the direct
conducted at the campsite on the 13th of October. Thirty six host barangays as relief goods. Leighton, an international
residents of Brgy. Malobago were recipients of the assistance contractor working with RRMI/RRPI, also gave canned
provided by the company. Mr. Roger Corpus, senior vice goods and rice.
president for operations, was present to supervise the distri-
bution of grocery goods and cash. Employees of RRPI/RRMI and residents of the Rapu-Rapu
island will long remember the month of October. This time,
October is marked by a calamity that rejuvenated the relation-
ship between the company and the communities. Galvanized
by time and trials brought by the “spill” last year, both parties
realized that they need to co-exist.

The recipients were grateful for the assistance. It was meant

to help them recover from the devastation. These recipients
are residents of direct host barangays: Malobago, Pagcolbon
and Binosawan.
Recipients who were not able to participate in the ceremony
also received grocery goods through their barangay captains. * )' " + $(# "# $ "
299 packs prepared by the employees themselves, containing
rice, bihon, canned goods, coffee and sugar, were entrusted The devastation brought by Milenyo is yet another reason for
to the Barangay Captains of direct host barangays for distri- RRPI/RRMI to intensify the help given to the barangays.
bution. 122 of which is for Malobago, 132 for Binosawan, and “The true effect of the typhoon will be felt two months from
45 for Pagcolbon. now,” said Mr. Ebuenga, brgy. captain of Binosawan. “The
The aid was extended even to the stakeholders in the prov- company must be allowed to fully operate in order for my
ince of Sorsogon. Vice-President for Industrial & Comm. Re- people to get jobs. Our crops are gone and there is not
lations, Joey Cubias, a Sorsogueño, facilitated the same for enough yield from the sea; the company is our only hope
said province. now.”
VOL. 1 NO. 17 page 2 THE NEWSWEEK OCTOBER 9 - 22, 2006

RRMI/RRPI’s CARE Programs under the Community Relations Department is a main prerequisite of the Philippine mining industry
The Community Relations (ComRel) Department takes care of all social Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project’s 5-Year Social Development Manage-
and community development programs, projects and activities. It in- ment Plan (or SDMP) includes the following broad sectoral programs
tends to promote and enhance the social acceptability of the mining op- and social development projects; viz:
eration amongst various stakeholders, sectors of society and communi- ECONOMIC/INFRASTRUCTURES
ties. • Village Electrification
The company’s SOCIAL LICENSE for its mining operation is estab- • Village Stairway and Pathway Construction
lished and sustained effectively through CARE (Community Actions, Re- • Improvement of Village Access Road
lations and Education). • Development of Ungay Beach
• Construction of Maypajo Trail
Previously, mining companies were only required to comply with techni- • Construction of Village Potable Water-Supply System
cal and legal requirements. There was no issue of social acceptability. • Repair of Village Multi-Purpose Hall
A new critical and equally important requirement for the industry, so • Provision of Village Transport Service Vehicle
called SOCIAL LICENSE was ushered through the enactment of Philip- EDUCATION AND TRAINING
pine Mining Act of 1995. It enshrines the new requirement which serves • Provision of Free School Bags and Supplies to All Grade School
as a milestone in Philippine mining policy. Children
• Vocational-Technical Skills Training
Social license refers to the general acceptance of the mining operation
• Support to Early Childhood Education / Village Day-Care Program
by various stakeholders, communities and other interested and affected
• Adult Literacy and Non-Formal Education
sectors. Most importantly, this level of acceptability must reflect social
• Teachers’ Training (Upgrading of Professional Teaching Compe-
acceptance of the mining project by the communities directly or indi-
tencies)
rectly affected by the operations.
• Scholarship/Educational Assistance
Among the most essential components of the Social License are: • Capability Training
1. The assurance of environmental protection of areas utilized by HEALTH AND SANITATION
the mining operations; it seeks to protect the people and environ- • Waste Management and Sanitation
ment from harm; • Provision of Sanitary Toilet for Every Home
2. The continuing enhancement and development of the environ- • Medical-Dental Mission / Medical Assistance
ment alongside with environmental protection for the greater and • Botika Sa Barangay (Village Drugstore)
continuing benefit of the people; • Village Health Workers Training
3. The guarantee of health and safety for the residents of direct and • Support to Village Health Workers (“Barefoot Paramedics”)
indirect host communities where the mining is located; • Nutrition and Supplemental Feeding (for Undernourished Under-6
4. The establishment and provision of economic (livelihood) and Children)
socio-cultural programs in host (direct and indirect) communities • Maintenance of Model Forest
with the cooperation, collaboration and participation of local govern- • Outfitting and Enhancement of Rural Health Clinics
ment units. The law mandates that the funds allocated and appropri-
ated for these socio-cultural and economic programs must be spent FOOD SECURITY, EMPLOYMENT & LIVELIHOOD
according to designated purposes. • Livelihood / Income Generating Projects
• Labor and Employment
In a nutshell, Social License, therefore, is about ensuring that the peo- • Community-Based Forest Resource Management:
ple in and around the mining areas benefit from the extraction and de- • Sloping Agricultural Land Technology/Vegetable Farming
velopment of the natural resources. That includes those who may be • Agri-Silvipasture (Goat-Raising)
indirectly affected by the mining operation. It also involves the manda- • Community-Based Coastal Resource Management:
tory protection and safeguarding of the environment: water, air, soil, • Aqua-Marine Culture
flora, fauna and habitat, among others. It also requires contribution to • Food Processing
the overall improvement of local residents’ quality of life as well as the
enhancement of the general welfare of their communities. SOCIO-CULTURAL ASSISTANCE
• Assistance to Socio-Cultural Activities
Prior to the spill incidents, 3 direct and 4 indirect host communities were • Leadership Development
the focal areas of social development programs of Rapu-Rapu Polymet- • Population Education
allic Project . Abiding with the new mining law, one percent of the mining • Crime Prevention Program
and milling costs was allocated for these communities for purposes of
delivering social, environmental, cultural and economic benefits in the CAPACITY BUILDING
form of various projects and activities. • Village Operations Support-Fund
• Training of Environmental Patrols
After October 2005, recognizing that socio-environmental impacts tran- • Assistance to Village Development Planning.
scend geographic and physical boundaries, the company, under its own
initiative expanded CARE/ComRel’s area of responsibility. That social Through its projects, CARE has been truly with the people, especially
responsibility now spans to the whole of Rapu-Rapu municipality, five those residing in the host communities, in almost every aspect of their
neighboring municipalities of Sorsogon Province and some communities lives, from their livelihood, houses, roads, electricity, water, their educa-
in mainland Albay, including the City of Legazpi. tion, food and nutrition, etc.
Hon. Quacky Bolaños, municipal councilor of Rapu-Rapu, recognizes
this attention given by the company to his constituents near the plant
premises. Grateful for its social development projects, he specifically
Congratulations to Ms. Kareen Gorobao Asun- stressed that the direct impact barangays could not have immediately
cion for passing the Licensure Examination for recovered from the typhoon without the assistance extended by the
Teachers (LET) given on August 27, 2006. Kareen is company. RRPI/RRMI cares.
an HR Staff of the of RRMI since June 2006. She is
the daughter of Malobago Brgy. Capt. Reynold Asun-
cion. A licensed teacher now, she plans to teach after
her stint in the company.

EDITORIAL BOARD Managing Editor: Cecille Calleja Contributors: Rene Cas-

tro, Ofel Ante, Jason Magdaong, Be Pacis Bicol Translation: Mcken Belgica,
Roy Cervantes Production: Arnold A. Guadalupe, Kareen Asuncion, Mcken
Belgica Circulation: Mcken Belgica, Nancy Alipar, C.A.R.E. Dept.