GOVPH

FCF revitalizes POs’ livelihood activities

After developing a strategy called Community-Driven Sustainable Livelihood Development Program, the Livelihood team of the Community and Social Development Department (CSDD) jump-starts its plan through the conduct of livelihood suitability and training needs assessments (TNA) to 13 of the 15 organized People’s Organizations (POs) or community-based associations in Barangay Runruno last November 2015.

According to Mr. Marcelo Samaco, Livelihood Coordinator, the suitability assessment is aimed to revitalize and re-direct the livelihood activities of the associations based on their capacity to implement area availability in conformity with existing laws/ordinances, and; accessibility/availability of inputs and materials.

Results of assessment showed that there are certain gaps identified in terms of technical, product development and marketing aspects that needs to be addressed, including project management skills that have to be put in place as part of the revitalization of the livelihood programs being implemented. 

The immediate goal of the Livelihood Program is to provide the support for capital assistance in order to establish regular supply in the market and outlets.

For beneficiaries living within the centers of population convergence, micro-enterprises  like sari-sari store, vending  of dry goods and agricultural products, and eateries or restaurants are among the viable livelihood options than can be considered.

The Training Needs Analysis, on the other hand revealed a need to identify the level of technical, social and management know-how and capacities of the beneficiaries so that the appropriate training programs will be packaged for concerned beneficiaries.

Trainings will be conducted in sequential bases which can be started right after identifying the communal and individual livelihoods projects that will be implemented in 2016.

Priority training programs on livelihood and business management are now being conceptualized to be followed by technical trainings based on the kind of  livelihood projects  that the beneficiaries will have decided on.

There is also a need to conduct refresher trainings on the technical aspect of  agri-based projects,  skills training for skills-based livelihood such as dress making,  meat processing and camote chips production.

Organizational capacity building particularly on Value Orientation, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Leadership, Organizational Management, etc. will be conducted while implementing the projects.

Mr. Samaco observed that the beneficiaries have the eagerness to learn and embrace the revitalization of the livelihood programs that should result to the sustainability of the projects in the longest-term possible until they are able to govern their own affairs in a manner that should be advantageous to the greater majority of the stakeholders. 

Among the plans identified by Mr. Samaco are the following: Implement Communal and Individual livelihood/business enterprises; Strengthening the community organizations; Linkaging with various markets; Develop value addition on products, and; Accreditation with concerned government agencies to ensure sustainability and ownership of the livelihoods programs through the community associations.

UP at DOST: Magtatayo ng Modernong Planta para sa Itogon Small Scale Miners

By: Bernabe Almirol

 Isang malaking hakbang sa pag-unlad ng teknolohiya ang sinimulan ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (UP) at Kagawaran ng Agham at Teknolohiya (DOST) sa mga organisadong hanay ng maliliit na minero sa Benguet. Gamit ang natutunan sa isang pagsasaliksik ng mga mag-aaral ng UP sa planta ng OceanaGold sa minahan ng Didipio noong mga nagdaang taon, nagawa nilang idisenyo ang isang planta upang iproseso ang ginto at tanso na hindi gagamit ng nakakalasong mercury o cyanide.

 Ayon sa Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research Development (PCIERD), kasalukuyan na ang field testing ng “Integrated Gold-Copper Mineral Processing Plant” na itatayo sa Sitio Besil ngBrgy. Gumatdang, ang pinaka-gitnang bahagi ng small-scale mining operations sa bayan ng Itogon.

“Ang proyektong ito ay naglalayong solusyunan ang matagal nang problema sa paggamit ng nakakalasong cyanide at mercury sa pagproseso ng ginto at tanso,” pahayag ni Engr. Noel Imbisan ng DOST.

Napag-alaman din na ito ang unang proyekto sa bansa na naglalayong itaas ang antas ng teknolohiya sa hanay ng mga maliliit na minero sa mga minahang bayan.

"Sa pamamagitan ng bagong teknolohiyang ito na pinaunlad ng UP Diliman, mapapaunlad ng mga small-scale miners ang pagrekober ng ginto ng 80-90% at mapapangalagaan din ang kapaligiran ng mga minahan,” dagdag ni Engr. Imbisan.

Ang proyektong ito ay isang malaking “tagumpay ng responsableng pagmimina”. Nagkakahalaga ang plantang ito ng P25 milyong piso at inaasahang magsisimula ang operasyon sa ikalawang hati ng 2016.

Regional Emergency Response Team holds Basic ICS Training

By: Lyndee Rose Basilio

The Regional Emergency Response Team (RERT) headed by Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office No. II hand in hand with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Region II, OceanaGold Phils. Inc., FCF Minerals Corporation and Geogen Corporation recently held a Basic Incident Command System (ICS) Training at Valley Hotel, Alimanao Hilll, Penabalnaca, Cagayan on June 15-17, 2016.

The training was conducted to enhance the knowledge of participants on ICS as a vital tool for effective disaster response.

Engr. Mario A. Ancheta, MGB OIC Regional Director welcomed the participants which are members of RERT from the three large mining companies in the region.

“I thanked the mining companies for joining us in this endeavor. This training will help us in our Emergency Response Program in the region,  Ancheta said in his welcome address.

“We are preparing ourselves to ensure that we can save lives when a disaster hits our communities. With this, we can address the needs of the affected areas even outside Cagayan Valley region just like what we have done in Tacloban when Typhoon Yolanda slammed the city,” the Regional Director added.

The speakers during the training were Norma C. Talosig, OCD Regional Director who lectured on the foundation and legal basis of ICS; Andres Galapia, Fire Chief Inspector of Isabela Bureau Fire Protection (BFP) discussed the ICS Organization and Staffing and Incident Assessment and Management Objectives; Ronald Villa, Training Section Chief of OCD lectured about ICS facilities and Incident Resources and Resource Management; William B. Lipit of Provincial Disaster Risk Response and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Quezon Province gave a lecture about Organizing and Managing Incidents and Events, Incident and Event Planning and Transfer of Command, Demobilization and Closeout.

After a lecture per module the participants were given exercises and activities to apply what have they learned per module. Participants were also asked to submit per group an Incident Action Plan (IAP) based on the scenario given to them.

Further, the participants were tasked to perform an Operational Period Briefing to demonstrate their knowledge on ICS staff and functions.

RD Ancheta in his closing message said, “The training gave us an opportunity to capacitate ourselves to be of better help to others especially on disaster response.”

MGB participates in Environment celeb

By: Lyndee Rose Basilio

June is Environment Month!

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. II has participated in the celebration of World Environment Day and Philippine Environment Month.

In celebration of the World Environment Day, MGB RO II spearheaded the simultaneous tree planting on June 5, 2016 by the three large mining companies in the region namely: OceanaGold Phils.Inc. in Didipio, Nueva Vizcaya; FCF Minerals Corporation in Runruno, Quezon and Geogen Corporation in  Dinapigue, Isabela.

OceanaGold planted a total of 130 Mayapis (Shorea palosapis) seedlings at the back of their visitor’s centre that was damaged by the slash-and-burn farming activity of the nearby lot owner. While Geogen Corporation through the eight candidates of Bb. Dinapigue also shared their care for Mother Nature where they planted 16 Agoho del Monte seedlings at the Welcome Arc in Dinapigue, Isabela.  FCF Minerals Corp. also planted 1000 seedling with various species of Mahogany, Rain Tree and Acacia along the riverbank of the company’s accommodation and administration facility.

The simultaneous tree planting by the mining companies was in compliance with the directive of Bureau Director Leo L. Jasareno as part of the celebration of the World Environment Day and Philippine Environment Month. 

 A photo exhibit by FCF Minerals Corporation and Geogen Corporation was also situated in MGB Regional Office that showcased the environmental protection measures being practiced by the mining companies. The photo exhibit was displayed for the whole month of June 2016 as part of the celebration of Philippine Environment Month.

RD Mario A. Ancheta likewise encouraged his staff to support environment-friendly materials to help save human nature.

“We should continue to support “Go green” slogan and take the initiative to be mindful of our environment for the future generations,” RD Ancheta said in one his interviews with the media.

With this year’s theme: “Green Economy: Does It Include You?”the Philippine’s celebration of Philippine Environment Month was declared by then President Corazon Aquino’s Proclamation No. 237 on April 4, 1988, declaring the month of June as the Philippine Environment Month not only to give time towards environment protection. But also “as a gesture of the country’s support to the cause of enhancing world ecology and as recognition of the imperative need to instil environmental awareness and concern among various sectors of the Philippine society.

On the other hand, FCF Minerals Corporation celebrated the Environment Month on June 16 through tree planting activity that was held at Brgy. Mauan, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya. The event was participated by the Community and Social Development Division (CSDD), hand in hand with Provincial Environment and Natural Resources  Office (PENRO) of Nueva Vizcaya headed by Forester Marlon C. Agnar and Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) of Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya headed by For. Constante L. Espiritu. Also, in celebration of the environment month, the company donated a total of 2500 seedlings to DENR-PENRO of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

A coastal cleanup was also conducted by Geogen Corporation as a sign of their concern to the Mother Earth where 240 kilos of residual wastes were gathered. The coastal cleanup was headed by Dr. Elmer Billedo, Project Manager.

As part of their initiative in raising awareness to protect the environment, OceanaGold Phils. Inc., also took part in celebration of the World Oceans Day on June 8, 2016 where they initiated An Annual Ecological Assessment and Biodiversity Monitoring in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems hand in hand with University of Philippines Los Banos Foundation Incorporated (UPLBFI), Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) and Quirino State University (QSU). The assessment was aimed to monitor the biological ecology of the riverine in the area. Also being initiated by the company was the search for best practice in river management in Didipio and Addalam River in partnership with International River Foundation (IRF).