An awareness campaign was launched by the Dinapigue Mining Corporation (DMC) to explain the rationale behind the construction of a causeway by the company.
An awareness campaign was launched by the Dinapigue Mining Corporation (DMC) to explain the rationale behind the construction of a causeway by the company.
Through its Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign, DMC explained to the six barangays of Dinapigue, its Indigenous Peoples (IPs), and the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) on the pivotal role that the causeway will play in the company’s transition to full commercial operations.
The IEC) campaign, held from February 9 to 11, was implemented to avoid any confusion and misunderstanding among the residents.
Project Site OIC and Geology Manager Romulo Subong welcomed all the attendees.
Engineers Marc Francis dela Cruz, Frances Avancena, and Christian Joseph Buenviaje of the Mine Engineering Department, explained the technical aspects of the causeway construction and how it will figure in the company’s planned trial shipment.
“We aim to send a trial shipment to CBNC in Palawan and THPAL in Surigao to test the commercial viability of our ore. Once our test shipment is successful, hopefully the company can go full blast and proceed with commercial operation,” said Engr. dela Cruz.
Environmental Supervisor Lovely Soliven also explained the environmental aspects of the causeway construction.
“The project of course has environmental impacts but that is why the company has an environmental impact assessment so that we can put in place the best mitigating measures to minimize the project’s impact on the environment and to ensure that we are complying with all environmental standards,” said Soliven.
Community Relations Manager Catherine Filler and Community Relations Supervisor Maria Perpetua dela Cruz emphasized the social benefits that the communities of Dinapigue will receive which include higher IP royalties, bigger Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.
DMC, a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), expressed hope to finish the construction of the causeway project by June when the tides surrounding Dinapigue are ideal for its planned trial shipment.
A causeway is a track or railway on the upper point of an embankment across "a low, or wet place, or piece of water".
