Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC), and Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC), recently donated P6 Million worth of rice to the Local Government Unit of Bataraza in support of the town’s fight against COVID-19.

According to RTNMC Community Relations Manager Bong Dela Rosa, the donation came from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of CBNC and RTNMC. RTNMC is a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC).

“The donation is intended to augment the initiative of Municipal Government of Bataraza in relation with the joint COVID-19 relief operations,” he said.

The two companies are grateful to be part of the local government’s effort in its fight against the contagion, dela Rosa said, forging a successful Public-Private partnership between Bataraza and mining companies.

“We are glad to be part of the continuing relief operations of the municipality led by Mayor Abe Ibba. The Mayor has given us (RTN and CBNC) the opportunity to extend helping hands to the communities which are also stakeholders of mining industry,” Dela Rosa added.

In a show of an ideal Public-Private Partnership, Mayor Abraham Ibba reported that the LGU of Bataraza also allocated P3.5 Millions of its calamity fund to supplement the P6 Million assistance from RTN and CBNC.

This brought to a total of P9.5 Million rice subsidy to be distributed to the households in Bataraza. A noble gesture in this time of health crisis.

“Mayroong LGU fund na P3.5 Million na ilalaan as supplement budget sa donasyon ng RTN at CBNC,” said Mayor Ibba.

Mayor Ibba personally expressed his appreciation for the generosity of the two companies saying that the local government targets some 23,000 households allotting 10 kilos of rice per household.

“Maraming salamat RTN at CBNC dahil ang tulong na ito ay maraming maabot. About 23,000 households sa Bataraza ang ating ma-aayudahan. Agad nating sisimulan ang distribution,” said Mayor Ibba.

The distribution of rice will be primarily spearheaded by the LGU Bataraza in collaboration with RTN and CBNC and is scheduled to immediately begin this month of July.