Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) honored its outstanding Sustainable Development and Management Program (SDMP) community partners recently with its first-ever Gawad Parangal.

Community relations manager Reynaldo Dela Rosa said that after 50 years, it was the first time that the RTNMC, a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), gave awards to individuals and groups that have become part of community growth through 16 years of SDMP.

“Sila naman ‘yong isang dahilan kung bakit kami nabibigyan ng award. We’re giving back ‘yong mga awards and gusto rin namin na i-recognize sila,” he said.

Dela Rosa said if the awardees did not perform and cooperate well with the company, RTNMC would not also achieve recognition from different award-giving bodies.

The Gawad Parangal was launched six months prior to the awarding day on December 18, during the stakeholders’ forum and the criteria were shown to the members of the community. The selection process underwent evaluation and community validation, focus group discussion, and nominations from barangays.

Dela Rosa said that they might add some categories in the next Gawad Parangal as they saw that there are many possible activities and individuals to be recognized.

“Marami palan puwede mabigyan ng recognition lalo na ‘yong mga nag-perform na hindi nakikita pero nandoon sila, part ng community na may malaking impluwensya. Isa itong eye opener sa amin kasi minsan nakatuon na lang kami sa implementation ng trabaho na ma-accomplish ang SDMP pero sa likod non ay may mga effort pala, grabe pala ginagawa ng community,” he said.

Dela Rosa said that the Gawad Parangal would serve as inspiration for the betterment of community’s participation.

“Sa mga nakatanggap, makikita sa kanila ‘yong apoy na magtrabaho uli, mag-perform, not really for the award but alam nila na nakakabigay din sila ng inspiration sa iba lalo na sa mga hindi nakatanggap. Meron na kami naririnig na impressions na magpi-perform sila nang mabuti. Though it is an incentive giving pero makikita natin na ‘yong impact ay napapahalagahan na,” he said.

The awardees were the following:

1. Magnum Group Award – Best Cooperative, Tarusan Farmers Producers Cooperative (TAFPCO)

2. Primus Community Leader Award, Benito Marsada, IP Category, Rafaelita Bonbon, Non-Impact Barangay Category, Nelson D. Acob, Impact Barangay Category

3. Binhi ng Kinabukasan Award, Best Barangay for Sustainable Development, Barangay Sandoval, Impact Barangay Category, Barangay Bono-Bono, Non-Impact Barangay

4. Outstanding Partners for Community Development (18 awardees)

• Muhammad Fhardi Adjimin
• Jose Roberto Serrato
• Angela Molino
• Sheryl Baurile
• Emily Lucia
• Dina Nuh
• Liezel Suprecencia
• Francisco Tablazon Jr.
• Khadafy Saari
• Riytchelle Ramos
• Elorde Mistero
• Angelo Lagrada
• Nonoy Siplan
• Adil Abdurasman
• Julkipli Samod
• Perfecto David
• Marycris Alba
• Edmundo Oghayon

Palawan News was also recognized as one of the Outstanding Partners for Community Development.