A total of P 5.2 million has already been disbursed by Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) for its relief operations during the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) caused by COVID-19 pandemic.
The amount, came from its 2020 Annual Social Development and Management Program (ASDMP) funds, was used to help the Municipality of Bataraza during the ECQ.
The move of RTNMC, an operating company of Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), was in support to the Government’s Republic Act (RA) 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.”
The fund was utilized for the purchase of 1,322 sacks of rice and basic relief goods that were distributed to 10,773 Bataraza Households.
The relief operation was continued as the municipality entered a relaxed quarantine or the General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
RTNMC Community Relations Manager Bong Dela Rosa said that RTNMC as a private sector, is in full support to the government’s fight against this pandemic.
“Sa hirap ng pinagdadaanan ng ating mga kababayan dito sa Bataraza, dahil apektado rin tayo ng ECQ, kami sa RTN bilang pribadong sektor, ay nakikiisa sa ating gobyerno sa pagtulong sa pagsugpo ng pagkalat ng COVID-19. We have conducted relief operations across Bataraza to extend help to our Kababayans during this health crisis,” said Dela Rosa.
The Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) is a supposed mechanism used for the community development programs for its host and neighboring communities.
But due to the recent state of calamity declared by the government, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has issued a recent memorandum “authorizing all regional offices to allow mining companies to realign their SDMP funds to aid the affected impact and non-impact communities in their respective localities during the ECQ period.”
In a story released by the Manila Bulletin, MGB said that “The re-aligned fund should be utilized on a staggered basis like 12 to 17 percent every week”.
Furthermore, mining companies are mandated to submit weekly reports to MGB as part of the transparency and compliance. The companies’ initiatives will be published on MGB’s official website.
RTNMC is also set to donate funds to the Provincial Government of Palawan through its SDMP and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.
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