by Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY, Jan. 28 (PIA) - - After an exhaustive consultation among the Subanons in Siocon town, the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) headed by Zenaida Brigida H. Pawid has recently granted a Certification of Precondition (CP) to TVI Resource Development (Phils.) Inc., a mining firm operating in said municipality.
CP is part of the Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) requirement for a new MPSA applied for by the company. Said document was immediately forwarded to Leo Jasareno, director of the Mines and Geo-science Bureau (MGB) for his action.
NCIP has looked into the company’s track record and contributions to the host community and more specifically to the Subanons in the area.
TVIRD Vice President for Social Commitment said the company has fully complied with the requirements mandated under the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) including the conduct of consultations with the affected indigenous peoples (IPs) through community assemblies with NCIP personnel.
“This is a clear indication that the NCIP has recognized TVIRD’s good governance program for its host communities,” Subido stressed.
From 2007 to 2011, TVIRD had been conducting numerous consultations which resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Subanons and the company. During these consultations, TVIRD presented to the IPs its environmental protection and enhancement program showing the benefits they will enjoy during the exploration phase.
“We showed to the IPs that we are committed to fully support their socio-economic-cultural programs guided by the company’s four quadrants of development, namely, responsive education, health and sanitation, community support and sustainable livelihood, so the Subanons can enjoy the benefits of responsible mining,” said Subido.
To date, TVIRD has given college scholarship to 55 deserving students, 21 of whom have already finished their courses and most of them were absorbed by the company.
The company has constructed six school buildings and farm-to-market roads in the different barangays of the municipality. It also earmarks P19 million each year to maintain the roads that link Siocon to the rest of the towns and cities of Zamboanga Peninsula.
“Moreover, the company has already planted 240,000 trees as part of its reforestation and re-vegetation programs,” Subido added. (FPG/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)