ITOGON, Benguet – Small-scale mining associations in the municipality continue to patronize Itogon Suyoc Resources, Incorporated’s (ISRI) big brother, small brother program to legitimize their operations amidst the pendency of the temporary ban on mining that was issued by former Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu way back in September 2018 following the wrath of Typhoon Ompong in the locality that resulted to deaths of hundreds of individuals and inflicted damages to millions worth of properties..
The latest group to enter into a momentum of agreement (MOA) with ISRI is the Balingway Sangilo Small-Scale Miners’ Association (BSSSMA) for the members of the group to be part of the noble program. The said group is from barangay Poblacion, one of the directly impacted barangays of the mining company.
The MOA was signed by ISRI OIC-Resident manager Dr. Eric S. Andal and BSSSMA president Lauro C. Comising during simple signing rites held recently.
Witnesses to the MOA signing were Francisco A. Tiangao,Charles Denver D. Fianza, Sixto Carino, Jr.., Roger S. Benny and Filemon B. Alliado.
Part of ISRI’s program is to provide sustainable livelihood to the residents of the host and neighboring communities where the company decided to offer the interested pocket miners group, a scheme known as the BBSB program of which ISRI will be the big brother and BSSSMA will be the small brother.
An integral part of the BBSB program is that the company will outsource to BSSSMA narrow veins of economic values that will become waste using the trackless mining extraction method as their legitimate and sustainable livelihood program.
Further, as an integral part of the BBSB, ISRI will provide continuing trainings on mine safety and operation for BSSSMA members prior to and periodically during deployment in the working areas.
Under the said program, ISRI will allow only qualified and duly registered cooperatives or associations from the community to operate under the BBSB program and it also retains the right to monitor and inspect the working areas to ensure compliance to existing mining laws, safety and environmental laws, rules and regulations.
On the other hand, BSSSMA warrants and represents that it is a qualified and an independent contractor as defined by law with respect to the performance of the services or works under the agreement and it shall have the sole and absolute supervision and control over its personnel who are its members.
Further, the group shall ensure among its members strict adherence to safety, health and security protocols promulgated by the mining company, local governments, government agencies and compliance to the established environment, quality and occupational health and safety policies.
ISRI will provide to BSSSMA various services at no cost, particularly orientation and trainings on policies, safety standards and safeguards, integrated management system policies compliance, first aid and rescue, mining laws and regulations, mining operational standards such as stopping methods, horizontal development, raising, drilling, blasting, timbering and other pertinent matters aimed at promoting responsible mining, support services such as compressed air, drilling water, and power supplies, including ventilation funds and tubing, ground support such as rock bolts and timbers as required in the working area, explosives and other essential supplies such as pipelines and drilling accessories among others.
The MOA stipulated that accounting of tonnage production shall be computed from bucket factor or 2.31 DMT (2.57 MT) less 10 percent moisture content per bucket of the ST2DLHD; In case of areas where hauling with load haul and dump unit is not applicable, tonnage computation will be based on the actual eight per sack of ore to be established. If a truck weight meter is available, tonnage computation will be based on actual weight. When stopping or production ore falls to marginal ore, payment will be converted to meterage with a flat rate of PhP960/m (no ground support). Or P1,105/m (with stull) plus 50 percent of the tonnage which is paid based on payment schedule.
Moreover, payment to BSSSMA shall be based on the results of the mid-month accomplishment of the group. All measurements with supporting documents such as maps, assay results, cost of maintenance will be consolidated and reviewed by ISRI mine engineering and planning department for the computation of the final payment and the computed final payment will be presented and confirmed by the BSSSMA before its submission to accounting and finance department for payment.
The duration of the MOA is one year subject to a periodic review by the parties every six months from is effectivity on the date both parties signed the same.
The MOA added that the group or leader is directly liable for the payment of compensation for work-related injuries or death of its members. By Dexter A. See
