BAGUIO CITY – Philex Mining Corporation (PMC) signed the 5-Year Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with its two host and three neighboring communities on January 20, 2023 at the Pines View Hotel, Baguio City to the tune of P371,925,000 in SDMP for CY 2023-2027.
The mining operation located in Padcal, Tuba, Benguet is hosted by the communities of Ampucao in Itogon and the communities of Camp 3, in Tuba. Three adjacent communities, Dalupirip, Camp 1 and Ansagan, will also receive SDMP from PMC.
For the next 5 years, PMC targets to accomplish the following: 72 responders trained annually on community-based emergency response training; 140 barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars and 5 midwives shall be trained annually to improve the delivery of health services while 15 associations and 5 cooperatives will also train towards sustainable livelihood programs.
Moreover 1,050 patients shall be accommodated yearly at the Sto. Nino Hospital of the company for various consultations/admissions, provision of medicines and laboratory testing including dental check-ups. Improvement/construction of 26 public buildings/facilities including the concreting of a total of 15.2 km farm-to-market roads; electrification project of 630 households with the provision of secondary lines and household wirings; 16 water systems development; improvement/development of 10 footbridges at 350 km and 3.8 km pathways; installation of 7 units agricultural tramlines with a total of 2.1 km; and vehicles in support to implementation of public infrastructure projects and public services for barangays Ampucao and Ansagan.
The most funded program in the 5-Year SDMP is the education program with a total budget of P150,329,161.14. It supports college scholarship of 556 students; 880 junior and senior high school scholars; 240 students from outlying sitios in subsidized elementary and secondary education enrolled inside the mine camp; 24 elementary schools, 8 high schools and 18 child development centers will be provided of ICT equipment and support in other school activities benefitting more or less 4,077 students.
Forty-three associations and six (6) cooperatives shall benefit with the financial and technical assistance to sustain the livelihood projects; and infrastructure development and training programs to the eco-tourism development of the municipalities of Itogon and Tuba enhancing the economic activities of their communities.
Under the program, respect and preservation of cultural values, the “Binadang System” is being sustained thru bereavement assistance to the indigent members of the community.
Assistance to 42 churches, 5 schools and 5 barangays on activities towards the promotion of social and cultural awareness and preservation are slated for the next SDMP.
With the presentation of the 5-Year SDMP, the barangay governments of Ampucao, Camp 3, Dalupirip, Camp 1 and Ansagan hope that the 5th 5-Year SDMP should not be the last with PMC’s declaration that their mine life extended to 2027 will commence the implementation of their Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Plan. However, with the company’s continuous exploration for mineable orebodies, economic activities in the area thru employment of locals and SDMP implementation will help improve the quality of life in the communities.
The invited guests/officials from the province of Benguet, represented by vice governor Erickson Felipe, the municipalities of Itogon represented by the chief of staff Gerardo Cornel and Tuba represented by councilor Atty. Nestor Baban, and the MGB-CAR regional director Fay W. Apil served as witnesses to the 5-Year SDMP MOA signing.
The LGU officials expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the PMC which shares 75% of the 1.5% from its Annual Operating Cost to fund the development of the host and neighboring communities of its mining operations. By Amy N. Ramos
