BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya (October 1)—To make the youth understand more of the mining industry, the London-based FCF Minerals Corporation has sponsored a forum for students of the Runruno National High School (RNHS) on September 30.
Led by the Community Relations Office (CRO) – Information, Education and Communication (IEC) section of FCF Minerals, the Responsible Mining Forum was attended by 124 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strand students of RNHS, teachers and FCF employees.
Joining the forum was John Binay-an, Runruno barangay council member, who represented Runruno Barangay Captain John Babbli-ing.
According to FCF’s CRO-IEC, the forum which was part of the mine firm’s 3rd Quarterly Advocacy Event was anchored on the theme “Drilling Correct Information on Responsible Mining, Paving Social Acceptance to New Generation.
Rodalyn Arcebal, FCF’s CRO-IEC supervisor, said the event aims to inform, educate and establish a positive understanding and social acceptance among the youths in the hope that they will become ambassadors of responsible mining.
Arcebal said a series of presentations from the different departments of the company showcased their best practices in terms of mining operations, environmental protection and management, and social development initiatives to its impacted communities.
Meanwhile, Maya Josephine Almirol, Science Research Specialist, Region 2 Mines and Geosciences Bureau Embedded Technical Personnel of the provincial environment and natural resources office in Nueva Vizcaya, discussed salient points of the Philippine mining regulations under the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
Arcebal said a quiz bee was conducted in between and after all the discussions to make sure of information retention.