BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

Visiting a London-based mining company that operates in Runruno village in Quezon town in the province of Nueva Vizcaya, one finds billboards reminding their employees of the company’s Eight Golden Rules of Safety.

James Carmichael, FCF Minerals Corporation country manager, said the company’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) department posted those billboards in the mining area to ensure their employees’ safety and remind them that it is everyone’s responsibility.

Earlier, FCF Minerals led by the OSH Department launched a training program entitled “8 Golden Rules of Safety: An Empowered Safety Program” to make employees feel empowered to take action and decide for themselves that their safety is in their own hands.

In the field of worker safety, the mining industry presents unique challenges. FCF safety officers said mine safety is achieved through the identification and minimization of hazards that include environmental and equipment-based factors.

Nowadays, they said, miners rely on a combination of safety practices and equipment to improve caution, provide warning and ensure protection from harm.

For FCF, mine safety is an ever-present concern and according to Carmichael, as mines increase in size and depth and mining companies become larger operations that include more workers, safety becomes a new challenge that has been met by the development of specialized practices and equipment.

He said these were designed specifically to provide miners with the warning and protection they need to prevent or minimize accidents.

FCF Minerals has adopted the following Eight Golden Rules of Safety:

Golden Rule 1: Fit for Duty—Do Not Carry Out a Task Under the Influence of Alcohol and Drugs and unless Fit and Able for Duty

Alcohol, drugs and medications, the impact of personal problems, and extreme fatigue can limit the ability of employees to perform their work safely and productively and can have a serious negative impact on the health and safety of the employee and others.

Employees should be in a physical, mental and emotional state which enables them to perform the essential tasks of their work assignment in a manner that is predictable and does not threaten the safety or health of oneself and a colleague.

FCF Golden Rule 2: Mobile Equipment—Do Not Operate Mobile Equipment Without Being Trained and Authorized

The use of heavy equipment on a job site is vital and necessary to the overall success of the project. However, unauthorized or unwise use of heavy equipment can result in personal injury, loss of life, or severe loss to materials needed to complete the project. Thus, in FCF Minerals, driving and operating of equipment and units must undergo first a competency assessment from our mining trainer before being allowed to drive or operate any equipment.

FCF Golden Rule 3: Working at Height—Never Work Over 1.8 meters without being Trained and Certified

Working at height refers to any work where a person could potentially fall and injure themselves. It could be from a ladder, a roof’s edge, through an opening on the floor, even a loading dock can be working at height. In the general industry, fall protection is required by DOLE-OSHC (Department of Labor and Employment- Occupational Safety and Health Center) for any height change of 6 feet or 1.8 meters.

With this, before any working at heights activity, a permit and certification must be accomplished first. This ensures that all controls are in place and that the person working at heights is fully trained and aware of the potential dangers of working at heights.

FCF Golden Rule 4: Isolation—All Equipment Shall Be Isolated Correctly with Lock and Tag Before Being Worked On

Energy sources including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other sources in machines and equipment can be hazardous to workers. During the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment, the unexpected startup or release of stored energy can result in serious injury or death to workers. Proper lockout/tagout (LOTO) practices and procedures safeguard workers from hazardous energy releases. At FCF, all workers who are handling servicing, repairs and maintenance were being trained on how to conduct proper lock-out and tag-out and they are required to always bring with them their locks and tags.

FCF Golden Rule 5: Safety Devices—Do Not Disable Any Safety Protection System or Safety Device

Safety Protection System or Safety Device provides additional workplace protection to employees when all other safety measures are applied. Training in the use of safety equipment is essential, to ensure that equipment provides as much protection as possible. When a safety protection system or devices such as fire extinguishers, emergency eyewashes and machine guarding are tampered with, modified or disabled, the risk of an accident occurrence increases.

FCF Golden Rule 6: Lifting Operations—Never Place Any Part of Your Body Under a Suspended Load

Lifting operations pose many hazards, and unsafe working practices can result in injuries, fatalities and costly damage to buildings and materials. A falling load can result in several injuries, fatalities and significant structural damage to buildings and property. Additionally, it will also lead to significant time and money costs. In FCF Minerals, walking or entering barricaded areas where lifting operations are ongoing is greatly prohibited.

FCF Golden Rule 7: Confined Spaces—Do Not Enter a Confined Space Unless Trained and Authorized

Many workers are injured and killed each year while working in confined spaces. An estimated 60 percent of the fatalities have been among the would-be rescuers. A confined space can be more hazardous than regular workspaces for many reasons. To effectively control the risks associated with working in a confined space, FCF Minerals requires that all personnel who shall be conducting confined space activities are well-trained and authorized. A gas testing is also conducted first before entering any confined spaces.

FCF Golden Rule 8: Explosives—Never Handle Explosives Unless Authorized.

Explosives are used in several industries and locations in the Philippines. In mining, explosives are the most obvious form of explosion hazard. Blasts and shots are controlled releases of chemical energy. However, the potential for the uncontrolled release of (stored) energy is also present and can be unrecognized. Unwanted events can damage equipment and infrastructure, release shrapnel and cause injury or, in the worst-case scenario, be fatal. Thus, In FCF Minerals, it is greatly important that the storage, handling and use of these explosives are strictly monitored. Employees who can only handle explosives are those authorized by our regulatory bodies such as the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Philippine National Police.

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (May 3)—The provincial government of Isabela has launched the One Isabela Covid-19 Command Center (OICCC) to address the rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the province.

Isabela Provincial Health Officer Dr. Nelson Paguirigan said the OICCC aims primarily to address an effective and prompt health referral system in the province particularly the Covid-19 patients who are under severe and critical conditions that need immediate medical attention in the hospitals.

Paguirigan has assigned hotline numbers to call when the needed information and referral is needed through the following: 09685339913 for smart subscribers and 09162812091 for globe subscribers.

The province was recently placed under general community quarantine Bubble Set-up as a measure to control the spread of the disease among Isabeleños.

The establishment of OICCC was ordered by Gov. Rodolfo Albano 3rd when he met with local chief executives and health officials of the province to address the increasing number of Covid-19 cases.

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

RAMON, Isabela (May 1)—A clean-up drive undertaken with a tree-planting surrounding their hydroelectric power plants in Isabela and Benguet were among the SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) group activities in celebrating Earth Day 2021 with the theme “Restore Our Earth.”

A renewable energy solutions provider, SNAP owns and operates the 105-megawatt (MW) Ambuklao (Bokod) and 140-MW Binga (Itogon) hydroelectric power plants in Benguet, the 388-MW Magat hydroelectric power plant on the border of Isabela and Ifugao, and the 8.5-MW Maris hydroelectric power plant in Isabela.

Last April 22, a total of only 49 volunteers, mostly on lockdown duty, contractors and local workers of Magat, Ambuklao and Binga hydroelectric power plant facilities participated.

Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) also took part in the clean-up drive in Benguet. Safety protocols were strictly observed throughout the activity.

SNAP said around 250 kilograms of mixed wastes were collected at the Magat crest in Isabela; along the Agno River Estero below the Binga powerhouse in Benguet; and other areas surrounding SNAP facilities.

The SNAP-Magat volunteers capped the day with tree-planting and gardening activities as a commemoration of Earth Day 2021. Last March 27, SNAP Group likewise switched off nonessential lights for one hour in observance of Earth Hour.

Mike Hosillos, SNAP chief corporate services officer, said the annual activities are observed consistently to signify SNAP’s support for better environmental practices as part of its overall environmental sustainability program.

“Not despite the pandemic, but precisely because of the pandemic, we continue to do as much as we can to promote not only environment-supportive practices but also develop long-term sustainability projects with our host communities,” Hosillos said.

SNAP is a joint venture of Scatec Solar and Aboitiz Power Corp. (AP). Scatec is a Norway-based leading renewable power producer that delivers affordable and clean energy worldwide.

As a long-term player, Scatec develops, builds, owns and operates solar, wind and hydropower plants and storage solutions while AP is the holding company of the Philippines-based Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation, distribution and retail electricity services.

It advances business and communities by providing reliable and ample power supply at a reasonable and competitive price, and with the least adverse effects on the environment and host communities.

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya (April 29)—Amid the nearly two years extended closure of Didipio mine operation here, OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI) continued assisting communities to combat the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and other needs related to the pandemic.

Lawyer Joan Adaci- Cattiling, OGPI president, said OGPI despite non-operation pending license renewal has provided assistance to their host and neighboring communities shelling out close to P20 million Covid-related needs since the outbreak in mid-March last year.

For 2020, Adaci-Cattiling said OGPI extended P2.1 million help to frontliners in Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela and Cagayan provinces in Region 2, including the province of Ifugao in the Cordillera region for surgical and KN95 masks, medical coveralls, alcohol and surgical globes benefitting some 18,294 individuals.

She said beneficiaries include regional, provincial and municipal hospitals; provincial and municipal health offices; the Philippine National Police, disaster risks and reduction management offices and other government agencies.

In the mining-impacted communities in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces which include 11 social development management plan (SDMP) barangays (villages) as well as non-impacted villages, OGPI provided over P6.6 million of the same assistance including rice and food packs for 20,747 households.

For 2021, Adaci-Cattiling said more than P5.7 million have also been distributed the same goods and materials to the frontliners in Kasibu (Nueva Vizcaya) municipal health office and Cabarroguis (Quirino) including rapid antigen test kits, medical gowns and washable suits.

Other Covid-related needs were also provided in the amount of P5 million to the Department of Education here such as printers, photocopying machines and bond papers for blended learning for elementary schools, high schools, senior high schools, alternative learning system and daycare centers.

GOVT FINALIZES OGPI FTAA RENEWAL

OceanaGold’s 25-year financial or technical assistance agreement (FTAA) became effective on June 20, 1994 and that its initial term expired on June 20, 2019, a year after it lodged its application for renewal.

An FTAA is a permit issued to a multinational company that will share technology and resources to explore and extract minerals in the Philippines.

Aside from Nueva Vizcaya provincial government leadership’s move to stop the company’s operation, it was also an issue of ancestral domain claim by the Bugkalot Tribe over the area where OGPI operates which was reportedly one of the reasons for the delay of its FTAA renewal.

The government finally re-started the negotiations on OceanaGold’s FTAA renewal in December 2020 after the granting of a Certification of Non-Overlap or CNO to the company by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples stating that the area of its mining operations is outside of an ancestral domain.

Earlier this week, reports said the Philippine government has already finalized the updated FTAA with OceanaGold.

Reports said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau finalized and concluded discussions on this matter and that the new FTAA now awaits the signature of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu which will be forwarded to the Office of the President for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.

According to the MGB, the deal gives the government a pre-determined share in the mining project.

THE VALLEY JOURNAL

TO ensure stable and reliable transmission services in the event of a major power disturbance or emergency, NGCP recently conducted its annual blackout simulation drill. As it did last year, the event was organized in a virtual setting as the grid operator fulfils its commitments amidst the social distancing protocols brought about by the current coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

NGCP’s System Operations personnel headed the annual exercise comprised of tabletop presentations and actual blackout simulation drills. Representatives from power generation companies, distribution utilities, and government agencies such as the Department of Energy, National Electrification Administration, and National Transmission Corporation participated in the virtual event.

The presentations for the area and regional control centers for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao were done via video conferencing and the actual blackout simulation drills were conducted a week after the virtual meetings.

“By discussing our plans and procedures with key industry players, we will be able to improve the resiliency of the grid and ensure the continuous and unhampered transmission of power in the new normal,” stated NGCP.

“This annual exercise is critical as we need to be constantly prepared for any and all challenges the grid may face. The stability of the country’s power transmission rests on the expertise of our team, and our ability to navigate through critical incidents,” emphasized the company.

Workshops included blackout scenarios occurring in different areas of the country, power system blackout restoration guidelines, and the power restoration highways. This ensures that in case of any major power disturbance or blackout due to any calamity or emergency, NGCP’s regional and area control centers, as well as the power generators, know their specific roles in restoring power in their area of responsibility.

“In spite of the constraints necessary during this time of pandemic, the purpose of this blackout drill remains the same – to help us achieve the coordination and teamwork needed among all the players in the power industry, especially during significant incident scenarios which may affect grid operations, to keep our sector running smoothly no matter the circumstance,” NGCP said.

NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders and Vice Chairman of the Board Henry Sy Jr. and Co-Vice Chairman Robert Coyiuto, Jr.

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya (April 3)—A foreign-based mine firm operating in this municipality has poured more than P26-million worth of projects as part of its share in the development of this town’s villages.

Mayor Doris Binwag said the implementation of the P26-million worth of projects from FCF Minerals Corp. in the municipality started last year.

One of the projects funded by FCF Minerals Corp. is a new covered court in Barangay Papaya, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya.

Binwag said the projects have contributed to the villagers’ having continuous livelihood despite the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

“These infrastructure projects benefited 14,438 villagers in various barangays in this town.

We cannot do it alone and we are grateful for the mining firm that has been continually funding our projects being our partner in the development and progress of our communities,” she said.

Owned by the British Metals Exploration Plc, FCF Minerals operates the Runruno Gold-Molybdenum Project (RGMP), one of the two large-scale mining projects in Nueva Vizcaya, some 280 kilometers north of Manila.

FCF Minerals operates the RGMP on a 25-year financial and technical assistance agreement with the Philippine government.

Based on the records from the municipal government, FCF Minerals has spent more than P22 million in projects with 89.91 percent physical accomplishment.

According to Binwag, these projects include the completed improvements of the farm-to-market road (FMR) in Nalubbunan village; the road in Sitio (sub-village) Cabinnuangan in Runruno village; and an irrigation canal in Sitio San Juan in Buliwao village, all in this town.

FCF Minerals also funded the hanging bridge in Maasin village; FMR project in Bonifacio village; improvements of the road in Darubba village; FMR project in Antutot village in Kasibu town; construction of multipurpose drying pavement in Calaocan and Runruno villages; basketball court in Sitio Compound in Runruno; and improvement of roads in Caliat and Maddiangat villages.

Projects funded by FC Minerals include the improvement of FMR in Sitio Atan in Antutot village; construction of a hanging bridge in Sitio Ubon in Papaya village; and continuation of the FMR project in Don Mariano Perez village in Diffun town in the neighboring Quirino province.

Binwag said these projects have been funded and implemented through the FCF Minerals Social Development Management Plan under the mine’s firm’s FTAA.

BY BENJAMIN MOSES M. EBREO

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (April 22)—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) recently linked the teachers and students of two schools in the upland town of Ambaguio to various science and information web.

Through the Science and Technology (S&T) Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated Kiosk Stations (Starbooks), two sets of computers with installed science and technology information were distributed and set up in Ambaguio Central School (ACS) and Ambaguio High School (AHS) both in Barangay Poblacion of Ambaguio.

With the Starbooks, schoolers and teachers of both schools can now have access to the vast scientific information available on the system without an internet connection.

“We are grateful for this project. This will surely help our schoolers and teachers in their quest for better learning especially this time of the pandemic,” Lucia Balahiw, ACS principal said.

The Starbooks project was set up by the DOST in partnership with LGU officials to address science and technology research in the absence of internet connectivity in Ambaguio town, one of Nueva Vizcaya’s upland towns, occupied mostly by the Kalanguya and Ikalahan tribes.

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya (April 16)—FCF Minerals Corp. in collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) conducted a sewing skills training among villagers of Barangay Runruno here.

John Babliing, Runruno village chief, said the training was spearheaded by the Runo Sewing Services (RSS), a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-registered business outfit, that supplies FCF Minerals with Calico bags and other sewing products.

A recipient of the 2018 Annual Social Development and Management Program Fund of FCF Minerals Corp, RSS is now sharing their knowledge and skills on sewing with their fellow villagers.

“The training program was an offshoot of the strengthened partnership and linkage of FCF Minerals Corporation with TESDA which seeks to achieve sustainable livelihood program by empowering the beneficiaries through capacity building,” Babliing said.

Under the scholarship program of TESDA, the training is a community-based skills training on Dressmaking National Certificate II or NCII.

“We are so grateful for the training of our 20 villagers to become skillfully empowered to earn a living during the pandemic and when people have difficulty to move around for their needs,” Babliing said.

He said the Runruno Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative also gave support and assistance to the training through their Cooperative Community Service Program.

“The training is a big help for us because our villagers need livelihood activities to support their families,” Babliing added.

Hedcor Inc., a leading run-of-river hydropower company in the Philippines, has appealed to a tribe group in Bakun town in Benguet to support the company in processing their certification precondition for the renewal of the operation of power plants in their locality.

In a statement, Hedcor said it would like to continue to be Bakun’s partner for progress over the long term and appealed to Bakun Indigenous Tribe Organization (BITO) leaders for support so it can commence the benefit-sharing as stipulated in its memorandum of agreement (MoA).

Hedcor noted it has been in the community for 30 years and was saddened by the turn of events when BITO issued a resolution of nonconsent to operate for their plants in Bakun town.

The company explained it went through a process that is time-tested and it involves securing the consent of the entire indigenous community in Bakun.

“From 2017, we, together with the BITO, and guided by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, have gone through a successful free prior and informed consent process, which resulted in the issuance of the certificate of consent, and consequently, a signed FPIC MoA in October 2019,” the company said.

However, Hedcor admitted the BITO resolution was triggered by the petition for certiorari that it had to file with the court to protect its plants from being unduly shut down.

“We hope that the community understands that the company has been left with no choice but to file the petition, given the threat to shut down our operations by March 31, 2021, issued by the municipality while negotiations are still ongoing for a new voluntary share MoA with the local government unit of Bakun,” the company said.

Hedcor also reiterated its firm position that the negotiations for a new commercial MoA for additional shares are not a requirement for a business permit, and this has been supported in the opinions issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“In the spirit of fairness, we find that a free and reasonable commercial negotiation is not possible with the undue threat to our operations brought about by the withholding of our business permit,” it said.

“We hope that the Bakun LGU (local government unit) will grant the renewal of our business permit to continue our operation and sustain our relationship with the best interest of the entire Bakun community during this pandemic,” the company said.

Hedcor said it remains committed to supporting the Bakun community the same way it is providing its other host communities across the country with benefits that are reasonable and sustainable.

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya (April 16)—FCF Minerals Corp. in collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) sponsored a sewing skills training among villagers of Barangay Runruno here.

John Babliing, Runruno village chief, said the training was spearheaded by the Runo Sewing Services (RSS), a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-registered business outfit, that supplies FCF Minerals with Calico bags and other sewing products.

A recipient of the 2018 Annual Social Development and Management Program Fund of FCF Minerals Corp, RSS is now sharing their knowledge and skills on sewing with their fellow villagers.

“The training program was an offshoot of the strengthened partnership and linkage of FCF Minerals Corporation with TESDA which seeks to achieve sustainable livelihood program by empowering the beneficiaries through capacity building,” Babliing said.

Under the scholarship program of TESDA, the training is a community-based skills training on Dressmaking National Certificate II or NCII.

“We are so grateful for the training of our 20 villagers to become skillfully empowered to earn a living during the pandemic and when people have difficulty to move around for their needs,” Babliing said.

He said the Runruno Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative also gave support and assistance to the training through their Cooperative Community Service Program.

“The training is a big help for us because our villagers need livelihood activities to support their families,” Babliing added.