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The Island Newsweek V1 N09

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 IBALANGIBOG SA BILOG NA MUNDO, ORAGON AN BICOLANO! KAYA TA AN RESPONSABLENG PAGMIMINA SA RAPU-RAPU!  THE   NEWSWEEK VOL. 1 NO. 9 AN INTRA-COMPANY OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RAPU-RAPU POLYMETALLIC PROJECT AUGUST 14-20, 2006 nly a few days after the mining symposium in Aquinas University of Legaspi, RRPI President Manny Agcaoili once more faced a packed auditorium, this time to students, faculty members, and representatives from the school administration of the Bicol University in Albay. He effectively presented the case of responsible mining in Rapu-Rapu. The “Forum on Mining” was sponsored and organized by the BU Graduate Student s Board headed by its adviser Dr. Myrna Lanuzo and held at the BU Amphitheater on the morn- ing of June 12, 2006. Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas, dean of the BU Graduate School (BUGS), opened the forum by stressing the importance of the university’s involvement in important events in the province. As the premiere s tate university in the Bicol Region, it has the sensitive task as catalyst for a more bal- anced view and critical understanding of the issues. The moderated open forum primarily centered on questions about the government’s role to regulate the industry and monitor the environment. Among questions asked Pres. Ag- caoili was whether the company would consider scholarship opportunities for BU students. In contrast to the black-clad students of AUL, the students of BU were mostly dressed in pink shirts. Moreover , less tension and hostility and more intellectual curiosity were exhibited by the audience. It was an illuminating experience for all the participants. After the forum, many signed up to become independent observers of the test run, taking to heart the challenge made by Mr. Ag- caoili: Get to know the project first-hand and not merely from hear-say. In addition to Pres. Agcaoili, there were three other speakers: Engr. Guillermo Molina Jr. IV of the Mines and Geoscie nces Bureau (MGB V) who talked on salient points of the 1995 mining act; Engr. Gilbert Gonzales, regional director of the Environment Management Bureau V who explained the envi- ronmental regulatory statutes on mining; and Engr. Virgilio Perdigon, vice rector of the Aquinas University of Legaspi who focused on the two spill events as the bases for the NGO’s fight for the closure of the mine.  L-R: Eng. Molina, Jr., Engr. Perdigon, Reg. Dir. Gonzales, and Pres. Agcaoili BU students listen intently to the power point presentations Streamer outside the BU Auditorium announces Forum on Mining ast Friday, 17th August 2006, Acting Presiding Judge Raul E. De Leon of the Sorsogon Regional Trial Court dismissed the Complaint, as well as the Motion to Admit Amended Com- plaint without prejudice, in a civil class action suit f iled against Lafayette Philippines Inc. and the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project. The dismissal was based on the fact that the plaintiff was unable to "issue a proper certificate of non-forum shop- ping as required by Rule 7, Section 5 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure…" The counsel for LPI was Atty. Cleofe Verzola. Composed of affected fishermen in the coastal cities of Sor- sogon, the plaintiff was represented by Atty. Gil S. Gojol. They claimed that due to the two spills that occurred in Octo- ber 2005 which resulted in mercury contamination of marine life, LPI should be penalized with damages and the court should issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) and prelimi- nary injunction. The civil case was filed on February 2006. Although LPI sympathizes with the plight of the fishermen, the case filed was baseless as the tests done by UP NSRI and UP PGH showed that the levels of mercury and heavy metals around the Albay Gulf were all within DENR stan- dards. THE BF AR test results also showed that the fish in Sorsogon and Albay are sa fe. Thus the case exposes the fish scare as a hoax and was probably due to some mis- guided elements who wanted the mine closed by spreading false reports without regard to the negative consequences that may impact on the fishing industry and consumers alike in the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon. CIVIL CASE AGAINST LPI DISMISSED!
Transcript

 

 

IBALANGIBOG SA BILOG NA MUNDO, ORAGON AN BICOLANO! KAYA TA AN RESPONSABLENG PAGMIMINA SA RAPU-RAPU!  

THE  NEWSWEEK 

VOL. 1 NO. 9 AN INTRA-COMPANY OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RAPU-RAPU POLYMETALLIC PROJECT  AUGUST 14-20, 2006 

nly a few days after the mining symposium in Aquinas

University of Legaspi, RRPI President Manny Agcaoili oncemore faced a packed auditorium, this time to students, facultymembers, and representatives from the school administrationof the Bicol University in Albay. He effectively presented thecase of responsible mining in Rapu-Rapu.

The “Forum on Mining” was sponsored and organized bythe BU Graduate Students Board headed by its adviser Dr.Myrna Lanuzo and held at the BU Amphitheater on the morn-ing of June 12, 2006. Dr. Arnulfo Mascariñas, dean of the BUGraduate School (BUGS), opened the forum by stressing theimportance of the university’s involvement in important eventsin the province. As the premiere state university in the BicolRegion, it has the sensitive task as catalyst for a more bal-anced view and critical understanding of the issues.

The moderated open forum primarily centered on questionsabout the government’s role to regulate the industry andmonitor the environment. Among questions asked Pres. Ag-caoili was whether the company would consider scholarshipopportunities for BU students.

In contrast to the black-clad students of AUL, the students ofBU were mostly dressed in pink shirts. Moreover, less tensionand hostility and more intellectual curiosity were exhibited bythe audience.

It was an illuminating experience for all the participants. Afterthe forum, many signed up to become independent observersof the test run, taking to heart the challenge made by Mr. Ag-caoili: Get to know the project first-hand and not merely fromhear-say.

In addition to Pres. Agcaoili, there were three other speakers:Engr. Guillermo Molina Jr. IV of the Mines and GeosciencesBureau (MGB V) who talked on salient points of the 1995mining act; Engr. Gilbert Gonzales, regional director of theEnvironment Management Bureau V who explained the envi-ronmental regulatory statutes on mining; and Engr. VirgilioPerdigon, vice rector of the Aquinas University of Legaspiwho focused on the two spill events as the bases for theNGO’s fight for the closure of the mine. 

L-R: Eng. Molina, Jr., Engr. Perdigon, Reg. Dir. Gonzales, and Pres. Agcaoili

BU students listen intently to the power point presentations

Streamer outside the BU Auditorium announces Forum on Mining

ast Friday, 17th August 2006, Acting Presiding Judge Raul

E. De Leon of the Sorsogon Regional Trial Court dismissedthe Complaint, as well as the Motion to Admit Amended Com-plaint without prejudice, in a civil class action suit f iled againstLafayette Philippines Inc. and the Rapu-Rapu PolymetallicProject. The dismissal was based on the fact that the plaintiffwas unable to "issue a proper certificate of non-forum shop-ping as required by Rule 7, Section 5 of the 1997 Rules ofCivil Procedure…" The counsel for LPI was Atty. CleofeVerzola.

Composed of affected fishermen in the coastal cities of Sor-sogon, the plaintiff was represented by Atty. Gil S. Gojol.They claimed that due to the two spills that occurred in Octo-ber 2005 which resulted in mercury contamination of marine

life, LPI should be penalized with damages and the courtshould issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) and prelimi-nary injunction. The civil case was filed on February 2006.

Although LPI sympathizes with the plight of the fishermen,the case filed was baseless as the tests done by UP NSRIand UP PGH showed that the levels of mercury and heavymetals around the Albay Gulf were all within DENR stan-dards. THE BFAR test results also showed that the fish inSorsogon and Albay are safe. Thus the case exposes thefish scare as a hoax and was probably due to some mis-guided  elements who wanted the mine closed by spreadingfalse reports without regard to the negative consequencesthat may impact on the fishing industry and consumers alikein the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon.

CIVIL CASE AGAINST LPI DISMISSED!

 

 

Vol. 1 No. 9 page 2 THE  NEWSWEEK August 14-20, 2006

EDITORIAL BOARD Managing Editor: Cecille Calleja  Con-

tributors: Carmelita Pacis, Gilberto Llovit, Bayani Agabin  

Production: Arnold A. Guadalupe, Kareen Asuncion  Circu-

lation: Nancy Alipar, C.A.R.E. Dept.

MAYLENE SOLIS

Staff Geologist

Geology Department

Hired: August 14, 2006

ERNIE BALONZO

Pit Technician,

Mining Department

Hired: August 9, 2006

 

Ruel Avellana Grafil

Rosalie Madraso Jamora

Roger Rodrigo Lepalam

Edilberto Villajuan Marchan

Abel Zaragoza Nepomuceno

Marie Fatima Esperon Puliran

Adrian Tabigue Robles

Ian Malejana Solomon

Edgar Saberon Velarde

!

Famous Personalities born in August:

Superman, Mussolini, Bill Clinton,Jackie Onassis, Napoleon, Madonna

Renato O. Adora

Jose Guañizo Adrao

Sharon Derramas Ang

Cherrie Lou Baza Burabod

Lawrence Conda Demorar

Noli Bernal Dupoc

Erwin Echano Ecal

Erwin Bolaños Ecal

C-Jechrist Madarcos Erodias 

JOB VACANCIES 

RAPU-RAPU POLYMETALLIC PROJECT 

Department  Position Number ofVacancies 

Sr. Mine Geologist  1 

Geology Staff  1 

Mining  Staff Mining Engineer  2 

Cadet Engineer (Dams Geotech)  1 

Materials Manage-ment 

Logistics Officer (Inventory Mngt.)  1 

CARE Sr. Info. Communication and EducationOfficer (ICE) 

CARE Officers  2 

HRAS  Recruitment & Training Officer  1 

Safety  Safety Engineer  1 

Safety Officer  2 

Cadet Safety Engineer  1 

Environment  Jr. Environment Engineer  1 

Legal Services  Manager  1 

Legal Assistant  1 

Engineering  Section Head - Design/Planning  1 

Commercial  Commercial Assistant  1 

xpectations regarding Environmental Management System (EMS) was encapsulated in the statement of Ms. Car-

melita Pacis, EMD Manager and appointed EMR, “EMS will become an everyday gourmet for all” as stressed in the

EMS Awareness Orientation to Management Staff held August 11, 2006 at the campsite’s Conference Room.

The 15 participants were acquainted with the importance of EMS in the company as one of the requirements of the

government for resumption of operations. The seminar is especially important to management staff since they will

be audited during the certification audit of ISO 14001:2004 by Certification International Philippines, Inc., the Pro-

  ject’s certifying body, as soon as the company is ready on areas of management responsibility, structure and de-

fined responsibilities, among others.

EMS implementation commenced in August 2005 with the pilot EMS awareness of some employees. To date EMS

documentation is ongoing and internal audit is scheduled on September 1-2, 2006.

EMS Seminar for Management Staff held 

    

 ! ! ! !              """"!!!!####

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