June 11, 2020

Published by Chamber of Mines of the Philippines

 

 

Carmen Copper Corporation (Carmen Copper) and Solid Earth Development Corporation (SEDC) has realigned a total of Php17.2 million of its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) funds for relief assistance to their direct and indirect impact communities that have been affected by the COVID-19 threat. The funds were allotted for programs, projects, and activities to combat the socioeconomic effects of the pandemic in these communities.

 

Carmen Copper tapped the local barangay council of its 17 host and neighboring communities in Toledo City, as well as non-impact communities to distribute relief assistance. Through its Php16 million SDMP fund, the company provided more than 9,000 households with food packs consisting of 58,350 kilos of rice; 34,200 canned goods, and 34,200 noodles. 

 

SEDC, for its part, donated a total of Php1.2 million for COVID-19 relief assistance. The company served more than 4,300 families and 1,000 frontliners in San Fernando and Pinamungajan by providing rice, food packs, alcohol, face masks, face shields and other personal protective equipment (PPE).

 

In partnership with the city government of Toledo, Carmen Copper also distributed PPE, face masks, face shields, and medical supplies to over 3,000 frontliners.  To feed the homeless children and their families during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Cebu, Carmen Copper sent sacks of rice and other food supplies to the Abtanan Sa Kaluoy (ASK), a center that takes care of street children in Cebu City.

 

The Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB) issued a memorandum order authorizing all its regional offices to allow mining companies to re-align their total unspent Annual Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) budget for 2019 which was carried over to 2020 to assist the affected impact and non-impact communities in their respective localities during the ECQ due to COVID-19.

 

The SDMP is a five-year budgeted plan for development programs in the mining communities, which the MGB has allowed to be realigned during this pandemic in order to assist the mining companies’ host communities and neighboring barangays.

 

Carmen Copper also organized a weekly “Tabo sa Mina” (Market Day) to help local farmers sell their produce. The activity is participated in by members of company-assisted People's Organizations and Cooperatives that are affected by restrictions on public transportation and stay-at-home order due to the ECQ. 

 

During the Tabo, the farmers are provided free transportation to ferry their goods and safely sell at the mine site. 

 

To ensure the safety of employees, contractors, and its host communities, Carmen Copper and SEDC have been implementing stringent precautionary measures inside the mine camp, including the implementation of mandatory social distancing and wearing of face masks, suspension of public gatherings, and other activities non-essential to the operation. 

 

Carmen Copper employees also received health kits consisting of face masks, vitamins, rice and hygiene supplies. All workstations are provided with a steady a supply of sanitizer. The company also provided free transportation, among other measures put in place to ensure employee health and safety.

 

“This is a time to be one. This cannot be won by a single individual. Every brain, every effort from all of us are needed,” said Carmen Copper President and CEO Roy O. Deveraturda enjoining all employees and stakeholders to do their part in the fight against COVID-19.

 

“Under this most difficult time, the welfare of all the people relying on Carmen Copper provides us the inspiration to carry on,” Deveraturda said.