Industry permit holders help host communities, other barangays

By Jaime S. Cabag

Industry permit holders responded to the call of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to help their host communities and neighboring areas in cushioning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Responding to this call, Blue Chip Builders Incorporated, a mineral processing operator, donated 100 sacks of rice to households who have low income in Brgy. Dinginan, Roxas City last April 1, 2020.

Targeting 2,069 households, the company aims to lessen the economic impact of the Enhanced Community Quarantine imposed by the government to stop the transmission of coronavirus that caused a pandemic by helping them meet their basic need for food.

MGB-6 said in a press release that in Negros Occidental, Analucas sand and gravel permittee helped 500 residents of Brgys. Malubon, Puey, Siwahon, and Himogaan in Sagay City by giving cash and food packs.

The bureau has urged industry permit holders to re-align funds for the Social Development Management Program (SDMP) required of them and use them for the purpose.

MGB issued a memorandum on March 27, 2020 entitled “Realignment of the Social Development and Management Program’s Unutilized Funds to Support Affected Impact and Non-Impact Communities due to COVID-19.”

Other permit holders in the mining, sand, and gravel, quarry and mineral processing business realigned their SDMP funds and submitted to MGB a program that would help more communities.

This is part of the corporate social responsibility of permit holders in the mining and aggregate business as mandated by the mining law, said MGB-6. (MGB-6/PIA)