Philex employees plant trees for cancer patients

By Thet Mesias

TUBA, Benguet -- Employees of Philex Mining Corp. at its Padcal Mine, in this province, have initiated a fund-raising campaign for the benefit of cancer-afflicted co-employees and their dependents while protecting the environment.

Dubbed “The Healing Trees: Plant Trees, Fight the C’s,” the project accepts donations in exchange for seedlings, which will then be planted by the employees themselves at the vicinity of the mine camp in Tuba, Benguet.  

“A donation of P200 is equivalent to one seedling,” explained Rosalyn Dahilan, finance manager of Philex Mining’s Padcal Project and the brains behind the fund-raising campaign.

The funds generated from this project are given as financial assistance to cancer-stricken PMC employees, for their chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, and general care.

Funds raised have reached over half a million pesos around mid-September, benefitting 22 cancer patients, 17 of whom received their assistance late last year and, the other five, just recently. 

The said amount is equivalent to at least 2,500 seedlings, half of which have been planted in areas identified for reforestation while the remaining half are due for planting within the year.

Around 30 PMC employees recently planted 300 seedlings as part of the campaign and toencourage more donations.

Last year, the availability of funds further allowed granting of special medicalloans for people with chronic cases of cancer and other dreaded diseases. Loans may go as high as P100,000 per patient per year, depending on the gravity of illness.

Florence Sison, principal of Philex Mining Elementary School (PMES), is one of the five beneficiaries who recently received P25,000 as financial assistance for herradiotherapy.

“I really appreciate the program,” said Ms. Sison, who was recently diagnosed with an early stage of ovarian liposarcoma. “I used to help my companions get into this program. I’d never thought that I myself would be among the recipients.”

She said the fund is helping her finance her ongoing treatment. Sans chemotherapy, Ms. Sison underwent radiotherapy for 30 days, a CT scan, and abdominal and ovarian ultrasound. She is scheduled to undergo cystoscopy starting from October—which is needed every two years for monitoring.

Dahilan said that Philex Mining employees who have volunteered for this campaign are exploring other avenues to raise funds to sustain the program.