Itogon mines uses P70.5-M for projects

ITOGON, Benguet -- Sangilo and Suyoc mines of the Itogon Suyoc Resources Inc. (ISRI) spent more than P70.5 million for the company's social development and management program projects for its host and neighboring communities last year.
    ISRI the past years undertook community activities/services like financial assistance for health concerns, facilities and medical professionals, access and support to local schools, livelihood programs for residents, assistance to socio-cultural activities, and assistance to infrastructure development and facilities improvement.
    Among its community development initiatives in 2022 were financial assistance/sponsorship to community activities like barangay fiesta and IP celebration, various donations to organizations of senior citizens, various electrical supplies and trash bins for various elementary schools, and road signages to Barangay Virac.
    ISRI projects included sustainable environmental management and protection campaigns like reforestation, TSF raising and enhancement project, slope stabilization, regular road backfilling and grading, regular water sampling, construction of filtration and settling pond at L1300 drain tunnel, cleanup of Ambalanga River, hauling/treatment of residual and hazardous waste, implementation of stack emission test, ambient air quality monitoring, and work environment monitoring.
    Some of the plant species ISRI propagates in its nursery are the Benguet Pine, coffee, rain trees, rambutan, avocado and other flowering and ornamental plants, with 3,011 seedlings of Benguet pine, coffee and bamboo donated to several reforestation programs in 2022.

ISRI also collaborated with small-scale miners through its Big Brother Small Brother (BBSB) program. Under this scheme, ISRI's partner organization (usually a cooperative/association of small-scale miners) mines in designated areas within ISRI's tenements, with small miners also undergoing ISRI's standard miners' underground orientation, including safety, security and ISO compliance.

In 2022, ISRI renewed its agreement with the Dalicno Small Scale Miners Association (DaSSMA). Under the BBSB, ISRI remitted P20,594,388 to DaSMMA in 2022.

In 2022, Suyoc Mine's community development programs included providing financial assistance to health facilities/workers, subsidizing the day care worker for the educational support programs, and promoting organic farming and composting. During the two-year exploration period, it spent an additional P788,000 on top of the CDP as part of its corporate social responsibility to its host barangays and neighboring communities, including the Municipality of Mankayan.

At the Suyoc mine site, the environmental work programs focused on land resources and hydrology, and water quality management. Suyoc Mine's nursery propagated pine trees and coffee seedlings for planting in its tenements and donation to local communities. It adopted a reforestation site in Sitio Elizabeth (7 hectares) planted with pine and guava trees.