Gold Fields gives Red Cross P1.2 M

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO
March L. Fianza

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A few months ago, some Red Cross coordinators in Benguet came to talk about how they could get funds to run their projects in their municipalities.

Around a small table in a restaurant along Session Road in Baguio City, we discussed about musical concerts, raffles, bingo, and even considered sponsoring cockfight derbies or other means that could financially support the local Red Cross.

But nothing materialized out of the initial discussions since no one came back to finalize the suggestions as earlier agreed. All of that was already out of my mind when I was informed that the Philippine Red Cross, Benguet Chapter was going to receive some P1.2 M donation from Gold Fields Philippines Inc. headed by Brett Mattison.

Indeed, the Almighty is watching, and certainly, there is always a Good Samaritan out there!

But wait. The P1.2 M check donation that was formally given to Mayor Mat Luspian and Red Cross officials by Louis Pawid Jr. and NicoLaza who represented Gold Fields in a simple turn-over ceremony, will be disbursed for Mankayan Red Cross.

Mayor Luspian said, it was best to have the donation received by the PRC Benguet Chapter, considering that downloading it to the municipal coffers may not easily prevent LGU officials and other entities from dipping their fingers into the private fund that was intended for a specific use.

The Gold Fields donation will go to the barangays of Mankayan for their Red Cross-related projects, the mining exploration company’s representative said. The donation is funded under the company’s CSR (corporate social responsibility) fund.

As a backgrounder, Gold Fields Phil. Inc. is in the picture because the company has recently embarked on mining-related activities in “golden” Mankayan.

It has entered into an agreement with Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company and Liberty Express Assets to acquire a 60% interest in the undeveloped gold-copper Far Southeast (FSE) deposit found in the Municipality of Mankayan.

Lepanto, incorporated in 1936, operated a copper mine until the late 90s when it shifted its operations to gold bullion production through its Victoria project.

It is public knowledge that Philex Mines, Benguet Corp. and other companies involved in multi-million peso mining activities operate in other municipalities in Benguet. The move by Gold Fields should be enough signal for them to do the same and give to the Red Cross.

Equally important, in a press conference last week where the P1.2 Gold Fields donation was turned over, the PRC Benguet Chapter encouraged the public, athletes and sports aficionados to join the “Million Volunteer Run” on December 4, 2011.

Former Itogon Mayor Mario Godio who now chairs PRC Benguet said the project aims to “heighten public awareness to reduce disaster risks and vulnerability of the community in the interest of saving lives.”

Aside from training and equipping Red Cross volunteers, the other objective of the project is to “build an army of 1+43 humanitarian soldiers in every barangay of the country who will respond to disasters, donate blood and alleviate human suffering.”

The project is targeting at least 44 volunteers from each of the 140 barangays in Benguet that will constitute a total of 6,160 “running blood donors” from the province.

Simultaneous running evcents consisting of volunteers wearing red shirts would be staged in certain municipalities in Benguet.

Private individuals as well as public officials are urged to sponsor participating runners in the event. The cost to sponsor a volunteer runner is P1,000.00 only. The sponsors would be recognized properly and would receive the Humanitarian Certificate from the Red Cross.
***
For years, you and I noticed that business in and around the offices of the Department of Transportation and Communications in Baguio and elsewhere in the region has not been as speedy as expected clients.

Transactions are characterized by the presence of people renewing or getting driver licenses, renewing or getting motor vehicle registrations, getting medical tests, insurance, etc.

If you were a bird in flight looking down, you would see a picture of people running and walking around, people sitting for minutes and minutes on rows of benches apparently waiting for their names to be called, and motor vehicles of all types are parked anywhere while waiting for their turn to be examined.

In short, there is no order in that particular area. Hence, the municipal council of Tuba reiterated an old resolution that requested from the DOTC an extension office to be housed in the multi-purpose gym.

Councilor Roger Kitma said, an extension office in Tuba would surely facilitate transaction, and motor vehicle owners who find it hard to go to the DOTC offices in Baguio would easily find the Tuba office accessible.

DOTC Regional Director Celina B. Claver, the Benguet provincial board and Congressman Ronald M. Cosalan have endorsed the Resolution 96-2011 to Sec. MAR Roxas, who is expected to grant the wish of Tuba.

Sec. MAR may respond positively to what is being asked for in the resolution, not because he visits Philex and Tuba every now and then, or that he is the cousin of Congressman Cosalan’s “one and only Cara,” but because MAR honestly understands the need for an extension office around Baguio.

That is also supported by Sec. 12 of the Local Govt Code which states that it “encourages the establishment of central government offices in LGUs.”

Time flies fast. Finding RD Celina B. Claver in the DOTC was not even the least of expectations I had when she, her brothers and sisters, schoolmates, barkadas and I shared glasses of spirits around the bonfires. Those times remind me that I have grown old. I wish to drop by her office one day, maybe to make up for lost time. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com