River clean up yields 4,000 kgs assorted garbage and debris

 

By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (June 7, MPF News) ---   At least 4,000 kilograms of garbage and debris were cleaned up from Vitali River near Tigtubo Bridge, some 73 kilometers east of this city, during a river clean up and tree planting drive last June 5 conducted by Atro Mining-Vitali, Inc. (AMVI) with participation from the barangay officials, academe, civic sectors, and the regional environmental management agency.

Atro Mining-Vitali, Inc. Corporate Communications Officer Antonio M. Manaytay said some 100 mining firm employees took the lead to clear the river of garbage and debris, which was followed by the planting of 200 of assorted seedlings of acacia mangium and mahogany along the riverbank.

It was the fifth river cleans up since the company signed the memorandum of agreement with the regional Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-9) and the Barangay Government of Vitali last August 15, 2012. AMVI committed itself to assist in training community leaders in solid waste management; water quality management; and mobilization of residents to implement the agency's River Environmental Management Program, Manaytay said.

Last March 21, the company conducted the fourth round of river clean up.

"This time, we focused on the area near Tigtubo Bridge to clear it from garbage from households wastes and debris," Manaytay added.

"We are fulfilling our commitment to take care of Vitali River as part of our corporate social responsibility as a responsible mining company," Manaytay also said.

Present during the river clean up were Arlene Munoz, OIC-Chief, Toxic Chemicals and Hazardous Waste Management of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-9); The Barangay Council of Vitali headed by Barangay Chairman Jose Alavar, the students from Vitali National High School; and several representatives of the civic sectors.

Ms. Munoz lauded the move of the company saying, "It is a very commendable move where the company is committed to clean the Vitali River on a regular basis."

She said EMB-9 is encouraging all businesses in the city and in the region to do the same as part of their corporate social responsibility projects.

The company was awarded 2nd place in 2012 by EMB-9 for its river clean-up program.

Manaytay said that aside from the regular river clean-up, AMVI also spearheaded the solid waste management campaign in the community. It donated to the barangay garbage bins for solid waste segregation, and conducted series of orientations to the community on how to manage their solid wastes.

He said the importance of cleaning the Vitali River and its immediate environs as "our way of preventing floods during rainy season."

Vitali is flood zone area according to the assessment by the regional Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-9) and the catch basins are narrower to hold thousands of liters of water. It has a drainage area of 211 square kilometers over a 23-kilometer stream length, he said.

The company, he said, is "doing our fair share in caring for the environment."

AMVI is an iron ore mining company. It is set to commence its development phase soon.

It has an Exclusive Mines Operating Agreement with Hard Rock Mineral Trading, Inc. (HRMTI) which grants exclusive rights to conduct mining operations within the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) area. The MPSA area has a total area of 2,077.3084 hectares located in Upper Tagpangi, Vitali, this city.