By Victor Martin
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The FCF Minerals Corporation, a British-owned mining company, based in Runruno, Quezon in Nueva Vizcaya, won its third consecutive Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA), as well as two safety distinctions, during the 70th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) held at Camp John Hay in Baguio City on November 22 Nov.
FCF Minerals’ General Manager for Operations Lorne Harvey said that aside from the PMIEA, the highest award conferred by the Philippine Mine Safety and Environmental Association (PMSEA), the company also bagged the Safest Surface Mining Operation Award and the Safest Mining Operation Award, as winners.
“This award is for the men and women in our Runruno mine operation. Without their tireless dedication to excellence, none of this would have been possible,” Harvey said.
Engineer Diosdado Dimalanta, Infrastructure and Security Manager, and Lawyer Rowena Marcos, Legal and Compliance Manager, accepted the PMIEA award, during the awards night and testimonial dinner held at Camp-John Hay Trade and Cultural Center.
The PMIEA is given to mining companies that demonstrated outstanding performance in environmental management, occupational health and safety, and corporate social responsibility.
Likewise, the Safety Awards were received by the company’s safety team Engineer Maria-Rica-Xtra Arguel, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) manager; Engineer Alex Lagbas, OSH superintendent; and Engineer Tiana May Bonoy, Safety Engineer.
Harvey said the awards bestowed to FCF Minerals institutionalized the company’s zeal to go further towards outstanding levels of dedication and innovation in mining, enhancing the lives of their community while protecting and nurturing the environment.
“I would also like to make mention of the support of our community as well as our local leaders and the work that they do in conjunction with our staff to enhance the lives of our local population. Without the support of our community, we as a business would not meet the success we have today,” Harvey added.
Harvey said the FCF Minerals is also strongly committed as ever to working closely with its many stakeholder groups to continue providing significant benefits and leaving a positive and long legacy.
Meanwhile, the FCF Emergency Response Team (ERT) also clinched second place in the First Aid Competition held at the Melvin Jones Grandstand. The ERT also demonstrated their exceptional skills across multiple challenges including Fire Brigade Competition, Fire Extinguishment Event and Tug of Peace Challenge.
A local subsidiary of London based Metals Exploration, FCF Minerals has an existing financial and technical assistance agreement (FTAA) with the government to undertake the Runruno Gold-Molybdenum Project in Runruno village in Quezon town here. The project has been endorsed by the provincial board and the host town of Quezon as well as the barangay council in 2011 and started its commercial operation in 2017 after more than a decade of exploration and construction.
