Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) has offered to open its mine site to the visits of national legislators to showcase its “responsible mining” operations.
This developed after Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza’s visit on September 14-15 to personally see the RTNMC’s rehabilitation efforts of the areas it has mined-out, said community relations and Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) supervisor Venice Teressa Guian.
Guian said lawmakers can personally visit RTNMC and Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC) to personally witness how both operate.
“Mahalaga ‘yong [pagbisita nila] kasi may say sila. Puwede niya i-share sa mga kapwa niya congressman or even hindi niya kasama, kung ano man ang mga na-experience niya given sa photos na nakuha ng group nila. It’s proof na kaya pala ‘yong responsible mining. So sa dami ng lawmakers natin, napakahalaga na malaman nila na may existing responsible mining sa Pilipinas,” she said.
Along with Rep. Mendoza were Michael Democrito Mendoza, his twin brother, and TUCP party-list president, Cecilio Seno, Jr and Gerard Seno, TUCP consultant.
Guian said Mendoza visited the RTNMC after talking with one of Nickel Asia Corporation'(NAC) admin officers and got interested to see if there are mined-out rehabilitation programs in the country that is similar to what he saw during a recent visit to Germany.
Guian said Rep. Mendoza and his party were impressed by what they saw, claiming if funds out of mining operations will be allocated properly, there will be better results in the rehab of mined-out areas.
She said Rep. Mendoza only favors mining if it is operating responsibly.
“Importante rin kasi alam natin na maraming politician sa congress kasi dyan pinag-uusapan ang batas, mahalaga na aware sila na mayroong existing na responsible mining. Actually nong tinanong ko sya kung anong stand nya sa mining, sabi niya na ‘I am for responsible mining, period’. Walang pro o anti basta responsible mining,” she said.
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