Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC) manifests its continuing support to the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” as more barangay LGUs and Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) continue to receive SDMP assistance amid COVID-19 pandemic. This was disclosed by its Community Relations Manager, Mr. Ernesto A. Llacuna.
“No amount could equate the hardship that our fellow Palaweños are enduring at this time. We just hope that CBNC through our SDMP and CSR funds could somehow alleviate the difficulty they are going through,” said Llacuna.
MGB on March issued a memorandum allowing mining companies to use their unutilized SDMP fund to aid the affected impact and non-impact communities during the enhanced community quarantine period due to COVID-19.
Based on CBNC’s Bayanihan Weekly Report dated May 5, 2020 submitted to Mines & Geoscience Bureau (MGB), P 33.5 million has been expended so far by CBNC to address food shortage and hygiene and sanitation supplies needed in Bataraza. A total of 58,960 households and 188 frontliners have benefitted from this amount. Included in this amount were the relief goods donation given to the neighboring island municipality of Balabac and PPEs for the frontliners of Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital (SPPH) at Brooke’s Point and some other hospitals in Palawan through the “Tabang Palawan Laban sa COVID-19” campaign of UP Alumni Association – Palawan Chapter. Also included was the P 23.8 million aid to the province of Palawan for the purchase of rice that would benefit around 38,000 households in several parts of Palawan.
CBNC as an export-oriented establishment is exempted and allowed to operate during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period following stringent social distancing, wearing of face mask, and implementation of skeletal workforce, among others. CBNC employs more than 600 employees, which follow health protocols and standards in relation to the containment of COVID-19. Employees are provided with PPE, hygiene and sanitation supplies and vitamins more than the usual assistance and benefits given by the company.
Meanwhile, in a press release by MGB-MIMAROPA dated May 7, five mining companies in Palawan have disbursed a total of P 50.6 million pesos from their Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) fund to purchase rice, food packs, personal protective equipment and medical supplies, which were given out to around 101,939 households at 753 frontliners in the whole of Palawan as part of their effort to support the government’s “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act”.
Out of the 50.6 million, CBNC’s share was P 33.5 million pesos or 66% of the total amount. It benefitted 58,960 households and 118 frontliners from its impact and non-impact barangays.