Success
Agata renews support for media partner’s annual Dugong Bombo program
Butuan City, Philippines / January 2019 – Prior to bringing its nickel lateriate DSO project on-stream in 2014, TVIRD’s Agata Mining Ventures Inc. already pledged to support the annual Dugong Bombo – a nationwide blood donation drive of media partner, Bombo Radyo. Since then, Agata and its employees have consistently supported the initiative, which has generated over 400,000 CC of donated blood across the Caraga Region in the past four years while the nationwide total has exceeded 17 million CC for the same period.
The Butuan City leg of the yearend event was held at Robinson’s Place, generating support from close to 200 successful donors, including volunteers from Agata and other organizations. Across the country it has received donations from more than 8,400 volunteers with more than 3.8 million CC (1,000 gallons) generated.
Agata is a joint venture project of TVI resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD) and MRL Nickel Philippines in Tubay, Jabonga and Santiago Municipalities in Agusan del Norte.
In line with its health and humanitarian activities, the company has consistently supported the charitable initiatives of Bombo Radyo – a leading news organization in Agusan del Norte Province broadcasting through DXBR 981 – providing a considerable life-saving donation to thousands of beneficiaries across the country.
Ongoing strong partnership
“We truly appreciate Agata’s consistency in serving the community and sharing its resources. There is truly a sense of responsibility (among) their employees who donated their blood,” said Butuan Station Manager Benjie Balansag.
Agata and Bombo Radyo have been public affairs partners even before the mining company’s operations. To date, both organizations have spearheaded and supported public health and welfare initiatives that have benefitted various publics in the Caraga Region.
Prior to this year’s Dugong Bombo, Agata department heads enjoined staff to take a pre-screening test as part of the company’s health monitoring activities. The test results omitted those with high-blood pressure, lack of sleep, menstrual periods, recent foreign travel, scheduled flights within the past 24 hours and physically-demanding work.
This year another bloodletting activity conducted at the Agata mine site in partnership with the Philippine National Red Cross brings the company’s cumulative donation to over 90,000 CC since 2015.
In addition to the blood donation drive, Agata likewise plays an active role in the annual Bombo Medico – the largest humanitarian mission in Caraga that provides medical care to over 3,000 beneficiaries in the region. The mission provides free physical and optical check-ups, eyeglasses, dental consultations and extractions, and even circumcisions and cyst removals.
Bloodline
Agata supports successful multi-sectoral partnerships such as its collaboration with the Rotary Club, the local government unit and the Philippine National Red Cross, which acknowledged the company among its Outstanding Corporate Supporters for consistently contributing to its various activities.
The company likewise continues the TVIRD tradition of uplifting the community’s health standards through strategic programs and partnerships with key organizations.
At the height of its operations, TVIRD conducted several blood donation activities in partnership with the Red Cross, earning the recognition of being the organization’s leading supporter in the Zamboanga Peninsula. Moreover, TVIRD’s Health and Sanitation Program established a 24/7 lying-in clinic operated by full-time doctors, nurses and midwives – and which received close to 14,000 consultations and admissions every year.
On its part, Agata programs under its Social Development and Management Program include the improvement of barangay health centers, increasing the supply of medicines and providing additional medical equipment for community health centers.
Agata also actively initiated medical missions and likewise supported public health-oriented activities of media partners, Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) and Mindanao Centro Daily. This year, the company draws more focus on social programs to elevate the living standards of its host communities.