IBALANGIBOG SA BILOG NA MUNDO, ORAGON AN BICOLANO!
THE NEWSWEEK
VOL. 1 NO. 20 AN INTRA-COMPANY OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RAPU-RAPU POLYMETALLIC PROJECT
Search and Rescue/Retrieval Operations
RRMI/RRPI spearheaded a seven-day search and rescue/retrieval
operations in the towns of Daraga, Guinobatan, Legaspi and Sto.
Domingo a day after typhoon Reming.
It is a mission different from the miner’s usual activities but it will surely
be engraved in the history of the company, its host province and in
the minds of Albayanos.
A day after the typhoon, RRMI/RRPI managers assembled a
search and rescue team composed of 20 engineers, machine and
equipment operators from the Mining and Processing Departments.
They immediately left the camp site en route to the mainland seem-
ingly oblivious to what they’re leaving behind – a small city they
considered as second home now transformed into almost a debris
by the typhoon.
They were joined by 20-man team of Leighton
Contractors Inc., an international contractor
working with RRMI/RRPI. The combined teams
camped on a rented space on the ground floor
of MGB-V office in Bañag, Legaspi City.
On Dec. 2, four military helicopters brought the
team to Guinobatan where they recovered a to-
tal of 84 bodies in three days
In response to a looming health crisis, RRMI/RRPI led the PMSEA
and Global Medic of Canada in deploying a Rapid Response Team
(RRT) comprised of a medical unit and a water sanitation unit to
the town of Daraga.
Global Medic is a Toronto-based NGO. The team under the leadership
of Rahul Singh arrived in Legaspi on Dec. 8.
It was already a week after the onslaught of Reming and several towns
in the province lost their water system and residents had no ready ac-
cess to potable drinking water.
Traumatized and with weakened immune systems as many of the refu-
gees lost loved ones, almost all saw the destruction of their homes and
properties, and, huddled in schools and makeshift centers which serve
as evacuation centers. They become susceptible to trauma and dis-
eases, especially water-borne illnesses. Even those who opted to return
to their destroyed homes contend with the constant rain and lack of
electric power and clean drinking water.
On December 8, a week after the onslaught of the super typhoon, there
were 32 reported diarrhea cases in the city of Legaspi alone.
KAYA TA AN RESPONSABLENG PAGMIMINA SA RAPU-RAPU!
NOV. 20 - DEC. 31, 2006
S u p e r t yp h o o n R e m in g s t ru c k t h e P r o v in c e o f A l b a y
e a r l y mo r n in g o f N o ve m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 0 6 . I t wh i p p e d w i t h
c e n t e r w in d s o ve r 2 6 0 k p h w in d s w i t h a ra d i u s o f mo r e
t h a n 2 5 0 k m . Th e ma s s i v e ra i n f a l l t h a t ca m e w i t h i t
m e a su r e d a t 4 8 0 m m w i t h i n 1 2 h o u r s i s a n e q u i va l e n t
o f 4 0 y e a r s o f r a i n f a l l . I t ca u s e d t h e l a v a co l l e ct e d
a l o n g t h e s i d e s o f t h e Ma y o n d u r in g se v e ra l m o n t h s o f
v o l c a n i c e ru p t io n t o r u s h d o w n w i t h t h e f l o o d in t h e
f o r m o f m u d , sa n d , a n d b o u l d e r s , b u r y i n g s co r e s o f
v i l l a g e s a n d t o w n s a n d t h e i r p e o p l e , h o u s e s , p ro p e r t y,
a n d f ie l d s.
The team then trained their efforts to Rawis, Legazpi City on Dec. 4,
2006 where a portion of village community was swallowed by the river.
Missing students were believed to be buried under the sand and boul-
ders. A reinforcement of 10 employees of RRMI/RRPI also arrived in
Legaspi on that day.
Meanwhile, member companies of Philip-
pine Mine Safety and Environment Associa-
tion (PMSEA) from across the country in-
cluding the contractors and service provid-
ers of RRMI/RRPI also responded to the
disaster. Their aid and rescuers arrived at
the base camp on the 4th of December.
Holcim Cement sent a Medical/first aid
team of 15 members, 13 miners from Atlas
mining also arrived and 18 men from Ben-
guet mining. Regoron, a service provider of
RRMI/RRPI sent 12 rescuers, heavy equipments and service ve-
hicles which eased the operation’s mobility.
These teams have been trained and are experienced in search
and rescue/retrieval operations. They have volunteered in similar
post-disaster activities before.
Miners...P2
Operation Libreng Tubig Unumon
Global Medic with the help of RRMI/RRPI personnel set up a central
water purification system using a Noah Nomad Water Purification sys-
tem in the covered basketball court of Daraga Park.
The Nomad purifies water through using a sediment filter, followed by a
carbon filter, and finally with an ultraviolet light. It can purify a total of
144,000 liters per day. Post chlorination techniques were used to en-
sure water quality.
Global Medic and RRMI/RRPI also established 5 mobile water distribu-
tion units. Using the Noah Trekker, rescue units and bladders targeted
hard to reach areas in order to ensure access to clean drinking water.
Friends...P2
Vol. 1 No.20 THE
A local Rapid Response Team (RRT) composed of RRMI/RRPI and
MGB-V personnel was formed and trained by Canadian Global
Medic RRT on Dec. 9, 2006.
The hands-on training was conducted along with the actual purification
and distribution of water. The trainees quickly learned the techniques
and procedures of deployment, use and maintenance of the Nomad
Water Purification Unit.
The local RRT working
under the direction of
the PMSEA, would, in
the aftermath of any
local, national, or Asian
disaster, use Global
Medic gear to respond
quickly to disasters.
Additional equipment
The NoahTM Nomad Water Purification Unit
and manpower would
be deployed by Canadian Global Medic as needed. Thus, not only will
the local RRT and equipment be used for the post-Reming and Seniang
relief operations, it will also serve as a regional resource to be deployed
to surrounding areas in the event of large scale catastrophe.
In the meantime, the RRT led by RRMI/RRPI and MGB-V will be
training LGU-appointed RRT members to enable the LGUs to set up
their own Water Distribution units that will continue the operation until
such need has disappeared.
The turn-over from PMSEA RRT to LGU-RRT is expected to take place
before the end of January 2007. Nevertheless, continuous monitoring
and assistance from PMSEA RRT will be made.
RRMI/RRPI, being PMSEA’s lead agency in the region in partnership
with MGB-V, was the host company providing food and accommoda-
tions to a total of 106 rescue personnel.
They served in the areas of
Guinobatan (Maipon, Inas-
can, San Francisco) Da-
raga (Culiat, Busay, Bu-
yuan, Binitayan), Legaspi
(Padang) and Sto. Do-
mingo (Lidong). The opera-
tion went on until the 9th of
December. A total of 97
bodies were recovered. 14
of which was claimed by
relatives and 83 were bur-
Only high tide can stop the digging ied in mass graves.
People can tell that the miners not only pulled the bodies of their loved
ones from the mud. Some miners gave up their food and water rations
for the people. And others went back to the base camp without their
shovel, without their water containers, without their flashlights and oth-
ers things that they gave to the victims.
The miners will also long remember their experience, it will surely inten-
sify their concern for the welfare of the people.
Saving lives, reuniting families, restoring properties, giving hope those
who needed it most was the main reason why these miners responded
to the disaster. In unison they manifested a rare display of camaraderie.
Behind the rescuer’s determination, stamina and courage is a sacrifice
that only few would ever dare to bear. The rescuers of RRMI/RRPI also
lost their homes, their properties, and they are also worried about the
plight of their families but they put their personal concerns aside for the
sake of others.
Miners as ‘rescuers’ is definitely an understatement. They are heroes.
NEWSWEEK Nov. 20 - Dec. 31, 2006
Global Medic also trained employees of RRMI/RRPI team in the deploy-
ment, use, and maintenance of the water facility.
From the firetrucks, the water is pumped to the
portable swimming pool. This is then pumped
through a series of filters, ultraviolet light and fi-
nally dosed with aqua tabs. The purified water is
delivered to the communities in collapsible drums
which is loaded in jeeps and trucks. There were
five collapsible drums, each has the capacity of
1,000 liters. Back and forth, making three to six
trips a day, the teams were able to provide water
to the 28 barangays of seven municipalities dur-
ing the whole period of the operation. Two station-
ary water containers in Daraga park is filled with 7,000 liters everyday.
Purification tablets Aquatabs, were also distributed to ensure access to
emergency drinking water.
The local government health unit conducted a test early on in the opera-
tion to determine the quality of purified water and found that the purifica-
tion process eliminated all harmful water-borne elements.
On the 15th of Dec., after accomplishing so much in a short period of
time, the Global Medic Rapid Response Team left for Canada. RRMI/
RRPI team with the support of MGB-V took over the deployment of puri-
fied water.
Everywhere, long lines tailed the vehicles carrying purified water. The
people were so grateful for the Libreng Tubig Inumon. Some of them
offered lunch and snacks to the team members. Somebody in Daraga
also gives a pack biscuit to the team everyday as a sign of his gratitude.
But for the team, a smile or ’salamat’ is enough to enliven their tired
bodies.
The people depended on the daily supply of water. When the team
stopped the operation for their brief Christmas break the people went to
the local health office where they affected a letter requesting the team
to deliver water. Just after Christmas day, the team went back to action,
providing water until the 29th of December.
From Dec 9 to Dec 29, over 288,533 liters of purified
drinking water and over 1.8 million Aquatabs were distributed
to over 28 areas in the munici- palities of Daraga, Camalig, Oas, Sto.
Domingo, Guinobatan, Jovellar and in the city of Legaspi.
Medicines and vitamins were distributed in Daraga Park during the op-
eration. ShelMed Inc. also gave milk to the children who came along
with their parents to fetch water.
RRMI/RRPI, a resident company of the province, has always been pre-
sent to extend assistance to the people of Albay and its neighboring
communities. With the facility of Global Medic, RRMI/RRPI was able to
provide free purified drinking water to an average of 8,000 people every-
day satisfying the daily requirement of 2 liters per person per day.
This endeavor could have not been achieved without the partnership of
RRMI/RRPI and Global Medic. It really pays to have friends abroad es-
pecially when there is trouble at home.
EDITORIAL BOARD Managing Editor: Cecille Calleja Bicol Trans-
lation; Roy Cervantes, Nelson Buenafe Production: Kay Orlina,
Mcken Belgica Circulation: Mcken Belgica, Nancy Alipar, CARE
Dept.