The mining town of Maco, Compostela Valley is eyeing the expansion of the town’s infirmary into a hospital through Public-Private Partnership with Apex Mining Co. Inc.
This was disclosed by Mayor Alvera Veronica R. Rimando, M.D. in an interview at the sidelines of 66th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference in Baguio City on Thursday.
Organized by the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association, four-day mining confab brought together mining industry stakeholders in Baguio City, demonstrating the resiliency, strength and vibrancy of the country’s mining industry.
“We will implement the Public-Private Partnership Program for the people next year. We will have our own hospital with a 30-bed capacity and provide enhanced medical services to the people of Maco,” says Rimando, an internal medicine specialist.
Currently, the town’s infirmary clinic can only provide birthing services.
“By next year, we can provide more services and cater to more people in need of medical attention,” she said.
She said under the PPP for the People Program, Apex Mining is providing P9 million for the construction of a small hospital with a modest facility and equipment.
Rimando led stakeholders of Apex Mining during the annual Minerals Industry Parade which drew hundreds of participants representing 150 mining companies and mining support industries, equipment suppliers and contractors.
Apex Mining operates the Maco Gold Mine, a large-scale gold mine and one of the country’s top producers of the yellow metal in the country.
Apex Mining is the municipality’s top investor and source of revenue.
“Apex Mining is our top taxpayer and top jobs provider,” she said.
Apex Mining president and chief executive officer Louie Sarmiento said Maco currently employs over 2,000 employees, 75 percent of which are from Maco. “In one of the eight direct impact barangays, almost all family have one member working in the mine,” says Sarmiento.
Sarmiento, former president of PMSEA, said Maco Gold Mine enjoys the support and cooperation not only of the local government, but of the various stakeholders.
Fr. Roy Andoy of the Maco-based Immaculate Concepcion Parish said mining changed the lives of the people because of the employment and livelihood opportunities provided by mining.
“Before many people have no jobs and regular source of income. Now, people have jobs and can send their children to school,” he said.
A former small-scale miner Ryan Ropacurba, president of the Lim-aw Rural Skilled Workers’ Association, said Apex Mining provided them livelihood and training.
“As a boy, we were exposed to the danger of small-scale mining. In our community, we were all working as small-scale miner. We used to oppose Apex Mining and I am the leader of anti-mining group,” he said.
However, he said Apex and the local government reached out to the communities and came up with various programs that benefit the people, including those who used to protest against the company’s large-scale mining operation.
The group is now into hollow blocks making and are hired by Apex Mining to provide manpower support to the company, giving them decent jobs and livelihood.