The pandemic has brought many changes in our lives, but one thing remains constant: the initiative to help is inherent in the brightest of individuals.
Platinum Group Metals Corporation (PGMC), a mining company focused on the production of platinum and palladium, is also keen on serving the communities, especially amid the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In fact, PGMC provided P6.65 million in assistance to its partner communities through its #PGMCCares Corporate Responsibility Program as part of its overall #MineResponsibility.
The towns of Cagdianao and Hayanggabon in Surigao del Norte were given P4.97-M and P1.683-M worth of relief goods and health essentials, respectively.
These included rice, canned goods, noodles, as well as facemasks, alcohol, thermal scanners, PPEs, and disinfectants to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.
PGMC also gave assistance to the non-mining barangays of Claver, amounting to P1.27-M, while their Food Security Project provided aid to all 12 Barangays in Claver and selected municipalities in SDN (Sison, Gigaquit, Surigao City, Tubod, Mainit, San Francisco/Anao-aon and Socorro), benefitting a total of 3,332 families.
"We are truly grateful to PGMC. This is really a big help to us. Saludo po kami sa inyo!" said Mayor Karissa Fetalvero-Paronia of Sison, Surigao del Norte.
Medical Supplies and Test Kits Assistance were also provided by PGMC as part of a P1.39-M project to help in the fight against COVID-19.
Beneficiaries included the CARAGA Regional Hospital, Surigao del Norte Provincial Hospital, Surigao City Health Office and Claver Rural Health Unit. A total of 6,000 RAT Kits and Personal Protective Equipment, as well as boxes of surgical masks, protective suits and goggles were given to the respective health facilities.
“Thanks, PGMC for donating testing kits for the provincial hospital of Surigao del Norte. This is a big boost to help the province combat COVID-19 and to ensure there would be minimal to no local transmission," said Dr. Crismar Mocorro of the Surigao del Norte provincial Hospital.
The company's P31-M COVID assistance program includes P18-M from SDMP, P4-M from CSR, and P9-M from EPEP, while P12-M or 32% of their total COVID assistance is for their Food Security Program, lauded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as "one of a kind."
