In addressing the health and livelihood impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Eramen Minerals, Inc. (EMI), a responsible mining company led by professionals committed to the highest standards of corporate citizenship and environmental sustainability through an active partnership with its stakeholders, service providers, and its host community, is joining forces with the local government and communities to reach out to vulnerable groups, including front-liners and indigent families.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first quarter of the year 2020 has resulted in a significant loss of human life and poses an unprecedented risk to public health, food systems, and the workplace. It put the Philippines in a difficult situation, where many front-liners such as medical workers, armed personnel, and barangay workers face a severe threat to their lives.

Intending to serve front-liners who need more help in times of crisis, EMI planned COVID-19 Response activities, pursuant to Philippines Republic Act No. 11469, also known as the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, where the company provided necessary food assistance and medical equipment to its host and neighboring communities.

The first week of EMI’s COVID-19 response started on March 22, 2020, where a total of Php 20,140.00 was spent to provide the COVID-19 front liners (Doctors, Nurses, BHW, PNP, and Barangay Tanod) of different Barangays of the town of Sta. Cruz, Zambales with food assistance, personal protective equipment, reflective vests, and alcohol. EMI’s efforts and dedication in performing its responsibilities to battle the pandemic have served 1,100 frontline individuals. This assistance provided by EMI has been a huge help for the COVID-19 front-liners in fulfilling their dangerous duties safely.

EMI values the health and safety of the people, especially the COVID-19 front-liners who risk their lives for the safety of the community. To show its gratitude and thankfulness for their sacrifice and hard work, in the second week of EMI’s COVID-19 response, which started on April 03, 2020, a total of Php 45,600.00 worth of relief goods and health kits, including washable face mask and alcohol spray, were donated. A sum of 515 beneficiaries, including the MDRRMO of Sta. Cruz, Zambales, and front-liners of different Barangays, received the said assistance.

EMI continued its efforts on the third week by wholeheartedly providing relief goods, free meals, and snacks to the front-liners and the people of the different barangays in Sta. Cruz, Zambales. Moreover, EMI also donated 70 liters of diesel for a vehicle of the PNP front-liners, which has been a huge help for the COVID-19 response. A total of 440 families and 470 front-liners have benefited from the third week of the COVID-19 response program of EMI which started on April 11, 2020. The company spent a total of Php 68,225.20.

In further efforts pursuant to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, EMI granted 7,948 indigent families of the host, neighboring, and none-neighboring barangay of Sta. Cruz, Zambales, and Infanta, Pangasinan with a total of 400 Cavan of rice and groceries. In addition, the company also catered free meals for the 140 COVID-19 front-liners and vehicle fuel for 10 individuals involved in community service. In the fourth week which started on April 16, 2020, EMI spent a sum of Php 744,240.25.

From April 20, 2020, to April 26, 2020, the fifth week of COVID-19 response, EMI served 1,500 families; this comprised of 250 4Ps families and 1,250 indigent families in different Barangays in the Municipality of Sta. Cruz. The said groups received a total of 95 Cavan of rice. Furthermore, EMI severed persons with disabilities, providing relief goods (rice, loaf bread, and milk) for Samahan ng May Mga Kapansanan (SMMAK) of Sta. Cruz, Zambales, which is comprised of 197 members. To prevent the infection of the COVID-19 virus in the province, EMI provided the frontline workers at Brgy. Gama and Brgy. Lucapon South, both in Sta. Cruz, Zambales, with thermal scanners to help them assure that no COVID-positive person crosses the border. EMI did not forget even the farthest Barangay in the Municipality (Barangay Babuyan, Sta. Cruz, Zambales), granting 205 indigent families with hygiene kits and a service vehicle for their LGU. This milestone of the company benefited a total of 1,705 families and 267 individuals, costing a sum of Php 226,564.80.

The 6th week of EMI’s COVID-19 Response activities aided a total of 1,005 beneficiaries, composed mainly of indigent families, members of public transportation organizations, EMI scholars, the chairperson of SALIKA NORMA AMATA (NGO), and front-liners of the host, neighboring, and non-impact barangays (barangay tanod, health workers, PNP, army members, doctors, and nurses). The 6th-week activities that started on April 27, 2020, included provisions of health kits such as alcohol, vitamins, hygiene soaps, and personal protective equipment like gloves and facemasks. In addition, due to the impact on financial and food aspects, EMI also provided relief goods, cavans of rice, and monetary support to affected individuals. For that week, the company allotted a total budget of Php 238,405.95.

A total of 750 beneficiaries received food supply support from EMI on its 7th week of providing assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which began on May 2, 2020. Frontliners coming from different barangays of Santa Cruz and Barangay Maya of Infanta, Pangasinan were provided meals and snacks. Meanwhile, 200 needy families from Barangay Sabang received 11 cavans of rice. Additional 11 cavans were also given to the 200 families from the municipality of Infanta. Php 45,496.00 was spent during this week.

In order to increase safety awareness regarding COVID-19 Preventive Measures, EMI provided informational posters to the community of Santa Cruz on its 8th week of pandemic response. These posters, which were shared information regarding the virus, how it spreads, and how to avoid infection, were placed in public places in the municipality and areas of EMI. Additionally, during the week of May 15, 2020, the company also provided 11 cavans of rice to Barangay Pamonoran which helped 417 indigent families. A total of Php 26,750.00 was allocated for the week

EMI also extended its hand in helping patients and front-line workers at the Philippine Arena COVID 19 We Heal as One Center located inside Ciudad de Victoria, Bocaue, Bulacan, where the company donated Php 25,000.00 that was used in purchasing necessary food items. On May 23, 2020, the amount was received by Dir Maria Theresa Escolano the, MNSA Chairperson for the Regional Task Force on COVID- 19 and Acting Regional Director, OCD 3 in the EMI Basecamp. This was personally given by Ms. Nympha Pajarillaga, General Manager of EMI, and ComRel officer Marilou E. Mirano.

Total Beneficiaries and Cost Total Beneficiaries and Cost

EMI a mining company that never forgets and never leaves behind the people of the community in times of crisis. From March 22 to May 23, 2020, EMI worked non-stop and was dedicated in serving a total of 3,442 Frontliners and 13,525 families. EMI cares for and values the health and lives of Filipino people from the urban to rural areas of Sta. Cruz and Candelaria, Zambales and Infanta, Pangasinan. A total of Php 1,543,636.00 was spent to respond to the effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic and to practice the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.” EMI’s effort and dedication in performing its responsibilities and duties are indeed anchored on its values: the Malasakit, Resiliency in Leadership, and Beyond Standard and Best Practices.

Week 1 (March 22 – March 27, 2020) Provision of Medical Equipment

 

Week 2 (March 29 – April 5, 2020) Provision of Relief Goods to Front-liners

Week 3 (April 11 – April 12, 2020) Distribution of Snacks to Different Barangays of Sta. Cruz, Zambales

Week 4 (April 14 – April 20, 2020) Provision of Cavans of Rice to Host and Neighboring Barangays

Week 5 (April 21 – April 26, 2020) Provision of Cavans of Rice and Relief Goods to PENRO and Samahan ng May Mga Kapansanan (SMMAK)

Week 6 (April 27 – April 30, 2020) Provision of Health Kits to Front-liners

Week 7 (May 2 – May 7, 2020) Provision of Meals and Snacks to Front-liners

Week 8 (May 10 – May 15, 2020) Provision of Poster on COVID-19 Preventive Measures

Week 9 (May 23, 2020)Purchase Necessary Food Items to Patients and Front-line workers. Regional Task Force on COVID-19 Team Headed by DIR. Maria Theresa R. Escolano, MNSA together with Ms. Nympha R. Pajarillaga General Manager of ERAMEN.