CARMEN COPPER WINS BEST MINING PERFORMANCE AWARDS
TOLEDO City-based mining company Carmen Copper Corporation bagged the 2023 Presidential Mineral Industry and Environmental Award (PMIEA) Platinum Achievement and was hailed as third runner-up of the Best Mining Forest contest in the Metallic Category.
These achievements demonstrate the company’s principle of responsible stewardship towards sustainable mineral development, resulting in commendable environmental management programs, safety and health performance and social development initiatives.
The awards were given on Nov. 17, 2023 during the Awards Night and Testimonial Dinner of the 69th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference at the CAP-John Hay Trade and Cultural Center, Baguio City.
Carmen Copper also clinched the PMIEA Platinum Achievement in 2019 and 2018, and the Titanium Achievement in 2017.
It was also the 2010 winner for Best Mining Forest in the Metallic Category. In 2019, the firm was conferred with the Most Improved Safety Performance Award.
Protecting natural environs
Carmen Copper remains steadfast in its commitment to provide outcomes through ethical and sustainable mining operations as the global economy faces a significant shift toward the green transition of clean and renewable energy.
The company assists in the transformation of a better world. Its mines provide two of the most essential materials for the transition: copper and gold.
Knowing this, the company is committed to maintaining the delicate balance of promoting economic growth and prioritizing care for the environment.
Carmen Copper actively adheres to the guidelines of the Philippine Mining Act on the rehabilitation of mined-out areas. It has earmarked resources to ensure that the site will be back to its pre-mining conditions after the life of mine.
In 2022, it invested more than P138 million for its annual Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program.
The company has also intensified its progressive rehabilitation and re-greening of mined-out areas. To date, Carmen Copper has reforested 1,639.3 hectares and planted 2.7 million seedlings produced in its own plant nursery and through the assistance of its partner communities.
Safety and health performance
To protect all employees, including interested parties, every function across all organizational levels is liable and responsible for implementing Occupational Health and Safety policies. Due to an engaged workforce, this assures corporate sustainability and efficiency.
Carmen Copper’s biggest step towards recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, aside from continuing health and safety precautions, was immunizing its employees.
The company has vaccinated 99.8 percent of its employees. For 2022, 51 percent or 1,311 of its employees got booster shots.
This was part of the firm’s thrust to provide them an extra layer of protection.
On March 8, 2023 Carmen Copper achieved 10 million safe manhours without lost time incident.
Achieving 10 million safe manhours without lost time incident was made possible because of the committed, competent and cooperative employees who contributed to keeping a safe workplace for all.
Carmen Copper also upholds dedication to helping its host and nearby communities in times of emergencies and disasters that pose a threat to human life.
The members of the Minero-Emergency Response Team, or MERT, are trained by the company to conduct life-saving search and rescue operations, including retrieval operations.
Meanwhile, the company’s 20-bed hospital continues to serve employees and their families. It operates on a 24hour duty to ensure the health and wellness of its employees and communities as well.
Building sustainable communities
Carmen Copper continues to care for the welfare of its host communities through its Social Development and Management Program.
Its focused social investments include health, education, livelihood, public infrastructure, disaster response and cultural heritage.
The company granted full scholarships to children from underprivileged families and provided skills training to unemployed residents.
One of its scholars, Anne Millenie Antoque was the sole graduate from Cebu to top the September 2022 Social Worker Licensure Exam. She landed in ninth place with a rating of 86.40 percent. She is the first scholar to top a licensure examination since the Carmen Copper Scholarship Program started in 2012.
Created under Executive Order No. 399, series of 1997, PMIEA is conferred every year to mining companies that have exhibited exemplary performance in terms of safety and health, environmental protection and enhancement, and social development management.
The company also sent health professionals to barrios, built and improved health and birthing centers, opened roads to improve residents' access to job centers and medical facilities, and built farm-tomarket roads to help local farmers.
As the risks of climate change becomes more imminent, Carmen Copper conducted a series of disaster resilience trainings participated in by members of the LGBTQIA+ sector, college students and out-of-school youth, as well as barangay workers in its host and neighboring communities.
The activity served as the company’s testimony to emphasize the value of cooperation in tackling the problems of disaster risk reduction and climate change.
Carmen Copper also provided livelihood opportunities to residents to develop them into self-reliant individuals. In 2022, Carmen Copper has invested over P122 million in social development programs in the locality.
In his message, Carmen Copper Chief Operating Officer Yulo Perez said the awards are testaments to what collaborative effort can lead to.
“The PMIEA awards serve as an inspiration to the CCC Team to continue striving for excellence in all aspects of the mine,” Perez said.
“It is a constant reminder to all of the balance between production, safety, community relations and environmental stewardship,” he added.