Last Monday, April 27, 2020, “Talakayan sa PIA” had its live virtual media forum on Facebook with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 10 along with its line Bureaus, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Environmental Management Bureau X respectively, discussing about their offices’ recent activities during this pandemic with the topic, “Our Response to the Fight Against COVID 19.”

The virtual forum was  held at the DENR 10 Conference Hall with limited people having to follow the social distancing measures. The live media forum was hosted by Ms. Jasper Marie O. Rucas of Philippine Information Agency 10. With her were DENR-10 Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services, Mr. Aldrich S. Resma, Mr. Janne Claudian Salvaña, Administrative Assistant III, Engr. Efren B. Cardio, Regional Director for Mines and Geosciences Bureau X and Mr. Samih M. Alonto, Information Officer of Environment Management Bureau X. Mr. Uriel Quilinguing of Mindanao Gold Star Daily, on the other hand, was virtually present in the forum, listening from his house through zoom.

Each participant was given slot to discuss the precautionary measures adopted by their respective offices during the quarantine period and other responses to fight against COVID 19.

For MGB X, Regional Director Efren B. Carido started his presentation with the implementation of the skeletal workforce and prioritizing the welfare of their employees by providing them with facemasks, vitamins, alcohol and even free transportation from home to the office, vice versa, to ensure their health and safety.

He also mentioned the initiative of donating PPEs, food packs, coffee sachets, facemasks, litters of alcohol   and disinfectants to the frontliners of JR Borja Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City, and to the checkpoints of Brgy. Taboc, Opol, and Municipality of Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, and a checkpoint in Brgy. Lunocan, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

On the other hand,   the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Employees Association (MGBEA) donated 2,000 pieces of surgical masks and 5 gallons of 70% Ethyl Alcohol to the frontlines of Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City.

Moreover RD Carido also presented the Response to the fight against COVID 19, under the “Bayanihan To Heal as One Act” of the mining companies/permit holders in Region X who also managed their share of contributing out of their realigned Annual Social Development and Management Program Funds (ASDMP) to their respective affected mining communities.

Presently, mining companies/permit holders spent P 756,761.91 out of the realigned P P2, 348,651.26 for assistance to the communities through distribution of relief goods   consisting of rice, canned goods, noodles, sugar, coffee among others. A total of 3,965 families/households and 12 MSU-IIT students were among the recipients of the food packs along with some local government units which were provided with PPEs, disinfectants and face masks.

During the open forum Mr. Uriel Quilingquing of Goldstar  Daily was glad that miners in Region X also helped the affected communities  and inquired from Director Carido  the names of the participating mining companies/permit holders and the number of existing mining operations in  the Region.

DENR 10 Assistant Director for Technical Services Aldrich Resma,  Mr Janne Claudian  Salvaña, and EMB Information Officer ll Sammih Alonto  also did their respective power point presentations geared towards Responses  to the fight against COVID 19.

The virtual media forum officially ended after all the queries directed to ARD for Technical Services Aldrich  Resma  were fully addressed by him.