TVIRD mobilizes for disaster preparedness in Philippines

TVIRD’s engineering department assists Agolo residents in relocating their dwellings to a safer area. A backhoe strengthens the soil directly above the Agolo area. GM Ely Valmores (in gray uniform) and the TVIRD Management team, held a dialogue with Agolo residents on the dangers of staying in their current location. Some residents volunteered to relocate their dwellings themselves while others were assisted by the company. Members of TVIRD’s Emergency Response Team gather belongings of families in Agolo as they began the evacuation during the onslaught of Typhoon Pablo last month. TVIRD’s Civil Engineering Department came to the aid of Siocon town during the onslaught of Typhoon Lawin. In photo, the company’s heavy equipment turning over a truck, which was overcome by raging floodwaters of Siocon River in Barangay Pisawak.

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 28, 2012) – Mining firm TVI Resource Development (Phils.) Inc. mobilized its emergency response team in Mount Canatuan in Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte province where it operate as part of community disaster preparedness following recent typhoons to hit the southern Philippines.

TVIRD also alerted its engineering department to expedite the relocation of families living in nearby Agolo community in case of a new typhoon or storm.

Foot hill village Agolo is inhabited by informal settlers and has grown significantly in population over the years and its proximity to the TVIRD plant site gave birth to cottage enterprise and small establishments that thrive on the presence of the mining firm.

However, Agolo is unfortunately located at the foot of a hill that has naturally weakened after two recent typhoons that pummelled the region.

“Agolo community sits beside a landslide-prone area and we cannot afford to risk the safety of the people living there,” TVIRD General Manager Heliodoro Valmores said in a statement.

Company workers have been helping in the transfer of Agolo’s inhabitants to eliminate any possible harm to members of the community and their dwellings in the event of a landslide that may be caused by heavy rains.

Nearly half of the Agolo community had been relocated to a safe and higher grounds even before Typhoon Quinta hit Mindanao, according to Engr. Ed Nercuit, chief of TVIRD’s Engineering Department.

Residents have been evacuated twice by the TVIRD disaster teams this year – first was during the onslaught of Typhoon Lawin last September and early this month when Typhoon Pablo made its mark as the most destructive storm to hit Mindanao, and the recent typhoon Quinta.

Nercuit said the company is mandated to evacuate the entire community yet again should there be a need to.

In the wake of recent calamities in the country, TVIRD mobilized its personnel as well as considerable resources geared towards preparedness for natural disasters. This has been the company’s order of business for the week. Parallel to this, management and staff gathered used clothing, relief items and monetary donations for the victims of Typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental.

Engr. Art Abad, Safety Department Manager and the overseer of the company and the community’s safety, said the decision to clear the area of people was made when a geo-hazard study identified that in its natural course, the grounds have become loosened.

The unsteady composition is also compounded by recent strong typhoons that bring an unprecedented amount of rainfall.

“This (Agolo) is the most dangerous place during heavy rains, and it would be best if people are no longer there to prevent the loss of lives,” Abad said.

Abad said that the company’s geo-hazard team conducted a survey in the area upon his department’s request. “After the typhoon Lawin, this is so far the only place that remained a geo-hazard that has people living nearby. Ours is a company that puts safety of the lives of our workers and community above everything else,” Abad said, citing the merits of its preventive measures.

“Of course, typhoon Lawin was the worst typhoon we ever experienced. Luckily, no people were hurt from our host communities. But like R.T. Lim and Siocon, we were not spared by its effects. In fact, until today we are still performing repairs of the damage caused by the typhoon,” Valmores said.

He said the volume of Lawin’s rain water was comparable to Typhoon Ondoy that devastated Manila a few years back. Siocon Mayor Ceasar Soriano said Typhoon Lawin’s onslaught on September 21 and 22 was the town’s most destructive natural disaster in five decades. It caused massive flooding in the region that impacted Siocon, Sirawai and Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner)