NEWS

By Danilo Adorador, III

RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE CITIZEN. Nickel Asia Corporation executives led by President Martin Antonio G. Zamora (center, holding a trophy), is joined by Vice President for Human Resources Gerardo Ignacio Ongkingko
and other NAC officials and Cagdianao Mining Corporation (CMC) officers led by Administrative Group Manager Salvador C. Cabauatan, as CMC receives the special citation award for Responsible and Ethical Business Conduct during the 40th national conference of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) on May 28-29 in Pasay City. Joining the NAC and CMC officials on stage are ECOP officials. (Handout Photo)

SURIGAO CITY — A mining firm in Dinagat Islands has been recognized for responsible business practice by the largest employer organization in the country.

Cagdianao Mining Corp. (CMC) received the special citation on “Responsible and Ethical Business Conduct” during the 40th national conference of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) in Pasay City on May 28-29.

Engineer Corsino Odtojan, Chamber of Mines – Caraga Region, Inc. (CMCRI) vice president, said Tuesday that ECOP’s award for CMC proved that “mining companies in the region are responsible corporate citizens whose efforts go beyond the government-mandated social programs.”

“Some are not aware of this but mining companies in Caraga Region — at least for CMCRI members — have their own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, be it in the area of education, livelihood, and even building roads, health centers, and other essential community infrastructure,” Odtojan said.

In recognizing CMC for ethical business conduct, ECOP has determined that the company has fulfilled its “legal and social compliance to ensure decent work and sustainable business growth.”

“Businesses must ensure sustainability by establishing programs and policies that have long-term positive impacts not just for the company, but also for the community where they operate,” ECOP said on its website.

It said the responsible business citation gives weight on three factors: compliance with labor standards, responses to societal expectations (CSR), and decent work programs.

Under its biennial Kapatiran sa Industriya Award, ECOP recognizes companies that “exemplify good business practices in the areas of industrial relations, quality and productivity, responsible and ethical business conduct, and job creation and business sustainability.”

The CMC, an affiliate of Nickel Asia Corp., is based in the town of Cagdianao where it mines lateritic nickel ore on a portion of its 697-hectare mine area. The company is a holder of ISO certifications for environment, health and safety, and quality management systems.

Source: Philippine News Agency