Miners are first responders during natural disasters, exec says

Miners are also first responders in times of earthquakes, landslides, and flash flood where a lot of digging is done to save lives.

This according to Agata Mining Ventures Inc. (Amvi) Executive KC T. Crisostomo.

Lately, miners are also training to become members of the fire brigade volunteers and members of the company’s Emergency Response Team (ERT), he added.

“Mining companies like Amvi, we prepare as much as we can, for disasters—for risks that can be mitigated. The most we can do is mitigate the effect. But for things like need relief fire, or typhoon, or flood, things that we can humanely address, we try to prepare not only our employees but also the communities,” Crisostomo was quoted in a BusinessMirror report.

“We prepare the community through our ERT,” he said. “We train communities to have their own ERTs so that even without Amvi, they can be, on their own, first responders in times of disasters, or even emergency situations.”

The mining firm recently won the Caraga Fire Brigade Championship this year.

Amvi’s ERT is born out of the company’s commitment to ensure a safe and healthy work environment, as well as communities that are resilient to natural disasters.

“Our three host communities had the privilege of undergoing training to become ‘heroes’ themselves in times of emergency situations,” he said.

Members of the Amvi’s ERT are from the communities themselves.

They undergo regular screening and lead the firm’s yearly Safety Olympics. In addition, they are given further physical tests.

“It adds self-confidence knowing that you are trained to save lives. It also inspires my children that their mother can do [such] things,” Amvi administrative personnel Merlisa P. Elmeta, a resident of host Barangay E. Morgado, was quoted in the company’s statement as saying.

Mine statisticians Sherly Fe A. Labadan and Willie Morales agree that it is not an easy task to do work while training.

“But knowing that we can be better and help other people makes it all worth it,” Labadan said.

Amvi electrician Jelord Jumamil said first-aid rescue training help a lot since the nature of his work involves certain risks.

“If I can save other peoples’ lives, I know I can also save mine,” he said.

The team hold three consecutive championship titles from the Provincial Safety Olympics, initiated by the Bureau of Fire Protection and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office. They are scheduled to defend their title at the 2019 Annual National Mine Safety Environment Conference this November in Baguio City.