Pursuant to Republic Act No. 11469 or The Bayanihan Heal as One Act, the sand and gravel (SAG), quarry and mineral processing (MPP) operators or collectively the aggregate sector extended economic relief to households and individuals affected by COVID 19 in Region 6 in the form of food packs and cash assistance.
In the consolidated reports submitted by permit holders of sand and gravel, quarry and mineral processing permit to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region 6 as of April 28, 2020, the aggregate industry extended a total of P2,306,821.00 in the form of food packs and cash assistance benefitting some 7,000 households in the provinces of Iloilo and Negros Occidental. Some 670 frontliners, senior citizens and persons with disabilities were also recipients of such assistance.
The permit holders used the funds allocated to implement a Social Development Management Program or SDMP required of mining or quarry permittees/operators for the development of mining host communities. Responding to the urgent need for economic assistance to those affected by the pandemic, the consolidated fund allocated for the program reached P3,869,707.35 as of April 28, 2020. The companies continue to extend assistance to more affected households.
This is in response to the memorandum issued by MGB on March 27, 2020 for the “Realignment of the Social Development and Management Program’s Unutilized Funds to Support Affected Impact and Non-Impact Communities due to COVID-19.”