IBALANGIBOG SA BILOG NA MUNDO, URAGON AN BICOLANO! KAYA TA AN RESPONSABLENG PAGMIMINA SA RAPU-RAPU!

THE NEWSWEEK
VOL. 1 NO. 6 AN INTRA-COMPANY OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RAPU-RAPUPOLYMETALLIC PROJECT JUNE 22 - JULY 5, 2006

SARMIENTO EXPOSES STUDY OF DR. REGIS AS

UNSCIENTIFIC AND WITHOUT FACTUAL BASIS
Atty. Sarge Sarmiento, Corporate Director of Lafayette
Philippines Inc. (LPI) revealed that Dr. Emelina Regis
had no facts to support her claims that mining in Rapu-
Rapu is unsustainable and when compelled by the
Rapu-Rapu Fact Finding Commission (RRFFC) to con-
duct her own study, her results in fact showed the con-
trary. His announcement was based on the report of
Gregorio A. Tabuena, lone dissenting RRFFC commis-
sioner and the only mining expert in the RRFFC with ex-
perience in actual mining projects. He was also hand-
picked by Bishop Bastes.
Atty. Sarmiento receives plaque of appreciation

not to use it was largely ignored.

This showdown happened during the Lafayette Mining fo-

Manny Agcaoili, RRPI President Be Pacis, Envi. Mgt. Manager
Sarge then read six key paragraphs from the RRFFC Dis-
senting Opinion where Commissioner Tabuena concluded
that Dr. Regis’ position paper, the intellectual base of anti-
Lafayette groups, was pure speculations without any basis
in fact and the attempt to connect the situation at Hixbar
mines to Lafayette was not at all scientific. The audience,
which packed the ballroom of the Regent Hotel, listened in
stunned silence.
rum in Naga City held on June 22, 2006, as part of the 2nd
Bicol Business Week celebration organized by the Metro
Naga Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (MNCCI). At this fo-
rum, Sarge and and Manny Agcaoili, President of Rapu-
Rapu Processing Inc (RRPI), squared off with Dr. Regis of
the Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research
(INECAR) and Fr. Ino Bugawisan of the Society of our
Lady of the Trinitas (SOLT), assistant Parish Priest of
Rapu-Rapu Parish Church.
Although the mine is located outside the province of
Camarines Sur, interest in the project is intense in this city
since the Ateneo de Naga is home to INECAR and of Dr.
Regis, the guru of the anti-Lafayette groups.

The announcement brought Dr. Regis to her feet in protest. As a result of this open forum, the Metro Naga Chamber of
Grabbing the mike, she claimed that she did not know Commerce Inc. decided to favorably endorse the test run
Tabuena who was maligning her reputation and considered and resumption of operations of Lafayette.
it a lie and an insult to her. But Mr. Philip Imperial, the
moderator, checked her protest by saying that Commis-
sioner Tabuena was a member of the RRFFC and issued an
official dissenting opinion under the letterhead of the Office
of the President. He asked Sarge if he had copies that can
be distributed to the audience. Everyone then scrambled for
copies of the RRFFC Dissenting Opinion, including the 20-
30 members of the media present.

Fr. Ino tried to save the day by stating that for him and his
group, Dr. Regis remains their beloved expert. His further
attempt to divert the discussion by complaining why the
company was doing open pit mining when they promised Juni Bernardo of MGB V Dr. Emelina Regis

A Warm Welcome to the new faces in RRMI for the month of June…..

ROBERTO M. SAPADEN ROBERTO A. PANGANIBAN

Senior Logistics Supervisor Senior Mine Planning Engineer
Materials Management Dept. Mining Department
Hired June 15, 2006 Hired June 19, 2006

ARTHUR DAN D. PACUNANA EULAND V. TURQUEZA

Staff Mining Engineer Staff Mining Engineer
Mining Department Mining Department
Hired June 5, 2006 Hired June 12, 2006
 VOL. I NO. 6 THE ISLAND NEWSWEEK JUNE 22-28, 2006

COME AND VISIT THE SMALLEST - OSHC Training Programs on

LIBRARY IN THE WORLD IN OUR Workplace Safety and
CUBICLE TO READ AND LEARN Health
ABOUT SAFETY! - "Reduce Risks-Cut Costs"
- Tuberculosis
Some of the things that could be - Guidelines Governing Occupa
found here are: tional Safety and Health
1. Health, Sanitation and Safety Stan- - Construction Safety (Komiks)
dards (Philippine Mining Act of - Technical Advisory on Hazardous
1995) – DAO 2000 – 98 Material and Health
2. Occupational Safety and Health - Usapang OSH
Standards - Safety Checklist
3. Emergency Response Guide Book
4. Occupational Safety and Health We also have CDs of the following:
Plan – 2006
5. Code of Safe Practice 1. Common Ground – A video pres-
6. Crises Management Manual entation about the importance of
7. Food Sanitation/Housekeeping and Laundry Man- Mining.
ual 2. Best Practice Environmental Management in Min-
8. First Aid Handbook ing.
9. Industrial First – Aid Workbook 3. Job Safety Analysis
10. Basic Life Support (CPR) Training Workbook 4. Preventing Accidents
11. Basic Occupational Safety and Health Training 5. Preventing Fires and Explosions
Manual 6. Fire Safety
12. Firefighting Seminar and Training Manual 7. Arc Welding Safety
13. "What To Do In Case of Fire, Earthquake & Other 8. Oxyacetylene Safety
Disasters" – from BFP 9. Power Tools Safety
14. Traffic Management and Accident Investigation 10. Basic Electrical Safety
Book 11. Electrical Lock Out
15. Safety Manuals of Lepanto Mining and Philex Min- 12. Electrical Safety
ing Corporation 13. Potential Hazards
16. Code of PNRI Regulations 14. "The Invisible Vapor"
17. Incident reporting and Investigation Procedures 15. "Working with Chemicals and Your Health"
Course Manual
18. Safety Alerts Series File Everybody is welcome to read and view the
19. Different brochures about safety and health from videos during your spare time!
the Occupational Safety and Health Center
- "Let's Talk About Safety and Health" Those who want to donate any safety material
- "Safety In Confined Space" for the micro library are most welcome.

For All Photography Enthusiasts:

Come and Join the Fun!

The RRPI and RRMI Companies are holding a Photo

Expatriate Group and H & R Com-
mittee Sponsors 2nd Quarterly
Birthday Celebration
The Second Quarterly Em-
ployees’ Birthday Celebration
was held at “The Deck” on
June 30, 2006. The activity
was made possible through
the joint efforts of the H & R
Committee of the Employee
Social Relations Council and
The H&R Committee
the Expatriate Group of the
Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project.
Contest every month starting July 2006. Each month, a
winning photo shall be selected from among the entries
featuring the theme of the month.
Details to be announced next issue.
The gathering proved to be very festive as the birthday
celebrants from April-June 2006 enjoyed a night of laugh-
ter, dancing and singing.
Many thanks to all the expatriates for their generosity and
to the Leighton management. Without their support, the
activity couldn’t have taken place (literally!)
EDITORIAL BOARD
Managing Editor: Cecille Calleja; Lay-out and Contributing Editor: Michelle M. Oñate;
Distribution and Contributor: Arnold A. Guadalupe; Contributor: Gilbert M. Llovit