Surigao del Norte/April 1, 2020. Platinum Group Metals Corporation (PGMC), the operating arm of Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. (FNI), has filed an appeal to the Office of the Governor of Surigao del Norte and the Office of the Municipal Mayor of Claver to exempt it from the ordered temporary closure of mining activities particularly the loading of ores to foreign vessels that are already on-site. The vessels have gone through the 14-day quarantine protocols after leaving their ports of origin, and have been cleared by the Bureau of Quarantine.
The appeal is in response to Executive Order No. 20-011, s. 2020, dated March 28, 2020 of the Provincial Governor of Surigao del Norte temporarily suspending the Company’s mining operations starting April 1, 2020 until the government deems it safe to resume normal operations. The Executive Order comes on the heels of the Harmonized Guidelines for the Regional Community Quarantine in CARAGA Region dated March 26, 2020 by the Regional Task Force for COVID-19 “One Caraga Shield” that allow the entry of foreign and domestic vessels for the purpose of loading ore in mine sites provided that all quarantine protocols are strictly followed, no crew are allowed to disembark and that there will be no human physical contact between the crew and ground personnel.
“We are hoping that those in the export sector like us will be allowed to continue operations to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on the national economy. PGMC falls under the category of export businesses exempt from the closure of establishments according to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Department of Trade and Industry,” said FNI President Dante R. Bravo.
The Company would like to assure the local community that post-quarantine measures are already in place to insulate individuals from infection. All work will be done within the mine site and personnel involved in the operations shall remain within the premises during the quarantine period.
“The significant cost we will save from this exemption will go a long way in supporting our contribution to address the impact of this pandemic to our community and in taking care of a great number of families dependent on our operations for survival,” said Bravo.
PGMC has since extended much needed assistance in the form of relief goods, medicines and medical supplies to its host community and neighboring non-mining barangays.