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Monday, September 05, 2005
Mass wedding held in Tamapakan mining area
By Aquiles Zonio
THE local government of Columbio town in Sultan Kudarat along with Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) launched on Tuesday "Samsong na Flista," a B'laan term which means mass wedding, and registration to enable tribal wives and children avail of health benefits.
On the same day, the local government of Columbio and SMI through the help of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) in regional 12 distributed Philhealth cards to indigent B'laan families in the project area.
The mass wedding, which was held right at the SMI basecamp, was officiated by Roman Catholic priest Fr. Raul Valle of Polomolok Parish, South Cotabato.
Extending medicare to tribal residents in the project area is a joint project of SMI and LGUs affected by the mining project.
The program proponents were targeting to provide Philhealth cards to 1,500 indigent B'laan families residing in the project area by the end of this year.
So far, 436 indigent B'laan families had been enrolled in the health program.
Landi Doria, SMI over-all project coordinator, told Sun.Star that in order for the target beneficiaries to avail of the medical benefits their marriages must be legalized and their children must be registered with the local civil registrar's office.
Thirty-nine couples showed up in the mass wedding, while 120 children were registered.
Marriage and birth certificates were among the requirements to avail of the medicare benefits with Philhealth.
The affair was highlighted by the signing of a memorandum of agreement by Philhealth-12 regional manager Ramon Aristoza, Columbio mayor Edwin Bermudez and SMI Project Manager Alan G. Buenavista.
SMI is exploring copper and gold deposits in the hinterland boundary of the towns of Tampakan, Columbio and Kiblawan.
(September 5, 2005 issue)
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