TUBA, Benguet (PIA) -- The Philex Mine Padcal Community and the Santo Niño of Prague Parish celebrated the 62nd Feast of the Santo Niño of Prague highlighted by the “Araw ng Parangal” program   recognizing loyal and efficient employees of the   Philex Mining Corporation in Padcal, Camp 3 in Tuba, Benguet on Saturday, January 14.

Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma with Philex President Eulalio Austin awarded plaques, certificates and cash incentives to the company workers who have reached 25 years in service and the “Philex Bests” or the outstanding and the most efficient workers of the mine company.

 Service awardees recognized were Enrico F. Arceo of the Legal Department; Mine Operations Group Manager Paul C. Ngoddo; Senior Laboratory Analyst Aida Elvira N. Padagas from the Assay Department;   Mila O. Salinas from the Community Relations Department; Rosalia D. Sabelo, a cook from the General Services Department, and Maria Theresa A. Navarro, a teacher from the Philex Mines Elementary School, Inc.

The service awardees also received gold plated watches which have been a traditional incentive of the company for its employees reaching 25 years in service.

Meanwhile, awarded as “Philex Best” were Ben Mariano as the Best Underground Supervisor, Teodoro Guiniguin as the Best Surface Mine Supervisor, Bernard Molina as the Best Underground Miner, Jail Piguro as the Best Surface Miner, Franklin De Francia as the Best Underground Safety Inspector and Sonny Navarro as the Best Surface Safety Inspector.

The Secretary congratulated the employee-awardees for their years of dedicated service to the company and the company for acknowledging and honoring the contributions of their employees and making it part of the Philex tradition.

 Laguesma also congratulated all the employees, the management and the company, “for your resilience in upholding the principles of responsible mining in spite of the various challenges and aversities that have come your way over the years.”

He commended the mine company for the most important contributions in the areas of labor and employment or the best practices of the company which he said should be shared and replicated by other companies.

Also present during the program were DOLE-Cordillera Regional Director Nathaniel Lacambra, Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas, Board Member Johannes Amuasen, Tuba Vice Mayor Maria Carantes and Itogon Vice Mayor Dax Godio and other local officials.  

Lawyer Eduardo Aratas, chief of Philex Legal and Administrative Division, said that the Philex community resumed the annual meaningful and traditional activities of the annual fiesta after the two years of absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the activities include the Novena to the Santo Niño of Prague considered as the Patron Saint of Padcal Mine, company-wide clean-up drive, civic parade and procession, field demonstrations, sports and friendship games, community mass and the distribution of the cañao meat by the company. (JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)