7,000 Pantukan residents served by mining company’s health program

St. Augustine Gold & Copper Ltd (SAGCL) has reached the 7,000 patient mark in its continuing community medical outreach program, accrdoing to a press statement coming from the mining firm.
SAGCL is the Toronto-listed mining company that is working to develop the King-king Copper-Gold Project (KCGP) in the municipality of Pantukan in Compostela Valley province.
Over the past year, medical outreach activities were conducted in more than a dozen sitios in barangays of Pantukan.
The programs focus on indigent patients, particularly those living far from the regular health facilities in the town center. Patients receive free medicines, medical check-ups, dental consultations, tooth extractions and other services. Those needing immediate medical attention are transported to Compostela Valley Provincial Hospital in Pantukan (CVPH) or to Davao Regional Hospital (DRH) in Tagum City by the company’s ambulance.
“The company recognizes the need for active community engagement, particularly in areas that are of primary concern to the people,” said Clyde Gillespie, director of environmental permitting for SAGCL/KCGP.  “This includes health, livelihood, housing, employment and education,” he added.
Gillespie however said that the project cannot be successful without the support and participation of the local community. “This is why we continue to build strong relationships with the people. These relationships are built on trust, a deeper understanding of our different cultures and a sincere desire to better the lives of the people of Pantukan,” he said.
St. Augustine is currently studying the feasibility of mining the King-king (Pantukan) copper and gold deposit. In connection with this, the mining firm is conducting extensive environmental and social baseline studies, community consultations, exploratory drillings and other related studies within the area.