STA. CRUZ, Zambales – As part of its commitment to render various services to the community, a total of 1,626 residents of this town and Candelaria have benefited from the medical and dental missions of Benguet Nickel Mines, Inc. (BNMI), a mining firm here, in the first quarter of this year.
BNMI Project Manager Engr. Romeo Flores said the company conducted medical missions in Barangays Tubotubo South and Lucapon South in Sta. Cruz with a total of 460 beneficiaries; and in Barangays Binabalian, Dampay, and Yamot in Candelaria with a total of 965 beneficiaries.
The dental missions were held in Barangays Lucapon South and Tubotubo South with a total of 201 beneficiaries.
During the medical missions, BNMI also distributed hygiene kits to school graders in various barangay daycare centers.
Fores said that BNMI turned over medical supplies such as blood pressure apparatuses, nebulizers, weighing scales, height charts and first aid kits to barangay health centers in Sta. Cruz, selected daycare centers and elementary schools.
Prior to the distribution, lectures on personal hygiene and wellness were conducted through the assistance of barangay health workers or rural health unit nurses.
Since 2007, BNMI has been conducting twice-a-week feeding programs in 13 public schools of Sta. Cruz in consonance with the local government and Department of Social Welfare and Development’s program to alleviate malnutrition, which is prevalent in Zambales.
The company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department will embark on regular feeding program in Barangay Binabalian, Dampay, and Yamot by the start of school year 2012-2013, Flores added.
BNMI medical missions are being conducted by its medical arm, Benguet Laboratories, which also works hand-in-hand with the Philippine Dental Association for its dental missions.
Aside from its medical, dental missions and feeding programs, the BNMI has also been providing scholarship grants to deserving but indigent students in this municipality.
To date, the BNMI has sponsored 28 high school scholars and two vocational technical school scholars who are all graduating this March.
