Barrick Pueblo Viejo presents success story in communities during IFC conference
- Faby Manzano talks about how communities saw a change in planning their own development.
WASHINGTON, May 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Corporate Social Responsibility Director for the mining company in the Dominican Republic, Barrick Pueblo Viejo, Faby Manzano, presented, during the 10th IFC Annual Sustainability Exchange a successful example of how a public-private partnership, impulse by the company enabled six municipalities near the Pueblo Viejo mine site to witness a change in the planning of their development in a participatory manner.
IFC, the main of the World Bank that brings support to the private sector, invited Ms. Manzano to participate in an exchange of experiences about sustainability with about 60 other companies and organizations from around the world.
Manzano shared how Barrick Pueblo Viejo, company financed by international banks member of the IFC was able to facilitate through its actions the conducting of the first plebiscites on municipal affairs in the history of the Dominican Republic to legitimize the first three municipal development plans, consistent with national laws and in compliance with the performance standards of environmental and social sustainability of IFC.
"With its arrival to the Dominican Republic, the company conducts studies on the situation of the areas near the mine, and from these it is proposed that the central axis of social responsibility programs ought to be based on the programs contained in plans municipal development, which were already established in the Municipal Law, passed in July 2007. This Law establishes that the sustainable development of cities is the responsibility of local authorities, who in a democratic and participatory exercise should work with communities, the analysis of the main problems that affect them and the search for solutions through programs and projects, "said Faby Manzano.
Among the actions that allowed the success of this initiative, according to Manzano, the fact that the creation of technical capabilities and management were prioritized, in the town halls and communities, work on strengthening democratic institutions of local government stands and promote transparency of municipal spending that would guarantee an efficient and fair use of resources.
Among the achievements, nearly nine years of the implementation of this initiative, the active participation of local authorities and communities in an exercise in identifying and prioritizing development programs is highlighted; the involvement of the Central Electoral Board (JCE), the governing body of the Dominican electoral system, installation of plebiscites; as well as the realization of municipal works, programs and projects that today point towards sustainability.
Among the projects carried out after the establishment of the initiative in the area, for the benefit of communities, are highlighted the creation and promotion of the Municipal Association for the Development of the West Fringe of South Cibao, the establishment of the Business Incubator, and the Reforestation from Pueblo Viejo Low Hills Model Forest to the Los Haitises National Park (Enda-Barrick) project, among many others.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160527/373188
SOURCE Barrick Pueblo Viejo
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