A P3-million industrial production facility for the local tailors of the Hayanggabon Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Hacomuco) in Barangay Hayanggabon in Claver, Surigao del Norte, was inaugurated last month. The multimillion facility is only one of the many community projects under the Social Development and Management Program of Taganito Mining Corp. (TMC), a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC).
With the main objective of supporting the livelihood of the local tailors in the mining communities, primarily Hayanggabon and neighboring barangays of Taganito and Urbiztondo, the facility is complete with workshop areas equipped with modern and efficient sewing machines and other necessary equipment; a display area; a fitting room; and even a kitchen and receiving area, where the tailors can work comfortably and confidently and increase their productivity to accommodate larger orders from customers.
TMC is Hacomuco’s largest customer so far. The company’s annual requirement alone of two new uniforms, three long shirts and pants for each of its 1,275 employees is enough to keep the tailors very busy and productive. Other additional orders regularly come from TMC, with requirements for bags and items for occasional projects. The Hacomuco tailors are ensured of a continued market for their outputs with these strong support and commitment from TMC.
Rizalina Sapaning, president of the tailors’ association, expressed her gratitude and emphasized that additional income will help members of the cooperative augment their earnings for daily household needs and the education of their children.
“I am very grateful to TMC that we are one of the recipients of this livelihood program so that we, women in particular, can provide additional financial support for the education of our children. We are greatly thankful as tailors of Hacomuco. Thank you very much TMC, and we hope that you will continue to support more livelihood projects in our community,” Sapaning said.
Melanie Pantilo, chairman of Hacomuco, also expressed gratitude on behalf of the members and officers of Hacomuco as she received the symbolic key of responsibility, noting that while the responsibility entails big challenge, it is a chance for a brighter future for the community.
“Livelihood like sewing or tailoring, farming and fishing, get priority support from TMC to guarantee that additional sources of income are made available to the residents of our mining community and to ensure a sustainable livelihood for our partners in these communities,” declared Jose B. Anievas, NAC’s COO and SVP for operations.
The inauguration that Jose Anievas headed was also graced by Hacomuco Chairman Melanie Pantilo, Sapaning, NAC Vice President for Operations Aloysius Diaz; NAC Vice President for Internal Audit Angel Villamor; TMC Vice President for Finance Lennie Terre; NAC Assistant Vice President for Environment and Community Relations Rogel Cabauatan; TMC Resident Mine Manager Artemio Valeroso; TMC Community Relations Manager Ronald Asignacion; and Barangay Captain of Hayanggabon Rito I. Placencia.
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The statement that ‘the benefits of mining are not enough to compensate to for the destruction of the environment ‘ is flawed for two reasons. Fits it assumes the entire industry is guilty of leaving behind environmental destruction instead of just a few illegal mines, and secondly the benefits of mining are not just taxes and minerals, but social development programs like this one. Sadly, these are not as sensational as environmental crimes, so get pretty much ignored. Thank you BusinessMirror for correcting that.