The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Dinapigue, Isabela engaged in a dialogue with Dinapigue Mining Corporation (DMC), a subsidiary of listed natural resources development company Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), to address issues concerning sustainability.
SK leaders from the six barangays of Dinapigue conferred with the top management of DMC to discuss sustainability and explore ways to integrate sustainable practices across the municipality.
“It is critical that the communities we work with are onboard our sustainability efforts and are part of the journey as we endeavor to achieve our sustainability goals,” explained DMC Resident Mine Manager Engr. Edwin Casiano.
Among the key concerns the SK leadership raised included literacy among the youth, indigenous peoples’ (IP) education, and the management of solid waste – particularly plastic. These priorities align with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) such as Building Sustainable Communities (SDG 11), Access to Quality Education (SDG 4), Reduced Inequality (SDG 10), and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16).
“We’ve seen on Facebook the recent flood of trash in Manila and understand the problems that plastics can bring to communities. That’s why with DMC’s help, we want to turn our plastic wastes into something of value,” said Barangay Dibulo SK Chairman Marcelo Candelario.
Barangay Bucal Sur SK Chairman Roger Corpuz who also works as a Mine Production Coordinator for DMC, says his barangay needs more reading materials and a sustainable program to help increase reading comprehension and literacy among the youth.
Newly licensed agriculturist and DMC IP scholar Donalyn Galope of the Agta tribe shared the need to increase efforts to encourage more families from the IPs to allow their youth, especially girls, to pursue college education which she says is a continuing challenge in the IP communities.
DMC Community Relations Manager Rosaldo Buscaino says that apart from the Company’s scholarships funded through its Social Development Management Program and Corporate Social Responsibility program, the company also plans to establish an Indigenous Learning System to further supplement the education needs of the Dinapigue IP community.
To address the issue of solid waste in the community, DMC intends to collaborate with the Municipality of Dinapigue for the creation of a recycling and upcycling plant to turn recyclable waste into new products.
“The mutual commitment forged between DMC and the whole of the Dinapigue Sangguniang Kabataan to address sustainability issues is half the battle already won. We look forward to more collaborations like this with the community because at the end of the day, sustainability is a shared interest,” said Buscaino.
