Mining company brings green jobs to community

MANILA, Philippines — Hinatuan Mining Corp. (HMC), a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), has engaged local weavers in its mining community as part of the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives in contributing to the government’s goal of getting rid of plastic waste.

HMC has contracted weavers in Sitio Campandan, Hinatuan Island in Surigao del Norte, to produce 5,000 seedling pots made of ‘pandan dagat’ (pandanus tectorius) which they call “jobo pots” in a contract arrangement worth P25,000.

The company said it is adhering to the global clamor of employing ESG criteria in evaluating, measuring and reporting about the company’s impact to the ESG aspects.

Francis Arañes, HMC resident mine manager, said at present, 40 percent of their seedling pots are “jobo pots” and the company is aiming at least 80 percent before the end of next year.

Jomer Tiamson, HMC environment manager, said while a ‘jobo pot’ which they buy from the weavers costs P5 each, compared to a plastic seedling bag which costs only 25 centavos a piece, in the long run, the use of jobo as seedling pots is economically practical as the pots are biodegradable and seedlings on jobo pots have a higher chance of survival.

Tiamson added that HMC is also looking at the matter of having enough materials for the hundreds of jobo pots they will need in the future and part of future plans is to augment the growing of pandan dagat, which is also another opportunity for “green jobs” for the people in Hinatuan Island.