Farmers belonging to 57 families on Bulacan are set to benefit from a first-of-its-kind agro-farm facility built by Republic Cement in its plant’s quarry intended to provide additional livelihood support host community.
The project is part of the company’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEL) and Social Development and Management Program (SDMP).
Situated inside the plant’s quarry site in Sitio Alagao in Barangay Minuyan, the agro-farm opened in November 2018 covers four hectares, 590-square meter of which is a nursery plus 5.3-square kilometer vegetable farm. The remaining areas will be covered in bamboo plants and fruit bearing trees.
The beneficiary-families in Minuyan use the nursery and vegetable farm as a training ground to enhance their farming skills and learn organic farming with the hopes of adopting these practices in their own farms
“Opening our first agro-farm facility to our host communities gives us the opportunity to extend our assistance and support to the growth and prosperity of the families in our Bulacan plant. We hope we could do more of this in the future, as we go about our mission of building a stronger Republic,” Nabil Francis, president and CEO of Republic Cement, was quoted saying in an article published in SunStar.com.
Part of the project is the execution of a marketing strategy which will allow for the efficient selling of the produce. This was plan was devised and implemented by a people’s organization established through Republic Cement’s SDMP.
Kusina ng Kalinga (KnK), Republic Cement’s flagship anti-hunger program in partnership with Gawad Kalinga, will also buy a portion of the said produce.
Additionally, residents who are also member of the Sulong Pa Minuyan Cooperative were appointed as care-taker of a new vermiculture training center for the local farmers which is also launched by Republic Cement Bulacan.
These projects were conceptualized in 2017 in response to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ mandate for the mining industry to practice responsible mining and implement a progressive rehabilitation on every active quarry site.
