HMC reduces plastic use by providing livelihood to Hinatuan mining community

Hinatuan Mining Corp. (HMC) initiated a livelihood program for the mining community of Hinatuan, Surigao del Norte in an effort to reduce plastic usage in tree planting and support the national anti-plastic campaign.

The program is making “jobo pots” which has become an income-generating activity for the members of the mining community, mostly senior citizens.

This project is under HMC’s Community Output-based Livelihood Program allowing the community to earn a living while at the same time imparting them the importance of caring for the environment.

The mining firm intends to use the output of the community to reduce plastic usage by substituting synthetic polyethylene bags in massive production of quality germplasms in forest tree nurseries.

HMC buys these jobo pots for P 5.00 each. Participating locals, as indicated in their contracts, will have to produce 5,000 jobo pots guaranteeing them an income of P 25,000.

“The livelihood program provides opportunities for the unemployed, mostly senior citizens, of HMC’s host and neighboring communities, many of whom are skilled weavers,” Marichu Calungsod, an environment specialist at HMC, said in a Manila Standard report.

Calungsod added that the pots will even provide supplemental nutrients to help the tree seedlings grow as it decomposes.

HMC’s mine site, also known as the Tagana-an Nickel Project, is located within the Surigao Mineral Reservation. It is a 773.77-hectare site operating to produce and exports saprolite and limonite ore.