Silangan Mindanao Mining Co., Inc. (SMMCI) signed a Barangay Employment Service Office (BESO) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with 11 host barangays during a ceremonial signing held in Surigao City, which was part of its Kapehan Session, a community forum for dialogue and partnership-building.
Present for SMMCI were Silangan Project lead Engr. Venancio Gel A. Romero, Community Relations Manager Janrie G. Dudang, IEC Supervisor Yen Ajoc Chua, and Communications Specialist Engr. Alfredo Febra Valledor. Barangay captains represented most of the barangays, while two were represented by councilors.
Under the arrangement, SMMCI will regularly provide updates on available positions, accept applicants endorsed by barangays, and give priority to qualified local residents, including former landowners. Barangay officials will be responsible for pre-screening jobseekers, forwarding endorsements to the company, and keeping updated records.
Company officials described the agreement as a step toward strengthening its partnership with host communities. By making the recruitment process more transparent, the initiative is expected to expand livelihood opportunities for residents while giving the company a steady pool of qualified workers. In the longer term, the partnership is seen to reinforce trust and align community development with the growth of the Silangan Project.
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