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Friday, March 29, 2024

Mining firm improves literacy in Vizcaya town

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QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya—Like its several rugged roads, the quality of education in Barangay Runruno here is poor, which prompted a mining company to offer its assistance.

Since 2008, FCF Minerals Corp. introduced its literacy program as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility commitment to the village.

Called “Handog Aral Para sa Ikauunlad ng Buhay,” the project aims to increase the level of literacy among children, youth and adults in this town.

FCF Minerals is presently conducting mining operations in Runruno for its gold and molybdenum deposits.

Engineer Craig Watkins, FCF Minerals Corp. country manager, said some of the regular projects and assistance given through the literacy program were scholarships, school-based nurseries for orchard and gabi (taro) plantations, vermicomposting, donations to schools such as weighing scales, seedlings and seedling bags, garden nets, health hygiene kits, library hub donations such as air conditioners, computers, water dispensers, garden tools, and sports equipment.

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FCF Minerals has also provided allowances to 58 day-care and high school teachers and staff, computer printers, e-learning centers, day care buildings, health centers, compact demo farms, senior citizens’ building, Alternative Learning System, Accreditation and Equivalency courses for learners, a village drug store, Sloping Agriculture Land Technology, and K to 12 school workshop buildings, among others.

Mayor Dolores Binwag said FCF Minerals’ CSR program has been very helpful in improving the literacy rate in the town. The low turnout of schoolers has been a challenge for the local government for many years considering their scarce resources, she said.

“We are very grateful for the assistance of the company in improving the literacy rate in our municipality. Truly, their presence is heaven sent,” Binwag said.

In 2014, FCF Minerals’ literacy program has been adjudged as the second best in the National Literacy Awards, and was named a finalist in the following years.

The success of the projects, Binwag added, cannot only be attributed to Barangay Runruno, alone because it has also radiated into other adjacent barangays.

At present, the project covers not only Runruno but also barangays Baresbes, Darubba, Aurora and Dumaliguia, all in Quezon town.

The beneficiary schools of the program were the Maddiangat Elementary School, Baresbes Elementary School, Darubba Elementary School, and Runruno National High School.  Other schools are on the program’s waiting list.

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