Claver LGU, private partner boost education with turnover of school building
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — A local community in Barangay Cagdianao in Claver, Surigao del Norte, recently received a newly constructed two-story, four-classroom senior high school building from the municipal government through partnership with the Platinum Group Metals Corporation (PGMC), a mining company.
Funded through PGMC’s Social Development and Management Program (SDMP), the project stands as a testament to a successful and sustainable public-private partnership (PPP) between the local government unit of Claver and the responsible mining sector.
According to the LGU, the state-of-the-art facility is designed to provide a safer, more conducive, and resilient learning environment for the youth. “For years, communities in mining areas have looked toward sustainable development that outlasts mining operations. This infrastructure represents a long-term investment in human capital and community empowerment.”
During the ceremonial turnover, PGMC President Dante R. Bravo said, “The project is more than just concrete and steel; it represents the company’s enduring commitment to lifting its host and neighboring communities.”
“By prioritizing education, the partnership ensures that the benefits of mineral resource development are directly funneled into building a brighter future for the next generation,” Bravo added.
Surigao del Norte Department of Education Schools Division Legal Officer Claire Galavia expressed gratitude for the significant infrastructure, noting that the timely completion of the building directly addresses classroom shortages.
“When the government and private mining corporations align their visions for social development, the ultimate winners are the grassroots communities,” she said. “The collaboration in Barangay Cagdianao serves as a model blueprint on how responsible mining, when paired with proactive local governance, can drive meaningful and long-term developmental change in the province of Surigao del Norte.”
Meanwhile, the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) is a mandated mechanism in the Philippine mining sector that aims to improve the living standards of host and neighboring communities.
Through infrastructure, livelihood, education, and healthcare projects, partner companies such as PGMC continue to champion responsible mining as a catalyst for progressive and inclusive regional growth. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte)
