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MMDC conducts community consultations for SDMP 2018

To be able to determine the pressing needs of the community, Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation (MMDC) has recently conducted series of consultations with different community leaders.

The month-long focus group discussion (FGD) aims to ascertain the needs of the communities as the basis for the implementation of MMDC’s Social Development and Management Program (SDMP).

During the FGD sessions, officials from each of the 42 barangays in Carrascal, Cantilan and Madrid that make up the company’s host, neighboring and non-mining communities identified potential programs, projects and activities under SDMP this year.

These officials are members of their respective Barangay Development Councils, which include Purok (sitio) leaders, people’s organizations representatives and sectoral leaders.

Facilitated by MMDC’s community relations officers, the FGDs also became a venue where the barangay leaders and the company shared relevant socio-economic data, development ideas and other important local concerns. 

At the end of each discussion, barangay leaders presented their own programs, projects and activities in accordance with SDMP fund utilization mechanisms of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

In addition, community stakeholders also agreed among themselves the guidelines of the proposed allocations to enable the effective and efficient utilization of any allocated funds.

SDMP components consist of yearly community programs in areas that include health, education, livelihood, public facilities and socio-cultural promotion.  Its allocation is equivalent to 1.5% of a mining company’s annual operating cost.

Under the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, SDMP funds should be used for the “sustained improvement in the living standards of the host and neighboring communities by creating responsible, self-reliant and resource-based communities capable of developing, implementing and managing community development programs, projects, and activities in a manner consistent with the principle of people empowerment.” 

Aside from annual FGDs, MMDC holds barangay assemblies twice a year and meet with the Representatives of Host and Neighboring Communities (RHNC) on a quarterly basis to keep itself abreast on pressing community issues.