Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte / October 2013 – “We always pray to Allah that He will guide our son so he’ll be able to realize his dreams,” says Ibno Nabua, a Muslim Tausug in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte in Mindanao. Ibno’s 17-year old son, Alton, is a scholar at the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) in Dumaguete City. He is taking up BS Geology – a course closely related to mining development – which is the core business of his educational benefactor TVI Resource Development Philippines, Inc. (TVIRD) in Canatuan of the same town.
Born and raised in Siocon’s fishing village of Sta. Maria, the younger Nabua was a Math wizard awardee in his class last year and is currently among 30 TVIRD college scholars who are earning their degrees in related mining courses as well as disciplines that are relevant to the needs of the province and the Region.
Nabua’s fellow scholars under TVIRD’s program include members of the Subanon tribe and Christians of mixed ethnicities. While the company is presently winding-up its successful nine-year mining operations, its scholars will be graduating from this year until 2016.
The program’s beneficiaries come from the company’s host community and the larger municipality of Siocon – a coastal town located in the southernmost part of Zamboanga del Norte. Christians, Subanons and Muslims of different sub-tribes inhabit the town, which not so long ago was a former fourth-class municipality prior to the onset of mining operations. Today, the town is teeming with business activity, following the national government’s 2011 declaration that it is now a first class municipality.
Educational trust fund
TVIRD Community Relations Manager Joel Alasco shared that although the company’s mining operations is about to conclude, the company is making sure that its scholars will finish their studies as planned.
“Even without TVIRD, our scholars will graduate. That’s our commitment to them and their parents,” he said, revealing that the company has set aside a trust fund for its scholars. “We have already chosen a bank and we’re finalizing a procedure that will be followed by program beneficiaries until their graduation,” he added.
Alasco also said that aside from the trust fund, a dedicated Community Relations personnel acts as surrogate parent that monitors every scholar of the company.
“TVIRD’s education program OIC monitors them (scholars) from the day they enroll up to the end of every semester. She makes sure we know where they stay, their activities and coordinates with their parents so they can also visit and monitor their children.”
Young miners
Alasco also disclosed that they are a bit stricter on their six scholars undergoing the Development of Mining Technology and Geosciences (DMTG) course, which includes Nabua.
“Scholars under this program take up courses that are related to mining development such as BS Geology, Mining Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering and Chemical Engineering. At the moment, we have six and all of them are studying at NORSU,” he shared.
Alasco emphasized that TVIRD is spending more for DMTG scholars compared to beneficiaries of the company’s Social Development and Management Program (SDMP). Scholars under DMTG are studying at NORSU so even their living allowance is higher than that of the rest who are studying in Siocon and nearby Ipil and Zamboanga City,” says Alasco.
Lifelong legacy
A Mindanawan himself, Alasco believes that education is a lifelong legacy that TVIRD will leave to its host municipality. His views are shared by Antonio Timbal, also of Siocon and father of another DMTG scholar, Me-An Lyra.
“We all know that Mindanao remains poor despite being very rich in natural resources. Our sad predicament is attributed to decades of conflict, which until now remains unsolved. Peace in Mindanao is so elusive, and I think education is the solution,” said Timbal.
“During our gold and silver operations, we were able to produce nine graduates. Most of them are employed by the company, including one of our company nurses who is a Subana,” Alasco reported, adding that during the company’s current copper and zinc operation, it has 65 scholars and 30 of them have already graduated and are gainfully employed.
TVIRD is expecting another 10 graduates in 2014. These scholars are taking up Education, BS Hotel and Restaurant Management, Criminology, Environmental Engineering and at least one – who is the daughter of a former illegal miner – in Nursing, according to Alasco.
“With God’s help, two years from now we have two BS Geology graduates. They will be TVIRD’s first home-grown geologists,” Alasco beams with pride.
Grateful parents and local officials
“Kung wala ang TVIRD, dili makaeskwela ang akong anak sa kolehiyo (Had it not been for TVIRD, my son would not have been able to study in college),” exclaimed farmer-fisherman Ibno, thanking TVIRD for the scholarship program that his son enjoys. His eldest son is an Education graduate and is presently waiting for the Licensure Examinations for Teachers (LET) results. His other son is a young lieutenant in the Philippine Army while his daughter is now taking-up BS Radiologic Technology at Brent Hospital and Colleges in Zamboanga City.
“We will not forget the schools that you built, the computers that you donated, the books and the school buses you provided to our school children in Canatuan. I am sure TVIRD will not be forgotten since you helped us in molding our children into better citizens of our municipality,” said Siocon Mayor Julius Lobrigas. Local officials of Siocon are equally grateful for TVIRD’s education program for their constituents.
Young Me-An Lyra aptly summarized what the mayor said: “TVIRD will not be forgotten. Its contribution to education will live on in us.”