Students of Gigaquit National School of Home Industries in Municipality of Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte are benefitting from a school bus donated by Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility and commitment to support the education sector.

The turnover ceremony was led by TMC Resident Mine Manager Artemio Valeroso and was graced by Provincial Governor Francisco T. Matugas, Vice Governor Eddie Gokiangkee, Jr., BM Elvira Egay, GNSHI Prinicipal Jose Escabal, Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) Officers, and former Gigaquit Mayor Carlos Egay last March 5 at the Provincial Capitol in Surigao City.

The donation was a response to a request made by the school’s General Parents-Teachers Association which cited the school’s growing population and the challenge for students coming from far-flung barangays to attend school.

According to Escabal, “this is a manifestation of TMC’s very appreciable mining activity in the Province of Surigao del Norte.”

“Thank you very much sa Taganito Mining Corporation, salamat sa ijo social responsibility sa ato mga katawhan sa Gigaquit also. Salamat sa tanan. Dili masukod an pagpasalamat na tagbati nan ato school tungod kay inin iju taghatag na donasyon sa school nakatabang nan dako labi na sa kalisud nan ato mga ginikanan kuman sa ila pagpa eskwela sa ila mga kabataan (Thank you for your social responsibility to the people including those from Gigaquit. Thank you for everything. Our gratitude over your donation to our school cannot be measured since this is a big help to our parents as they send their children to school),” added Escabal.

Governor Matugas also cited how for many years TMC has supported the province’s programs on education such as provision of school supplies and bags and school buildings.

“And now, in behalf of the students of the Gigaquit National School of Home Industries and the Gigaquitnons, I am expressing my genuine gratitude to your good company for the 1 unit school bus you are extending for the benefit of the students and workers of the said school,” said Matugas.

“We are glad to witness another significant partnership of the Provincial Government and the mining industry. For many years now, the industry has served as our active partner in the delivery of services to the Surigaonons. Our programs in health, education and environment, agriculture and aquaculture, livelihood and tourism, and social and security services have been supported by the industry,” Matugas added.

Former PTA president, Pastor Emilliano Bintulan, also expressed his gratitude on behalf of the previous board of directors as he remarked that he witnessed that day the company's sense of responsibility.

Taganito Mining Corporation is a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation, the country’s largest producer of lateritic nickel ore and one of the largest in the world.