To boost the capacity and capability of its supported people’s organizations, Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC) partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Office and the Claver Negosyo Center to hold a series of training on product development and value adding.

The series of training was held last June 2023 at the Taganito Mining Community Skills and Livelihood Development Enterprise Training Center in barangay Taganito, Claver, Surigao del Norte.

The first leg of the training series held on June 1-2 discussed the importance of adhering to Good Manufacturing Practices to guarantee food safety, maintain product quality, and enhance consumer confidence. A total of 34 participants acquired new knowledge and tools to ensure that their operations meet compliance requirements and safeguard consumer welfare.

The second leg conducted a three-day skills training on Pineapple Processing which was participated by 18 members from TMC-assisted POs, namely: CAFSPIA, SIFAS, DAPJA, and ALINDAHAW.

The training aimed to assist the groups in producing high-quality processed pineapple products, considering that the fruit is locally grown in the community. Various pineapple-based products including jam, marmalade, concentrate, wine, candy, fermented fruit juice, and sweetened juice, were the outputs of the activity.

The last leg offered a training on Leather Working 101 which was participated by TMC POs engaged in tailoring and upholstery including HAT, TAWETA, URCAP, and CGUS. The session was facilitated by Mr. Harley Dave Beltran, owner of Handcrafted by Harl's located in Laguna.

The primary objective of the training is to provide additional skills and product options to the participants. Attendees were able to create personalized keychains, coin purses, wallets, phone sleeves, bags, and card holders out of genuine leather.

Roger Parpan of TACPECCO said “we are thankful to TMC for the new learnings and knowledge on how to prepare food in a sanitary manner.”

According to Beatriz Pegarro of HAT, “we are happy to learn how to make additional products out of leather in addition to our existing skills on tailoring.”

For her part, Cecilia Vidad of CASPIA said “we are excited and thankful to apply what we learned from the training as we look forward to the harvest from our pineapple plantation.”

Taganito Mining Corporation is a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation operating in Claver, Surigao del Norte.