Due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic situation in the Caraga Region, most of the schools are following an online approach blended with other learning modes such as radio, television, online platforms and modules.

However, this pandemic has made it harder especially to Taganito Mining Corporation’s (TMC) full scholars, who don’t have laptops to keep up with their online classes.

Because of this, TMC, through its Community Relations Department, initiated a laptop subsidy program for students who wish to avail of tool for their studies.

A total of 15 scholars availed of the program wherein each received a laptop with up-to-date specs such as Intel Core i5 10th Gen Processor, Intel Iris Plus Graphics, 4GB memory, 14” HD display, 512G B SSD Storage, and Windows 10 Operating System, to name a few.

Cedie Mag-aso Conol, one of the scholars, said the laptop support from TMC helps him do his assignments and activities.

He added: “It allows me to collaborate with other students online, receive and view assignments online, and submit my work via e-mail or via Google classroom.”

“Thank you so much TMC for your continued generosity. My online class will be difficult without your generous support. Thank you for this opportunity,” he said.

Judy Ann Sangco Guitguitin said having a laptop given by the TMC is indeed a great opportunity, a big help for students to meet the demands of the new normal education system, which is the online class.

“Also, this incoming semester we will be having a thesis, and laptop is very important. Words would not suffice to express how thankful I am to have a laptop. Salamat Gajud Karajaw TMC,” she said.

According to Maryjoy Angchangco, because of the pandemic, the world is experiencing various changes and one of them is the online learning system saying that “It is indeed a big challenge for us and for me in particular since I lack in technological support.”

“Eventually, it became one of my concerns as a college student, but my worries faded away when Taganito Mining Corporation provided me a solution and that is through their project which is in focused on helping students through their laptop provision,” she said.

Boito Niño Entoc Bausing also thanked TMC for its initiatives of providing timely remedy in responding to the needs of its scholars amid the pandemic.

“I would like to thank TMC, I am very grateful to be part of a competent and responsible mining company that seeks alternatives for accessible distance learning scheme where health concern isn’t compromised. May TMC live long! Indeed, TMC cares,” said Bausing.

For his part, Christian Balbutin Edilo said “as a student in this time of pandemic, where face-to-face classes have been replaced by online learning, I am urged to buy my own laptop so I can adapt easily to the new normal.”

“Thankfully, as an initiative of TMC, they gave us a laptop support which helped me comply the different activities and presentations especially as we are now working on our research proposal. Thank you TMC for supporting our online classes and I couldn't thank you enough for making my online learning easier. God Bless always,” he added.