August 5, 2025 – Dinapigue, Isabela — Youth leaders from the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of the six barangays of Dinapigue sat down with Dinapigue Mining Corporation (DMC), a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), to discuss key sustainability issues affecting their communities—from waste management and education to Indigenous Peoples’ (IP) access to opportunities.
“It is critical that the communities we work with are onboard our sustainability efforts and are part of the journey as we endeavor to achieve our sustainability goals,” said Engr. Edwin Casiano, DMC’s Resident Mine Manager.
Raising local Concerns, driving community goals
Among the top concerns raised by the SK were solid waste management—particularly plastics—youth literacy, and access to education for IP communities. These directly support key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Quality Education (SDG 4), Reduced Inequality (SDG 10), Sustainable Communities (SDG 11), and Strong Institutions (SDG 16).
“We’ve seen on Facebook the recent flood of trash in Manila and understand the problems that plastics can bring to communities,” said Barangay Dibulo SK Chairman Marcelo Candelario. “That’s why with DMC’s help, we want to turn our plastic wastes into something of value.”
SK Chairman of Barangay Bucal Sur, Roger Corpuz—who also works as a Mine Production Coordinator at DMC—pointed to the lack of reading materials and programs to improve literacy among young people in his barangay. “We need a sustainable program to help increase reading comprehension and literacy,” he said.
Donalyn Galope, a newly licensed agriculturist, member of the Agta tribe, and a DMC Indigenous Peoples’ scholar, voiced concern about limited educational access among IP youth. “We need to increase efforts to encourage more families from the IPs to allow their youth, especially girls, to pursue college education,” she shared, adding that this remains a persistent challenge in their communities.
DMC responds with new initiatives
In response, DMC Community Relations Manager Rosaldo Buscaino emphasized the company’s ongoing and future initiatives under its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs.
“These include scholarships and plans to establish an Indigenous Learning System to support the unique education needs of our IP communities,” said Buscaino.
To address the growing waste problem, DMC also aims to partner with the Municipality of Dinapigue to set up a recycling and upcycling facility that will transform plastic and other recyclable materials into useful products.
“The mutual commitment forged between DMC and the whole of the Dinapigue Sangguniang Kabataan to address sustainability issues is half the battle already won,” Buscaino added. “We look forward to more collaborations like this with the community because at the end of the day, sustainability is a shared interest.”
