Philex sets biz centers for folk

TUBA, Benguet – Philex Mining Corp. here in partnership with Foundation for People Development recently launched four community business and technology centers to boost liverlihood of local folk here, now considered a first in the country.

The programs, under the mine company’s community enterprise development program aim to also address educational, social, cultural and spiritual concerns of the over 1,500 Philex-Padcal workforce, their families and neighboring communities.

According to Philex officials, the program is a showcase to the world that esponsible mining is a partner of community development.

This year, much of Philex's efforts centered on developing the four CBTCs like on livestock techno-business, an establishment which has a gene transfer facility to improve breeds of livestock, dairy beef cattle, dairy barn and milk processing plant .

Projects include setting up a coffee and agro-forestry center to produce the world famous Arabica coffee and introduce other forest products.

A meat processing center will also produce comparable and competitive meat processed products and packaging services.

Also in line is an integrated agri-aquaculture area which includes vegetable and cut flower production and a greenhouse aquaculture project

The CBTCs shall serve as avenues to access to technology whereby specialists are assigned to assist beneficiaries gain skills and assist in preparation of their individual business plans, access tomarket not only locally but also through the North Food Exchange being constructed in Bulacan.

Access to capital from various entities is also a part of the projects including management system by training the participants on how to manage their enterprises.

Fulfilling its corporate social responsibility, Philex envisions a program that will socially transform its employees and their families and its host and neighboring communities and enable them all to achieve both individual and collective self-reliance and sustainability.

The past five decades, the mining firm has been instrumental in the development and advancement of its work force as well as the empowerment of the residents in host communities to be self-reliant and resourceful in the search for sufficient sources of livelihood that could spark economic development in their places.