community development

As progressive as it truly is, Hallmark Mining Corporation (HMC) does not undervalue women in the community—it empowers them. Through the creation of the Women’s and Farmers’ Association, HMC recognizes and strengthens the vital role women play in community development.

The establishment of the Women’s and Farmers’ Association is a key initiative under HMC’s community partnerships, aimed at improving productivity and expanding income opportunities. Through seminars, livelihood film screenings, community-based planning, and project implementation, HMC provides women with access to knowledge, skills, and resources that enable them to become active contributors to both household stability and community growth.

These initiatives reflect HMC’s belief that empowering women is essential not only to individual advancement but also to the well-being of families and communities. Women’s participation across all aspects of community life strengthens social cohesion and drives sustainable development. By supporting and encouraging women’s involvement, HMC helps create pathways toward broader and more inclusive prosperity.

Moreover, women’s engagement in community-based planning and project implementation helps break down long-standing barriers that limit their voices and participation. By fostering inclusive spaces, HMC ensures that women are not only heard but are also directly involved in shaping programs that affect their lives and livelihoods.

One notable example is the capacity-building activity conducted among women’s organizations in Barangay Macambol, Mati, Davao Oriental, on June 11, 2023. This initiative strengthened leadership, organizational capacity, and collaboration among local women, further reinforcing their role in community development.

HMC firmly upholds that a vital component of sustainable nickel mining is the presence of healthy, happy, and empowered women and families. This perspective aligns with the World Bank (2020), which emphasizes that when women in mining communities are empowered, they are more likely to invest in family welfare, education, and overall community well-being.

Supporting this view, Kath Digdigan, a Senior Mine Geologist at TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc., highlights that women bring unique strengths to the industry. She explains that female intuition combined with forward-thinking, instinct, character, empathy, and meticulous attention to detail, adds significant value to the workplace. She further emphasizes that women bring “heart” into their roles—enhancing collaboration and purpose within organizations.

As supported by development studies, women’s involvement enhances community well-being, strengthens inclusivity, and promotes sustainable development. Their participation is not only beneficial but essential to long-term progress.

Through its continued support and empowerment of women’s participation, HMC not only breaks barriers in a traditionally male-dominated industry but also demonstrates that women are crucial—not only in mining operations, but in advancing the overall health, resilience, and growth of the community. This underscores the importance of inclusive development, where investing in women leads to stronger, more sustainable futures for all.