Baguio City (9 February) -- Giving importance to learning, Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMCo) includes education as a primary component under its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP). Residents of the host and neighboring communities have always identified infrastructure among their priority needs, but more recently, they now see education as a major item in the SDMP.

According to barangay officials, education is a good legacy that they would leave to their constituents. In the first semester of SY 2007-2008, LCMCo spent a total of Php 353,109.75 for the tuition fees and allowances of its 72 LEAP scholars.

Barangay officials accept and initially screen applicants during their barangay meetings which are later validated in the field by the company¢s Community Development office. The LEAP is open also to indigenous people of the Municipalities of Mankayan in Benguet and Cervantes & Quirino in Ilocos Sur.

Lepanto earlier entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with three state colleges namely, Benguet State University (BSU) in La Trinidad, BSU-Loo in Buguias and the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC) in Cervantes. It was only last year that the Municipality of Quirino requested that private schools be included since courses that scholars preferred are not offered at the state colleges mentioned. The LEAP is now available to students at the state College in Mt. Province, which is closer to Mankayan and Cervantes.