SunStar
LEYTE. Black sand mining in Barangay Maya, MacArthur, Leyte (File photo)
+ PEPITO Guimalan, 50, said he was mired in debts for many years.
Just like other residents in the sleepy village of Maya in MacArthur, Leyte, Guimalan also hoped to find a way out from poverty amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
When a mining company came to their town, Guimalan said the residents suddenly found a reason to stay instead of going to Manila to look for a job.
Around 150 of the 300 villagers were hired as laborers, foremen, skilled workers, timekeepers and kitchen cooks for the women.
“They now earned a minimum salary of P325. This is even higher compared to the P200 they earned in a day’s work in rice fields,” said Guimalan.