It had an annual income of P200 million in 2017, more than the P90 million to P180 million that a fifth-class province earns. From 2000 to 2014, the company paid P1.3 billion in royalty to Barangay Semirara. ADVERTISEMENTThe 2,277-hectare island has a mineral reserve area of 261.85 hectares, a huge portion of which is mined by SMPC. The average monthly family income on the island is P10,000 and poverty rate is 5.79 percent, according to the municipal social welfare office. So what’s left for the barangay council to do?

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 12, 2018 23:03 UTC