The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII held the Media Forum on Mining Concerns on February 3, 2022 at the Butuan Grand Palace Hotel in Butuan City.
The forum is an initiative of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and is conducted in regions with priority mining projects. Caraga is the fourth region to conduct the said activity. On the same note, the forum featured recent MGB policies and projects of the minerals industry. The significant contributions of the minerals industry as a major economic driver and recovery option amidst the pandemic were underscored.
The forum started with a very engaging Welcome Remarks by DENR Caraga Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services, For. Maritess M. Ocampo. It was followed by Inspirational Messages delivered by MGB Director Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano and DENR Undersecretary for Attached Agencies, Mining and Muslim Affairs Jim O. Sampulna.
At the forum, the Environmental Management Bureau Director, Engr. William P. Cuñado, reminded the participants of the lofty vision of protection and compliance of environmental laws. Dir. Cuñado laid emphasis on the collaboration that the government and the various stakeholders of the minerals industry must undertake in order to realize that vision. Affirming that same vision, Usec. Sampulna underlined the significance of minerals around us and the numerous benefits that everyone continues to reap from them. He also recognized the invaluable assistance of the minerals industry in the midst of the pandemic and other calamities.
Featured at length during the forum was the Recent National Mining Policies presented by Ms. Judy Ann C. Mejorada, MGB Regional Office No. XIII Geologist and Monitoring Officer. The heart of the presentations comprised the priority projects of the following mining companies:
Mineral Production Sharing Agreement
- AAM-PHIL Natural Resources Exploration and Development Corporation
- Brightgreen Resources Corporation
- Comet Mining Exploration Corporation
- Kafugan Mining, Inc.
- Ludgoron Mining Corporation
- North Dinagat Mineral Resources Corporation
- Phil-Alstron Mining Corporation
- Stagno Mining Corporation
- Silangan Mindanao Mining Company, Inc.
Exploration Permit
• Macquarie Mineral Resources Corporation
Special Mines Permit
• Rosario Manobo Mining Corporation
Application for Exploration Permit
• Tagbina Limestone Resources Corporation
Declared Minahang Bayan Area
• Placer Small-Scale Mining Association, Inc.
From the MGB Central Office, Engr. Danilo D. Deleña, Chief of Mining Tenements Management Division, and Engr. Marcial H. Mateo, Chief of Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division, attended the forum and took part in the discussions about issues and concerns related to the priority projects. On the same note, the Philippine Information Agency Caraga Regional Office and various media outlets participated in the said event and provided the news coverage.
Towards the end of the forum, MGB Caraga Regional Director Larry M. Heradez presented the Synthesis of the Forum and gave the Closing Remarks.
Media practitioners, local government units, environmental advocates, mining councils and other stakeholders participated in the said forum which was conducted by way of combined face-to-face and virtual meeting arrangements via Zoom Platform and Facebook Live in keeping with the mandated safety and health COVID-19 protocols.
