MGBEA Forum: Fostering Workplace Wellness

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau conducted the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Employees Association Continuing Employees Welfare Program and Benefits Forum (Series VI) on May 17 to 19, 2023 at the Swiss-Belhotel Blulane in Sta. Cruz, Manila. The theme of this year’s forum is Building a Healthy and Productive MGB Workforce through a Sustained Workplace Wellness Program. It was spearheaded by the MGBEA National Chapter and participated by Officers of MGBEA National, Central and Regional Chapters. The three-day event aimed to introduce and promote the basic concepts and principles of Workplace Wellness to strengthen the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) provisions on Employees Welfare and Development. Day One focused on the lecture presentations (re-echo of CSC-CSI Course) on the Eight (8) Dimensions of Workplace Wellness given by the selected MGBEA National Officers. These dimensions are physical, mental/emotional, occupational health and safety, social/community, career, spiritual, financial, and intellectual. A continuation of the lectures continue reading : MGBEA Forum: Fostering Workplace Wellness

Nickel prices weakened in the 1st quarter of CY 2023

Based on the platform London Metal Exchange (LME), the trend as to the performance of nickel prices declined in the first three months of the year 2023. As shown in the graph, there was a big drop of approximately 23.39% in the prices from US$31,118 per metric ton (MT) on the 3rd day of January 2023 to US$23,838 per MT on the last day of March 2023.  The LME is a world center for the trading of industrial metals. Some of the observed factors considered in the decrease of the nickel prices are as follows: Increasing supply from Indonesia coupled with a slower-than-forecast demand rebound from China that hit the market in the first quarter, which created a slowdown at a time when the industry is still recovering from the year 2022 LME meltdown. (The LME nickel meltdown is attributed to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 which sparked continue reading : Nickel prices weakened in the 1st quarter of CY 2023

MGB ROXIII building: A piece of history

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII building is fast becoming a landmark in Surigao City. Highlighting it is the newly-constructed flagpole featuring the emblems of Caraga mining companies in recognition of their significant socioeconomic contributions to national progress.  The emblems represent the Caraga minerals industry and affirm its rich mining history which dates back to pre-colonial times.  Dubbed as the mining capital of the Philippines, Caraga Region is blessed with vast mineral reserves, tracts of potential mining lands and numerous mining operations.

MGB ROXIII, Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands conduct Public Hearing for the Disestablishment of the Proposed 402.8-hectare Provincial Government Center from the Mineral Reservation

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII, in cooperation with the Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands, conducted the Public Hearing for the Disestablishment of the 402.8-hectare Provincial Government Center from the Mineral Reservation on March 27 to 28, 2023 at Barangays Wilson and Cuarinta, Municipality of San Jose and Barangay Doña Helene, Municipality of Basilisa in the Province of Dinagat Islands. Governor Nilo P. Demerey, Jr., Regional Director Larry M. Heradez and representatives of Mayors Yngwie Hero B. Ecleo and Ozzy Reuben M. Ecleo delivered messages during the activity. On the same note, the activity featured presentations on Updates on the Status of the Disestablishment of the 402.8-hectare Area Covered by Presidential Proclamation No. 391 by Engr. Kimlloyd Y. Manzanares, Monitoring Officer of MGB Regional Office No. XIII; Result of the Geologic Assessment of the Area Covered by the Proposed Provincial Government Center by Mr. Noel G. Lumague, continue reading : MGB ROXIII, Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands conduct Public Hearing for the Disestablishment of the Proposed 402.8-hectare Provincial Government Center from the Mineral Reservation

MGB, Philippine mining industry carry on with 2nd Series of Public Relations and Crisis Management Training

In support of the National Unified Information, Education and Communication Program of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Philippine mining industry, the 2nd Series of the Public Relations and Crisis Management Training was conducted on February 28 to March 4, 2023 at the Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. Information Officers, Community Affairs Officers and key personnel of the Social Development Section from the MGB Central and Regional Offices, together with select participants from mining companies, took part in the said training which was organized by the Mineral Economics, Information and Publication Division of MGB Central Office in cooperation with the NUIECP National Steering Commitee.  The program started with the Welcome Remarks of Ms. Angelita Lee, Co-Chair of the NUIECP National Steering Commitee.  It was then followed by the Inspirational Message of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines Executive Director and NUIECP National continue reading : MGB, Philippine mining industry carry on with 2nd Series of Public Relations and Crisis Management Training

MGB conducts Levelling Sessions on Gender and Development

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau conducted the Levelling Sessions on Basic Gender and Development Concepts, Gender Analysis and GAD Planning and Budgeting for MGB GAD Focal Point System on February 20 to 23, 2023 at the El Vistra Hotel in Angeles City, Pampanga.  The sessions aimed to achieve the following objectives: level off the knowledge and skills of participants on Basic GAD Concepts,  Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC1), Gender Analysis, Gender Analysis Tools, and GAD Plan and Budget to help them strengthen gender mainstreaming at MGB; clarify concerns on administration and utilization of results of Gender Analysis Tools to contribute to the development of gender-responsive GAD Plan and Budget; enhance the skills of participants in developing comprehensive annual GAD Plan and Budget; and enable the participants to appreciate the significant role of gender mainstreaming as a strategy towards gender-responsive operations. Representatives of the GAD Focal continue reading : MGB conducts Levelling Sessions on Gender and Development

MGB ROXIII attends 2023 Geoscience Workshop

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII attended the 2023 Geoscience Workshop on February 20 to 24, 2023 at the Sequoia Hotel in Quezon City. With the theme Cultivating a Culture of Progressive and Synergistic Implementation of Geoscience Programs: Sustaining a Legacy of Excellence, the blended workshop was attended by Division Chiefs, Section Chiefs and Geologists of Geoscience Division from the MGB Central Office and the Regional Offices. The virtual participants attended the workshop via Microsoft Teams. The workshop started with the Opening Remarks of Ms. Liza Socorro J. Manzano, Chief Geologist of Lands Geological Survey Division (LGSD).  On a special note, Engr. Nonita S. Caguioa, DENR Assistant Secretary for Finance, Information Systems and Mining Concerns, and Dr. Carlos Primo C. David, DENR Undersecretary for Integrated Environmental Science and Supervising Undersecretary for the River Basin Control Office, graced the opening program.  Asec. Caguioa gave an Inspirational Message while continue reading : MGB ROXIII attends 2023 Geoscience Workshop

Automated Processing of OTP and MOEP Project of MGB ROXIII and CSU: A milestone in the mining industry

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII, in cooperation with the Caraga State University (CSU), successfully introduced the Automated Processing of Ore Transport Permit (OTP) and Mineral Ore Export Permit (MOEP) Project to mining companies, mineral processing plants and partner government agencies in Caraga Region through a two-day workshop on February 20 to 21, 2023. The Automated Processing of OTP and MOEP Project is part of the CSU’s three-year research program entitled Accelerated R&D Program for Capacity Building of Research and Development Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness: Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) Program: Sustainable Mineral and Mining Operations using Industry 4.0 headed by the CSU President, Dr. Rolyn C. Daguil.  The said project is one of the three project components of ICT4RM 2.0: Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation of Mining Resources and its Contribution Using Predictive Analytics and Collective Intelligence under the project team of Dr. Alexander continue reading : Automated Processing of OTP and MOEP Project of MGB ROXIII and CSU: A milestone in the mining industry

MGB ROXIII, CSU collaborate on ICT for Responsible Mining Project

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII and the Caraga State University (CSU) are key partners in the advocacy of responsible mining in Caraga Region. Recently, CSU was granted a 3-year research program entitled “Accelerated R&D Program for Capacity Building of Research and Development Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness: Niche Centers ln the Regions for R&D (NICER) Program: Sustainable Mineral and Mining Operations using Industry 4.0” by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) under the Science for Change Program (S4CP).  Headed by CSU President Dr. Rolyn C. Daguil, the said research program has 3 project components, one of which is the ICT4RM 2.0: Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation of Mining Resources and its contribution using Collective Intelligence.   The MGB Regional Office No. XIII will be the initial stakeholder and the recipient of M&E ICT Tools for continue reading : MGB ROXIII, CSU collaborate on ICT for Responsible Mining Project

MGB ROXIII distributes 2023 Safety and Health Program Certificates of Approval

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII distributed Certificates of Approval (COAs) for the 2023 Safety and Health Program (SHP) to 27 mining companies during the Caraga Mine Safety and Health Council Meeting on January 21, 2023 at the MGB Regional Office No. XIII Training Center in Surigao City. The SHP was developed as a comprehensive plan to ensure that mine workers have a fair, secure, and humane working environment through the promotion of safety and health culture, enforcement of safety and health rules and regulations, participation in trainings and the development of human resources, and establishment of an efficient system of monitoring, inspection, and investigation to improve the safety and health programs of Caraga mines. The first batch of the COAs were distributed to the following mining companies: Hinatuan Mining Corporation Pacific Cement Philippines, Inc. (2 projects) Equi-Parco Construction Company Adfil Corporation – Pianing Project Adfil Corporation continue reading : MGB ROXIII distributes 2023 Safety and Health Program Certificates of Approval