Caraga MRFC meetings and MMT inspections carry on amidst the pandemic

The Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committees (MRFCs) and the Multi-partite Monitoring Teams (MMTs) of Caraga mining companies have carried on with their respective duties by conducting regular and special meetings and inspections amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It may be recalled that the MRFC is a body that consists of private and public entities. One of its major duties and responsibilities is to ensure that the approved Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP)/Annual EPEP (AEPEP) of the mining and mineral processing projects shall be strictly implemented. The MRFC deputizes the MMT as its monitoring arm.  The MRFC meetings and MMT inspections are regularly conducted quarterly for operating companies and semi-annually for non-operating companies. The unprecedented effects of the pandemic, which include a series of lockdowns and quarantine protocols, hampered the conduct of the meetings and inspections.  In response to the current situation, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) released Regional Memorandum Order continue reading : Caraga MRFC meetings and MMT inspections carry on amidst the pandemic

MGB ROXIII takes part in 62nd Regular Session of Surigao del Norte Sangguniang Panlalawigan

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII took part in the 62nd Regular Session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Surigao del Norte on September 14, 2020 at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall in Surigao City. At the said session presided by Board Member Cayetano L. Recabo, Regional Director Glenn Marcelo C. Noble presented the Caraga Minerals Industry Updates with emphasis on Surigao del Norte.  RD Noble walked the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Members through the Minerals Industry Statistics, Environmental and Social Development Commitments and Compliances and discussed them at length.  He underscored that the Caraga minerals industry’s implementation of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program and the Social Development and Management Program affirms its compliance with all existing laws and policies, environmental preservation efforts and commitment to the socioeconomic advancement of mining and non-mining communities. On the same note, RD Noble gave an account of the all-out support of continue reading : MGB ROXIII takes part in 62nd Regular Session of Surigao del Norte Sangguniang Panlalawigan

MGB ROXIII advocates Towards Sustainable Mining Program

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office (RO) No. XIII advocated the Mindanao Rollout of Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Program on August 26, 2020 via Zoom Platform.  TSM Initiative Leaders representing member-companies with Mindanao-based projects participated in the said rollout which was organized by the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines and the TSM Community of Interest Panel of Advisory in cooperation with the Canadian Embassy Trade Mission. Regional Director Glenn Marcelo C. Noble was invited to grace the rollout and deliver words of encouragement.  In his speech, RD Noble stated that the adoption of TSM in the country is indeed a milestone for the Philippine minerals industry as this will be the journey towards accountability, transparency and credibility which are the core strengths of the TSM Program. He added that the implementation of the TSM Program would greatly improve the image of the minerals industry and ensure that continue reading : MGB ROXIII advocates Towards Sustainable Mining Program

MGB ROXIII conducts Coastal Geohazard Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping

With the completion of the 1:10,000 Scale Coastal Geohazard Assessment Project, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office No. XIII is presently conducting coastal vulnerability assessment and mapping on the country’s coastal areas with identified high accretion and erosion susceptibility. A team of Geologists and Geologic Aide had conducted Coastal Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping in the Municipalities of Gigaquit and Bacuag, Surigao del Norte. The fieldwork consists of two phases which will be held during the monsoon season of habagat (southwest monsoon) and amihan (northeast monsoon). Phase 1 was already completed on August 17-22, 2020 wherein the team accomplished the undertaking in two municipalities consisting of five coastal barangays, namely Barangays Ipil, Alambique, and Anibongan in the Municipality of Gigaquit and Barangays Cabugao and Poblacion in the Municipality of Bacuag. The activities for the Coastal Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping in the municipality includes Coastal Integrity Vulnerability Assessment Tool (CIVAT), continue reading : MGB ROXIII conducts Coastal Geohazard Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping

MGB ROXIII plays a part in strengthening women participation in resilient development

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office (RO) No. XIII played a part in the Webinar on Pursuing Climate-, Gender-, and Health-responsive Mineral Resources Development Programs via Zoom Platform on August 12, 2020. The said webinar is the last of the seven-part webinar series which was hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) National Gender and Development Focal Point System and Climate Change Service. It was attended by the Directors, GAD Focal Persons and Planning Chiefs of the DENR Central Office Services, Bureaus and Attached Agencies and the Regional Executive Directors, GAD Focal Persons, Climate Change Focal Persons, Planning Chiefs, and Regional Public Affairs Officers of DENR Regional Offices. From the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and Environmental Management Bureau Regional Offices, Regional Directors, GAD Focal Persons, Climate Change Focal Persons, Planning Chiefs, and Regional Environmental Education and Information Officers also took part in the said activity. continue reading : MGB ROXIII plays a part in strengthening women participation in resilient development

Caraga mining firms planted 1.43 million seedlings for 2019 Mining Forest Program

In an effort to carry on with its intensive reforestation program, Caraga mining firms have planted a total of 1,435,442 seedlings and reforested more than 751.96 hectares of mined-out areas, buffer zones, mangroves and other applicable planting sites in CY 2019.  Caraga mining firms have implemented the Mining Forest Program (MFP) pursuant to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order (DAO) No. 22, series of 1989.  The MFP, originally the Adopt-A-Tree Adopt-A-Mining Forest Program, was initiated in 1989 and requires the establishment of mining forests within mined-out areas, waste dumps, denuded and sparsely vegetated lands and areas adopted by the mining firms through a Memorandum of Agreement. As of December 2019, twenty-nine (29) mining firms have planted a total area of 8,269 hectares with more than 12 billion seedlings of indigenous and exotic species including mangrove propagules since the MFP started in the region back in 1990. continue reading : Caraga mining firms planted 1.43 million seedlings for 2019 Mining Forest Program

Caraga minerals industry contributes P129.52M to Bayanihan to Heal as One Act

In affirmation of its all-out support to the National Government’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Caraga minerals industry provided assistance in the amount of P129,520,159.11 to affected impact and non-impact communities of mining operations pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 11469, otherwise known as the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act”, which was signed into law by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on March 24, 2020. In consonance with the implementation of RA No. 11469, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Acting Director Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano issued a Memorandum dated March 27, 2020 authorizing the mining companies to realign unutilized funds of the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) in support of affected impact and non-impact communities due to the pandemic. Moreover, Dir. Moncano issued another Memorandum dated July 21, 2020 terminating the realignment of the SDMP unutilized funds effective August 1, 2020 considering that RA No. 11469 has continue reading : Caraga minerals industry contributes P129.52M to Bayanihan to Heal as One Act

MGB ROXIII, Surigao City ENRO support legalization of small-scale mining

In support of the undertaking to legalize small-scale mining, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office (RO) No. XIII attended a consultation meeting with barangay officials and small-scale miners on July 8, 2020 in Barangay Nabago, Surigao City. The participation of MGB RO NO. XIII was in response to the request of Surigao City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Engr. Elmer C. Tecson, for technical assistance in the conduct of a consultation meeting. The said request of Engr. Tecson was anchored on the legal basis of BarangayResolution No. 021 Series of 2020 of Barangay Nabago dated June 22, 2020 primarily passed to put an end to illegal small-scale mining in the mountainous area of Barangay Nabago.  Regional Director (RD) Glenn Marcelo C. Noble and his technical staff attended the meeting.    To start the program, Punong Barangay Alberto D. Aba-a delivered the welcome remarks highlighting the current predicament of continue reading : MGB ROXIII, Surigao City ENRO support legalization of small-scale mining

MGB ROXIII GAD Focal Point System strengthens women participation in resilient development

The Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office (RO) No. XIII took part in the Webinar Series on Pursuing Climate-, Gender-, and Health-responsive Programs on Environment and Natural Resources Managementvia Zoom Platform on July 8 to 9, 2020. The webinar series aimed to increase the participants’ understanding of the links of biodiversity management, climate change, disasters, gender and health and identify possible entry points and recommendations in the pursuit of climate-, gender-, and health-responsive environment and natural resources management programs.  Hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) National Gender and Development Focal Point System and Climate Change Service, the said activity was attended by the Directors, GAD Focal Persons and Planning Chiefs of the DENR Central Office Services, Bureaus and Attached Agencies and the Regional Executive Directors, GAD Focal Persons, Climate Change Focal Persons, Planning Chiefs, and Regional continue reading : MGB ROXIII GAD Focal Point System strengthens women participation in resilient development

MGB ROXIII capacitates PMC, MMPRC

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office (RO) No. XIII capacitated the Department Managers and Environmental Management System Auditors of Philsaga Mining Corporation (PMC) and Mindanao Mineral Processing and Refining Corporation (MMPRC) with its technical assistance through the Seminar-Workshop on Mining Laws and Policies on June 18-19, 2020 at the PMC Training Room in Rosario, Agusan del Sur. Following the minimum health protocol during this time of pandemic, a technical team facilitated the two-day seminar-workshop in response to the invitation of PMC. The team was composed of seven (7) MGB RO No. XIII personnel headed by Regional Director Glenn Marcelo C. Noble. The seminar-workshop is one of PMC’s activities in the approved Annual Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program for CY 2020, specifically on training and awareness of employees on mining and environmental laws and policies. The MGB team was welcomed by Engr. Ferdinand A. Cortes, PMC Resident Manager and continue reading : MGB ROXIII capacitates PMC, MMPRC