The Mines and Geosciences Bureau conducted the Training and Capability Building for MGB Personnel Responsible for Statistical Data and Analysis, Website Maintenance and Information Dissemination on September 18-22, 2017 at the Eurotel Vivaldi Hotel in Cubao, Metro Manila.
On the first day of the training, the registration of participants and standard preliminaries took place. In the afternoon, the MGB Central Office gave an Orientation and Updates on Reportorial Requirements such as the Overview, Directory of Operating Mines/Accredited Dealers, Metallic Forms, Non-metallic Forms, SRS Forms 1-5, Reconciliation Report/Investment Form, Integrated Annual Report for large and small-scale mines (MGB Form 29-16 Metallic/Non-Metallic Minerals & Quarry Resources Mining and MGB Form 29-17 Small Scale Mining Permittee), and Taxes Forms. The said orientation was given by the Mineral Economics, Information and Publications Division Staff of the MGB Central Office. Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano, Acting MGB Director, graced the activity and delivered words of wisdom and encouragement to motivate the participants in accomplishing their respective duties and functions.
On the second day of the training, the Preparation on the Mining Company/Provincial/Regional Profiles was discussed in detail by Ms. Marjorie C. Martinez. On behalf of the MGB Central Office, she expressed their appreciation for the Regional Offices’ efforts to accomplish the mineral profiles in compliance with the 2016 requirements of MGB. She emphasized that profiles tell a story about a company, province or region in order for the reader to better understand its background. After Ms. Martinez’s presentation, the Regional Offices had a workshop on the preparation of Company/Provincial/Regional Profiles which they presented later on. Each profile presented was both critiqued and appreciated.
In the afternoon of the second day of the training, the assessment of the Mineral Statistics Corner per region was given by Mr. Carlo Cruz of MGB Central Office. The Mineral Statistics Corner of each Regional Office’s website was comprehensively assessed in order for each Regional Office to know if it has substantially complied with the requirements. He asked the participants to cooperate in accomplishing the task at hand in order to better educate and inform the public on the subject of mining benefits to the economy. Lastly, the Development of Unified Government Website Template for MGB using Joomla was thoroughly discussed by Mr. Gaudencio C. Crisostomo, Jr. Regional Offices were asked to share their experiences in the development of their respective websites in order to come up with the unified standard agency contents applicable to all Regional Office websites.
On the third day of the training, an extensive Information Enrichment Program was carried out in order to heighten the knowledge of the participants and capacitate them in their respective duties and functions. Engr. Brenice Castillo gave a presentation on Recent Mining Laws, Rules and Regulations. As a Briefer on the Minerals Industry, she gave the Overview of the Mineral Industry’s Status, Recent Laws on Mineral Resources and Geosciences Development and Permitting System under the Philippine Mining Laws and Policies. She also presented the Requirements in the Application of Permits in Mining Operations. The lecture entitled Safety and Health, Environmental and Social Development Management: A Commitment to Responsible Mining was given by Engr. Marcial H. Mateo, Chief of Mine Rehabilitation Section of the MGB Central Office Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division.
In the afternoon, the Mining Technology Division of MGB Central Office presented the Policy Updates and Directions of DENR-MGB Relating to Small-Scale Mining in which the following topics were discussed: What is Small-Scale Mining, Small-Scale Mining Formalization Policy, Current Formalization Progress, Way Forward Directions and Obstacles and Challenges. The informative and insightful lecture on Geohazards in the Philippines was given by Mr. Raymond Thaddeus C. Ancog in which the different hazards and their mitigating measures were discussed. One of the presentations entitled National Wealth from Mining was given by Ms. Ana Diosell Soliven-Bajao, Economist II of MGB Regional Office No. XIII. Her lecture thoroughly defined national wealth and its legal basis. Ms. Bajao also informed the participants of the taxes paid by mining companies in Caraga Region; Shares of Barangay, City/Municipality, and Province; Reconciliation of Shipments and Actual implementation of Shares from the National Wealth. Lastly, Ms. Venus Amor Sarmiento gave a brief lecture on News Scoping. She gave examples as to how the Information Officers can assess the scope of news articles as well as identify the issues, policy statements, directions and implications upon which the MGB will base the action it will take. She also gave the participants an information material entitled Misconceptions on Mining and required the Regional Information Officers to produce an IEC Material on the same subject.
On the fourth day of the training, Dr. Antonia Corinthia C. N. Naz presented the In-depth Study/Cost-Benefit/Impact Analysis of an SDMP Project. The day-long lecture-workshop facilitated by Dr. Naz revolved around the Philippine Poverty- Environment Initiative SDMP Study; Introduction to Cost-Benefit Analysis; Purpose, Features and Types of Basic Steps of Cost-Benefit Analysis; Basic concepts of Cost-Benefit Analysis; Limitations of Cost-Benefit Analysis and Sample Cost-Benefit Analysis. Based on the comprehensive study of Dr. Naz, Cost-Benefit Analysis is used for the purposes of assisting in social decision making and facilitating the more efficient allocation of society’s resources (demonstrate the superior efficiency of a particular intervention relative to the alternatives, including the status quo). The features of CBA are as follows:
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- systematic categorization of impacts as benefits (pros) and costs (cons)
- valuing in monetary currency such as dollars or pesos (assigning weights)
- determining the net benefits of the proposal relative to the status quo (net benefits = benefits – costs)
Dr. Naz also shared a project which she has initiated on the Computations for Education Projects of the Social Development and Management Programs of Apex Mining Co., Inc. and Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation-Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (RTNMC-CBNC). During the workshop proper, Dr. Naz instructed the six groups of participants to accomplish the following tasks:
- Select a particular project under assigned category of SDMP;
- Prepare a cost and benefit table per category;
- Identify what costs and benefits can be quantified; and
- Identify the data needed for quantifying the costs and benefits.
As stipulated in DENR Administrative Order No. 2010-21, the Allowable Expenditures under the Social Development and Management Programs for Development of Host and Neighboring Communities (75%) are as follows:
- HRD & institutional building;
- Enterprise development and networking;
- Assistance to infrastructure development and support services;
- Access to education and educational support programs;
- Access to health services, health facilities and health professionals; and
- Protection and respect of socio-cultural values, use of facilities and services within the mine camp or plant site.
Each of the aforementioned allowable expenditures was assigned to the six groups. After the accomplishment of a cost and benefit table of their respective SDMP expenditure, all the participants were engaged in an in-depth assessment of each project.
On the last day of the Training and Capability Building, the Criteria for the Regional Rating Based on Statistical Forms and Website Maintenance were given. Similarly, the active participation of the Regional Offices was acknowledged and appreciated by the MGB Central Office.