The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII took part in the 2022 Virtual Geoscience Workshop from February 7 to 11, 2022 via Microsoft Teams.
With the theme Moving Towards Efficient and Strategic Implementation of MGB Geoscience Programs, the workshop was attended by Geologists and GIS Specialists of the Geosciences Division of MGB Central Office and Regional Offices. Considering the unstable internet connection in Surigao City in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Odette, the MGB Regional Office No. XIII participants attended the workshop at the Butuan Grand Palace Hotel in Butuan City.
The Opening Remarks given by the Chief of Lands Geological Survey Division, Ms. Liza Socorro J. Manzano, and the Keynote Speech delivered by the MGB Director, Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano, formally started the workshop. It was then followed by the presentation of the house rules and workshop mechanics by the Geoscience Workshop Steering Committee (GWSC). Moreover, the following presentations were given on the first day of the activity: Accomplishments of the MGB Geoscience Programs for 2021 by Ms. Liza Socorro J. Manzano; Efficient and Effective Project Proposals and Management by Engr. Teodorico A. Sandoval, Chief of Planning, Policy, and International Affairs Division; Financial Performance of Geoscience Programs from 2019 to 2021 by Ms. Gloria D. Mendoza, Officer-in-Charge of the Financial Management Division; and the Updates and Concerns on Geological Laboratory Services and Geological Information Management by Ms. Jocelyn C. Villanueva, Chief of Geological Laboratory Services Section, and Mr. Federico C. Jacoba Jr. of Lands Geological Information Managament Section.
The afternoon session of the first day focused on the National Geologic Quadrangle Mapping Program (NGQMP), its status and a workshop where all the regions were required to participate and tackle the targets for the next three (3) years including the issues and concerns and the corresponding solutions and recommendations. It then ended with the presentation of the workshop outputs.
A recap of all the topics discussed on the first day was presented by the GWSC. The morning session of the second day still covered the NGQMP and it started with the presentation on the Briefer on the National Committee on Geological Sciences and Drafting of the New Philippine Stratigraphic Guide in Collaboration with the Geological Society of the Philippines and Paleontological Society.It wasfollowed by the Establishment of the Technical Review Committee (TRC), workshop on the TRC and the presentation of the workshop outputs. The National Mineral Reservation Program (NMRP) was the main topic in the afternoon. It started with the discussions about the Status of Proposed Mineral Reservations and Report Submission Guidelines, the workshop on NMRP and the presentation of workshop outputs. The day ended with the presentation on the Mineral Resource Validation and Other Mining Application Concerns.
The National Groundwater Resource and Vulnerability Assessment Program (NGRVAP) was the focus of the third day of the activity. It started with a discussion about the status of NGRVAP, a workshop and the presentation of the workshop outputs. Another discussion concerning NGRVAP was the Establishment of the TRC, which was followed by a workshop and its output presentations. Later in the afternoon, the discussions covered the Hydrogeologic Map Output and Database Concerns and the Harmonization of 1:250,000- and 1:50,000-scale hydrogeologic maps. Similarly, a workshop on the latter was then conducted and followed by the presentation of the workshop outputs.
The fourth day of the activity focused on the National Geohazard Assessment and Mapping Program (NGAMP). It began with the discussion about the status of NGAMP and the Separation of Landslide and Flood Susceptibility Maps and Enhancement of IEC Methodology. A workshop on NGAMP ended the morning session while the afternoon session started with its output presentation. The last topic discussedwas the Engineering Geological and Geohazard Assessment Report Issues and Concerns which was followed by a workshop and its output presentation afterwards.
The morning session on the fifth day carried on with the NGAMP discussions which covered the following presentations: Guidebook for Environmentally Critical Areas and Disaster-affected Areas; Standardized Methodology of Geohazard Operation Center (with a workshop) and Establishing Landslide Early Warning System Using Rainfall Thresholds in the Province of Albay, Philippines. Later in the afternoon, the closing program of the five-day workshop took place. At that time, all the workshop outputs and agreements were presented and discussed. The activity officially ended with a Closing Message from Engr. Juancho Pablo S. Calvez, OIC-Assistant Director and Concurrent Chief of Metallurgical Technology Division.
After the activity, the MGB Regional Office No. XIII participants returned to their official station in Surigao City.
