The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII led the 2017 Environment Month Celebration of the Caraga minerals industry.
MGB RXIII, in cooperation with the Caraga Mine Environmental Management Council and the Community Relations, Education & Development Officers Organization (CREDO), Inc., conducted a four-day Information, Education and Communication Caravan in select areas within Caraga Region which culminated in a Press Conference in Butuan City.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Connecting People to Nature” which encourages us to think about how we are part of nature and how we independently depend on it. In line with the theme, the caravan aimed to educate people from non-mining communities how the minerals industry plays its role in the utilization of vast mineral resources and the efforts made by mining companies to give back to nature measures for protection and enhancement and social development. The following mining companies took part in various activities during the 2017 Environment Month Celebration:
- AAMPHIL Natural Resources Exploration & Development Corporation Parcel 1
- AAMPHIL Natural Resources Exploration & Development Corporation Parcel 2B
- Adnama Mining Resources Incorporated
- Agata Mining Ventures Incorporated
- Cagdianao Mining Corporation
- Carrascal Nickel Corporation
- CTP Construction and Mining Corporation
- Greenstone Resources Corporation
- Hinatuan Mining Corporation
- Manila Mining Corporation
- Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation
- Mindanao Mineral Processing and Refining Corporation
- Oriental Synergy Mining Corporation
- Oriental Vision Mining Philippines Corporation
- Philsaga Mining Corporation
- Platinum Group Metals Corporation
- Silangan Mindanao Mining Company Inc.
- Sinosteel Philippines HY Mining Corporation
- SR Metals Incorporated
- Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation
- Taganito Mining Corporation
- Wellex Mining Corporation I & II
- Westernshore Nickel Corporation
IEC Caravan in Loreto
A total of 423 participants attended the IEC Caravan on June 27, 2017 at the Loreto Municipal Gym in Loreto, Province of Dinagat Islands. The caravan started with a tree planting activity at the Linao Spring Resort in Brgy. Esperanza where participants planted a total of 500 seedlings of agoho (Casuarina equisetifolia), mangkono (Xanthostemon verdugonianus) and sagimsim (Syzygium albayanse). During the program,mining companies engaged the enthusiasm and participation of high school students who keenly took part in the lectures and trivia games.
IEC Caravan in Surigao City
Approximately 194 participants gathered on June 28, 2017 at the Go Negosyo Center Function Hall in Capitol Compound, Surigao City for the second leg of the IEC Caravan. The tree planting activity was held at Macalaya Elementary School in Placer, Surigao del Norte. A total of 204 seedlings of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), agoho (Casuarina equisetifolia), mangkono (Xanthostemon verdugonianus), ipi-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala) and Acacia mangium species were planted in the school grounds by representatives of mining companies along with elementary pupils of the school. A total of 124 seedlings were donated to the teachers of the same school which is partly in compliance of Surigao del Norte mining companies with the Adopt-A-School Program (Arbor Day) in which the seedlings and other logistics for the activity are provided.
During the caravan, the media practitioners appreciated the presentations specifically on the economic contributions of mining, environmental mitigating measures implemented for the AEPEP and the social development projects realized through the SDMP. They expressed that IEC programs should be enforced so that people especially from non-mining communities will become aware of what the minerals industry has contributed to society as well as to correct misconceptions about the industry.
IEC Caravan in Cantilan
The third day of the IEC Caravan was conducted on June 29, 2017 at the Cantilan Municipal Gym in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur. A total number of 384 participants attended the caravan and participated in the tree planting activity at the roadside of Brgy. Consuelo. Approximately 500 narra (Ptericarpus indicus) seedlings were planted.
Prior to the program, participants enjoyed the games and distribution of company souvenirs from Surigao del Sur mining companies (CNC, MMDC and CTPCMC). The academe actively took part in the open forum as they sought updates from companies on their recent programs for environmental protection and social development. MGB RXIII assured the academe that there is an improvement with regard to the programs of mining companies. It was underscored that livelihood programs will be the top priority of MGB RXIII in the coming years. Strengthened partnership from mining stakeholders, specifically the academe, is encouraged in the field of research and development which is deemed most beneficial to come up with effective mine rehabilitation strategies.
IEC Caravan in Butuan City
The last leg of the caravan was held on June 30, 2017 at the Caraga State University in Ampayon, Butuan City with a total of 315 participants. The tree planting activity was held at the CSU Forest Park which signified the participants’ responsibility and contribution as stewards of the earth. A total of 230 seedlings of narra (Ptericarpus indicus), toog (Petersianthus quadrialatus) and almon (Shorea almon) were planted within the school grounds.
CSU emphasized its appreciation to the contributions of the minerals industry to the lives of its students who were granted scholarships through the SDMP. The industry has also donated a laboratory with equipment for ore sample preparations. Similarly, the industry is also an active partner in the research and development endeavors of the academe. During the program, the energetic crowd of students and representatives of people’s organizations heartily took part in the trivia games related to the presentations.
The details on the topics and corresponding speakers during the four-day Caraga-wide IEC Caravan are as follows:
|
Location |
Speaker 1 Importance of Mining |
Speaker 2 |
Speaker 3 Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program |
Speaker 4 Social Development and Management Program |
| Day 1 Loreto |
Franklin Jardeleza (CMC) | Francis Glenn N. Suante (MGB RXIII) | Jjam S. Cutillas (LMC) | Ma. Rosie Limpioso (OSMC) |
| Day 2 Surigao City |
Merry Day Palma (PGMC) | RD Roger A. De Dios (MGB RXIII) | Robert T. Francisco (TMC) | Aaron Paul T. Duhaylungsod (HMC-TNP) |
| Day 3 Cantilan |
Karen Joy de Guzman (CTP CMC) | RD Roger A. De Dios (MGB RXIII) | Manuel Torres (MMDC) | Karen Gacosta (CNC) |
| Day 4 Butuan City |
Beann A. Natural (SRMI) | RD Roger A. De Dios (MGB RXIII)) | Jesalyn A. Guingguing (AMVI) | Jeanette G. Celedio (PMC) |
Press Conference
The Press Conference was held on June 30, 2017 at the Almont Inland Resort and Convention Center in Butuan City. It aimed to heighten public awareness of the current state of Caraga minerals industry. In the same way, it aimed to foster the participation of and dialogue between the media and the mining stakeholders in achieving their common goals of responsible mining, ecological sustainability and social development. The MGB also hopes to forge collaborative ties with its media colleagues in the promotion of accountability, transparency and equity.
Representatives of Butuan City media outfits; Philippine Information Agency Caraga Regional Office; Caraga Mine Environmental Management Council and the Community Relations, Education and Development Officers Organization (CREDO), Inc., participated in the press conference. Resident Mine Managers, Mine Environmental Protection and Enhancement Officers, Community Relations Officers and a good number of personnel from mining companies were also present.
DENR Caraga Regional Director Charlie E. Fabre graced the press conference. In his message, Dir. Fabre stressed that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will enhance the national greening program and will focus on the community level in implementing said program. He added that the implementation of the ‘Bantay Dagat’ and ‘Bantay Gubat’ Programs of DENR will also be improved to better address pressing issues in the different provinces of the region.
To give the media a better understanding of current mining issues, Regional Director Roger A. De Dios presented the State of Caraga Minerals Industry. In the same way, Engr. Beann A. Natural of SR Metals, Inc. gave a presentation on the Importance of Mining in order for the media and other invited stakeholders to better appreciate the contributions of the minerals industry to society.
After the presentations, reporters from Butuan City media outfits asked questions and raised various mining issues during the Question and Answer Session. Towards the end of the press conference, a brief interaction between the media practitioners and the mining stakeholders ensued.
Aside from the IEC Caravan and the Press Conference, Caraga mining companies have initiated various activities to celebrate the 2017 Environment Month.
