Caraga minerals industry spent P2.6B for 2019 Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program

The Caraga minerals industry has upheld its commitment to protect the environment and implement initiatives to enhance nature as it continues to fuel economic growth. For CY 2019, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII has recorded a total amount of PhP2,605,357,379.00 spent by mining companies in the region for the implementation of the Annual Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (AEPEP). The AEPEP is in compliance with Section 171 of DENR Administrative Order No. 2010-21, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, wherein a mining company shall allocate for its annual environment-related expense a percentage which may approximate a minimum of three to five percent (3-5%) of its direct mining and milling costs depending on the environment/geologic condition, nature and scale of operations and technology employed. Based on MGB Memorandum Circular No. 2018-02, the AEPEP is divided into seven continue reading : Caraga minerals industry spent P2.6B for 2019 Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program

Caraga minerals industry continues to respond to the call of Bayanihan

The Caraga minerals industry continues to respond to the call of Republic Act 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 Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Acting Director, Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano, issued a Memorandum authorizing the mining companies to realign unutilized funds of the Social Development and Management Program in support of affected impact and non-impact communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Seventeen (17) Caraga mining companies have realigned a total amount of PhP 125,429,924.58 as of May 27, 2020 for the said purpose, of which a total amount of PhP 106,801,998.67 has been expended as follows: A considerable number of mining and non-mining communities including front liners have reaped benefits from the relief efforts and other means of support of continue reading : Caraga minerals industry continues to respond to the call of Bayanihan

Mining Companies step up to help their communities as a response to COVID-19 threat.
MGB ROXIII, Caraga minerals industry collaborate to implement Bayanihan to Heal as One Act

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office (RO) No. XIII and the Caraga minerals industry have collaborated to ensure that the objectives of Republic Act No. 11469, otherwise known as the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act”, are achieved. Various measures to promote quarantine, social distancing, sanitation, cleanliness, and provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) were undertaken to see to it that the health and welfare of MGB RO No. XIII employees are upheld.  Alternative working arrangements pursuant to the Civil Service Commission guidelines were also implemented in the Regional Office.  The skeletal workforce scheme was implemented from March 19 to April 8, 2020 at the time when Caraga Region was still under Community Quarantine. However, the Enhanced Community Quarantine was declared on April 7, 2020 which resulted in the implementation of the Work from Home scheme starting April 13, 2020.  During the continue reading : MGB ROXIII, Caraga minerals industry collaborate to implement Bayanihan to Heal as One Act

MGB ROXIII participates in Regional Consultation Workshop on the Proposed Environmental Protection and Enforcement Bureau for Visayas and Mindanao Cluster

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII participated in the Regional Consultation Workshop on the Proposed Environmental Protection and Enforcement Bureau (EPEB) for Visayas and Mindanao Cluster on March 4-6, 2020 at Diamond Hotel, Cebu City. The three-day workshop was attended by participants from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Environmental Management Bureau and Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Offices within Visayas and Mindanao.  The workshop proper started with a welcome message from the Regional Executive Director of DENR Regional Office No. VII, Engr. Paquito D. Melicor.  Following his message, he showcased the protected areas and unique features of Central Visayas which consists of four island provinces, namely Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. He added that the island provinces are unique attributes of the region in terms of monitoring and protecting its natural resources. Environmental Protection and Enforcement Task Force (EPETF) Executive Director Nilo B. continue reading : MGB ROXIII participates in Regional Consultation Workshop on the Proposed Environmental Protection and Enforcement Bureau for Visayas and Mindanao Cluster

MGB holds 1st Quarter Regional Directors’ Meeting and Management Conference

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) held the 1st Quarter Regional Directors’ Meeting and Management Conference on March 3-6, 2020 at the Garden Orchid Hotel in Zamboanga City. Hosted by MGB Regional Office No. IX, the event was attended by MGB Acting Director, Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano, and all Regional Directors who were cordially welcomed by OIC-Regional Director Alfredo T. Relampagos and his staff. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Assistant Secretary for Finance, Information System and Mining Concerns, Engr. Nonita S. Caguioa, also took part in the event together with some Division Chiefs from MGB Central Office. Asec. Caguioa represented DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs as well as Supervising Undersecretary for MGB and Environmental Management Bureau, Atty. Juan Miguel T. Cuna. As part of the event, the participants had a momentary immersion in the Canatuan Gold-Copper Project of TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD) continue reading : MGB holds 1st Quarter Regional Directors’ Meeting and Management Conference

MGB ROXIII commences IEC Campaign on Results of Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Project and Training-Workshop on Understanding Risk Exposure Maps

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII commenced its Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign on the Results of Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA) Project and Training-Workshop on Understanding Risk Exposure Maps on February 12-14, 2020 in the Municipalities of San Agustin, Lianga and Tagbina, Province of Surigao del Sur. The IEC Campaign aims to intensify awareness and provide additional technical input to the Local Government Unit (LGU) regarding Risk Exposure Analysis and its significance to its comprehensive land use and development disaster risk management planning. During the activity, MGB RO No. XIII geologists discussed the following topics:• Understanding Susceptibility Maps;• Introduction to Vulnerability and Risk Assessment;• Production of Exposure Maps; and• Understanding the Risk Exposure Maps. Issues and concerns raised by the participants were noted and addressed during the open forum. Guide questions for the Workshop/Round Table discussions were given to all participants who were grouped accordingly. continue reading : MGB ROXIII commences IEC Campaign on Results of Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Project and Training-Workshop on Understanding Risk Exposure Maps

MGB ROXIII attends 2020 Geosciences Workshop

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII attended the 2020 Geosciences Workshop on February 11-15, 2020 at Brentwood Suites in Diliman, Quezon City. The workshop was conducted by the MGB Central Office Lands Geological Survey Division (LGSD). Geologists from MGB Central Office and Regional Offices took part in the workshop. Part of the five-day workshop is the discussion of Status Report of CY 2019 Accomplishments, Technical Sessions, Project Proposal Writing and the discussion of the CY 2020 targets. The workshop commenced with an opening ceremony. Mr. Antonio N. Apostol, Jr., Officer-in-Charge, delivered the Welcome Remarks while the Inspirational Message was given by no less than MGB Acting Director Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano. The discussion of Status Report of CY 2019 Accomplishments, Issues and Concerns then followed. This includes the Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA); Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign for Geohazards; Karst Subsidence Hazard Assessment; Geological Quadrangle continue reading : MGB ROXIII attends 2020 Geosciences Workshop

MGB ROXIII takes part in DENR river conservation initiative

In keeping with the program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Recognizing Individuals and Institutions towards Vibrant and Enhanced Rivers (RIVERS) for Life, which seeks to raise awareness on river protection and conservation, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office (RO) No. XIII took part in the Caraga Simultaneous River Clean-up along Kinabutan and Sabang Rivers on February 7, 2020. MGB Regional Director Glenn Marcelo C. Noble, together with 20 employees of MGB RO No. XIII, joined participants from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine National Police, 30th Infantry Battalion of Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard, Surigao State College of Technology, Northeastern Mindanao Colleges, Surigao Mountaineers Sodality, Inc. and local communities in the activity. As each agency and institution had a river assignment, MGB RO No. XIII was tasked to carry out the continue reading : MGB ROXIII takes part in DENR river conservation initiative

Active Directory Domain Services Training-Workshop: Carrying on with the MGB Network Enhancement Project

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau conducted the Active Directory Domain Services Training-Workshop on January 29 to 31, 2020 at the MGB Central Office in Quezon City. As part of the continuing MGB Network Enhancement Project, the training-workshop was spearheaded by the Information Systems Group of the Planning, Policy and International Affairs Division (PPIAD). Personnel from the PPIAD; Mineral Economics, Information and Publication Division (MEIPD); Mining Tenements Management Division (MTMD) and Lands Geological Survey Division (LGSD) of the MGB Central Office and IT Specialists from Regional Offices attended the activity. During the opening program, Ms. Mary Ann Villegas of the PPIAD welcomed the participants to the training-workshop and reminded them that the MGB envisions a fully automated and centralized information system by 2023 as it had already completed Phase I of the MGB Network Enhancement Project by deploying the infrastructure and network development. Servers, network equipment, software subscriptions and licenses relating continue reading : Active Directory Domain Services Training-Workshop: Carrying on with the MGB Network Enhancement Project

MGB ROXIII participates in Reorientation Workshop on Spatial Data Information and Analysis on DENR Priority Programs and Projects

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII participated in the Reorientation Workshop on Spatial Data Information and Analysis on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Priority Programs and Projects on January 9, 2020 at DENR Learning Center in Ambago, Butuan City. The reorientation workshop was conducted by the Planning Management Division of the DENR Regional Office No. XIII. Geographic Information System (GIS) Focal Persons of DENR Regional Office No. XIII, MGB Regional Office No. XIII, Environmental Management Bureau Regional Office No. XIII and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices and City Environment and Natural Resources Offices of Caraga Region took part in the workshop. The aforesaid activity was conducted in order to generate a spatial data information and analysis based on strategic location and area covered in a map with their CY 2019 priority programs and projects target. Further, there was a discussion on GIS Focal Regional continue reading : MGB ROXIII participates in Reorientation Workshop on Spatial Data Information and Analysis on DENR Priority Programs and Projects