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Awardees from the mining industry posed with DENR Regional Executive Director Edilberto S. Buiser and DENR-Environmental Management Bureau Regional Director Ester Olavides.

Last June 10, 2010,  the Department of Environment and Natural Resources celebrated its 23rd anniversary with a simple ceremony at the DENR Regional Office in Butuan City  by giving awards and commendations to  DENR –Caraga personnel and partners who in one way or another have contributed to the successful implementation of the DENR programs.

Among those commended were the mining companies in Caraga Region like Cagdianao Mining Corporation (CMC) , Philsaga Mining Corporation (PSMC) and MRL Gold Phils. (MRL) for their contribution in Reforestation Program and Integrated Coastal Management Program. Reforestation programs are being undertaken by the mining companies in their claimed areas and communities and Philsaga Mining Corporation is among the mining companies who have been in the forefront of initiating best practices in reforestation through their Mining Forest Program.

Cagdianao Mining Corporation and MRL Gold Phils., Inc. on the other hand, were commended  for their efforts in Coastal Management . CMC on his part was involved in the protection of the coastal areas known as the Gaas Bay Marine Protected Area and  in rehabilitating the Mangrove areas. The same is true for MRL  who have been  implementing  the program not as a mandatory requirement for the company but as a sheer commitment in the protection of the environment.

Also awarded are two long-time partners in development of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Caraga: REACH Foundation  and the Diocese of Surigao. REACH FOUNDATION INC. is an environmental NGO based in Surigao City with  community development  interventions in various mining communities  in Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands. While the Diocese of Surigao is our partner from the religious sector which jurisdiction covers the entire province of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.

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The soon to be first Mamanwa Mining Engineer.

The Regional People’s Hour is a banner program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources aimed at bringing the agency closer to the people. This initiative is very timely and entirely unique since for a long time government processes has been always known to be tedious and too bureaucratic.  The DENR has conducted this activity in several regions in the country and for the 5th time, this was held at the City Cultural Center, Surigao City, Caraga Region last June 16, 2010.

In every Regional Peoples Hour conducted, the DENR Secretary makes himself available for a one on one discussion of the issues and concerns brought at his desk by stakeholders during the Regional People’s Hour. People can air their issues on the environment, including mining, directly to the DENR Secretary and they can immediately get a response from the DENR Secretary to resolve their concerns.

In Caraga Region, the DENR Secretary Horacio C. Ramos was represented by the Undersecretary for Line Agencies Honorable Jeremias L. Dolino. USEC Dolino spent hours entertaining the queries of various DENR stakeholders. He was assisted by key officials of the DENR Central Office, DENR Regional Executive Director Edilberto S. Buiser, Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Caraga  Regional Director Alilo C. Ensomo, Jr., Environmental Management Bureau –Caraga Regional  Director Ester A. Olavides.

USEC Jeremias L. Dolino attentively listens to the concerns of one of the stakeholder during the Peoples’ Hour.

After the Regional People’s Hour, Land Titles were awarded to the residents of Barangay Sukailang, Surigao City followed by the giving of symbolic check to the recipients of the Upland Development Project of the DENR. Finally, Certificates of Recognition were awarded to 27 scholars of the mining companies in Caraga Region. Among the scholars, were the IP students of Timamana National High School, Timamana, Tubod, Surigao del Norte and  the Mamanwa scholar  from Barangay Taganito, Claver, Surigao del Norte who is currently taking up  Mining Engineering at St. Paul University, Surigao City.

After Caraga, the Regional People’s Hour with the DENR Secretary will continue to meet people   from all walks of life in other regions to hear various issues and concerns affecting the environment.

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MESD Chief Engr. Reynaldo Gonzales gave updates on several issues and concerns recently discussed during the MESD forum in Manila

The Caraga Mine Environment Management Council (CMEMC) is an association of all  Mine Environmental Protection and Enhancement Officers (MEPEO) and other environmental officers or practitioners connected with the mining companies in Caraga Region. The members gathered together last May 25, 2010 at MGB 13 Training Center, Surigao City for its  first general assembly meeting for the year 2010.

There were 23 members who attended the meeting and during the activity, recent updates on mining policies that will create changes to the future cost of the community development undertakings of the company were tackled which will pave way for a more and bigger projects for the host and neighboring communities.

On the other hand, compliance of the mining companies on mandatory requirements was reviewed to further improve efforts in environmental protection.  Their timely submission of the reportorial requirements, deposit of the  fund obligation and a solid field accomplishment are said to be  the key to an effective environmental mitigation in their areas of responsibility because the environmental officers of the mining companies are the front liners of the mining companies in the protection of the environment and in addressing the possible impacts of the project to the surroundings.

Issues and concerns that hamper best practices of the mining companies were discussed with the Mining Environment and Safety Division of MGB 13 for a better and smoother implementation of the environmental protection programs and activities of the mining companies.

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Photo shows the members and officers of CMSHC

Last May 26, 2010, a meeting was called at the Regional Office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Surigao City for all Safety Engineers and Inspectors employed with the mining companies in Caraga Region. One of the foremost aim of the meeting is to reorganize the defunct Regional Safety and Health Committee created in 2004.

As a result, new set of officers was elected for the organization, to wit:

Chairman: Engr. Richie Banacia
Vice-Chairman: Engr. Simplicio Oliveros
Secretary: Edgar Thomas Bagalay
Treasurer: Engr. Arnaldo Carbon

The above newly elected officers were chosen from the Accredited Safety Engineers and Safety Inspectors of mining companies who attended the meeting.

The group decided to meet quarterly and next meeting shall be during the month of  June 2010. This meeting shall focus on the formulation of the By-laws of the organization  and planning of activities for the next semester.

Through the Caraga Mine Safety and Health Committee (CMSHC), MGB 13 believed that by sharing experiences through the organization will be one way of  reducing accidents and any untoward incidents at the mine. This will also prepare the member-safety officers for timely responses to any danger that will put at stake the safety of all mining personnel at the site.

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Value of a tree

This program started in March 22, 1989 through the DENR Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 22, Series of 1989 which provides for the Guidelines for the Implementation of the Adopt-A-Tree, Adopt-A-Mining Forest Movement and thereafter a Special Order 293 for the Creation of the National Executive Committee (NEC) was issued. This later on became the Adopt-A-Mountain, Adopt-A-Mining Forest Program on March 11, 1999 per NEC Resolution 99-01 in support to the Adopt-A-Mountain Program of the DENR . Membership to the program was then mandatory to all mining companies pursuant to R.A. 7942, Philippine Mining Act of 1995. However, on October 26, 2005, through a Resolution No. 2005-02 passed by NEC, the program was finally changed to the Mining Forest Program to make it separate and distinct from the Adopt-A-Mountain Program of the Department.