Author: MSESDD

In order to upgrade the capability of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committees (MRFCs) and Multipartite Monitoring Teams (MMTs) in evaluating and monitoring the mandatory environmental and social compliances of mining operations as required by law, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII, in partnership with the Caraga Mine Environmental Management Council (CMEMC), spearheaded the MRFC and MMT Capacity Enhancement Seminar on January 26-27, 2017 at the Philippine Gateway Hotel in Surigao City. Large-scale mining companies in the region have been in operation for more than a decade.  Correspondingly, MRFCs and MMTs have carried out their functions for that same length of time. Of these years, significant changes in the practices and operations of the mining industry have been observed in which the MGB has deemed it necessary to capacitate and enhance the existing capabilities of the evaluating and monitoring bodies. The two-day activity aimed to re-orient and update continue reading : MGB leads the way in capacitating Caraga MRFCs and MMTs

To ensure the substantial and timely validation of the performance of the mining companies in compliance with DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2015-02, the Multipartite Monitoring Team of every company is required to craft a standardized Manual of Operations (MOO) subject to the approval of both Regional Directors from MGB and EMB and to be formally endorsed by Caraga Region’s Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC). This mandate gave rise to the unified MRFC Meeting conducted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII, in coordination with the Caraga Mine Environment Management Council (CMEMC), on January 17-18, 2017 at the Gateway Hotel in Surigao City. In keeping with the mandates of DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2010-21 under the Contingent Liability and Rehabilitation Fund (CLRF) for the creation of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC) and the Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT), the two-day activity centered on the Finalization, Deliberation continue reading : MGB RXIII conducts Finalization, Deliberation and Approval of MMT Manual of Operations for Caraga mining companies

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII in coordination with the Community Relations, Education and Development Officers, Inc. (CREDO Caraga, Inc.) conducted the Cross-Sectoral Forum on Social Development and Management Program on January 12, 2017 at the Gateway Hotel in Surigao City. With the theme “SDMP for Integrated Sustainable Development,” the forum was attended by various stakeholders from mining companies, local government units, national line agencies, non-government organizations and the media. The forum commenced with an opening ceremony wherein the Officer-in-Charge of the MGB RXIII Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division, Engr. Francis Glenn N. Suante, acknowledged and welcomed the participants with inspiring words. The MGB RXIII Regional Director, Engr. Roger A. De Dios, delivered the opening message and gave an overview of the Social Development and Management Program /Community Development Plan Policy Direction.  Dir. De Dios expressed that he will continue his mission to help Caraga Region continue reading : MGB RXIII holds Cross-Sectoral Forum on Social Development and Management Program

Caraga mining companies gained various distinctions at the 63rd Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) on November 15-18, 2016 in Baguio City. A yearly event that highlights the minerals industry’s commitment to the promotion of sustainable development and proactive responsibility towards safety, environment and social development, the Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference is organized by the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) in collaboration with the DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau.  The event also gave prominence to best practices and relevant innovations in the minerals industry. The theme for the 2016 ANMSEC is “63 Years of Responsible Mining… Moving Forward By Doing It Right.“ Diverse participants from mining companies, government agencies, private firms, academic institutions and the media gathered to intensify responsible mining and sustainable development advocacies. Various activities such as Tree Planting, Press Conference, Sportsfest, Mining Exhibit, 4th Community Relations Officers Conference, and the 2nd continue reading : Caraga mining companies gain various distinctions at the 63rd Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII, in partnership with the Caraga Mine Environmental Management Council (CMEMC), went the extra mile in the celebration of the 2016 Environment Month by conducting a series of activities on June 13-17 and 29-30, 2016. The lined-up activities aimed to intensify public awareness of environmental preservation and instill in the participants from mining companies and host communities a sense of accountability as stewards of the environment. The Holy Mass at San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral, Motorcade within Surigao City and Opening Program at the Surigao City Luneta Park on June 13, 2016 marked the kick-off of the succeeding activities leading to the culmination on June 30, 2016. A total of 22 mining companies, employees from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau ROXIII, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and City Environment and Natural Resources Office continue reading : 2016 Environment Month Celebration: Going the extra mile in intensifying environmental preservation

In line with the 2016 Earth Month Celebration, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII conducted a two-day activity on April 28 and 29, 2016 to mark the occasion. With the theme “Trees for the Earth,” this year’s observance encourages partnership of people from all walks of life and intensifies environmental campaigns to grow trees in order to attain the goal of planting 7.8 billion trees by the year 2020. On the first day of the celebration, the MGB ROXIII Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division, in cooperation with the Gender and Development Focal Point System, conducted the Forum on the Promotion of Green Economic Development. Ms. Evelyn C. Arlan of the Department of Trade and Industry was the resource speaker of the forum. She discussed and emphasized the development approach of Green Economic Development (GED) as well as the vital roles of MGB ROXIII personnel as continue reading : MGB ROXIII Earth Month Celebration: A commitment to green living and sustainable development

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII, together with national line agencies and non-government organizations as Appropriate Experts, continued to deliberate over the 2016 Annual Social Development and Management Program (ASDMP) of Caraga mining companies on April 20 to 22, 2016 at the MGB Training Center in Surigao City. The deliberations of the ASDMP were done in cluster with the objective that there will be no duplication of Projects/Programs/Activities (PPAs) and double charging of PPAs to the mining companies with common communities.  On the same note, the cluster deliberations aim to promote transparency and social responsibility.  Four cluster deliberations were conducted last March 8 to 11, 2016. Engr. Alilo C. Ensomo, Jr., MGB XIII Regional Director, has laid emphasis on the SDMP as a sustainable development program intended for the general welfare of mining communities and thereby improves the quality of life of the marginalized and disadvantaged families continue reading : MGB ROXIII and Appropriate Experts continue 2016 ASDMP cluster deliberations

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII, together with national line agencies and non-government organizations as Appropriate Experts, deliberated over the 2016 Annual Social Development and Management Program (ASDMP) of Caraga mining companies on March 8 to 11, 2016 at the MGB Training Center in Surigao City. The deliberations of the ASDMP were done in cluster with the objectives that there will be no duplication of Projects/Programs/Activities (PPAs) and/or double charging of PPAs to the mining companies with common communities as well as to promote transparency and social responsibility.  The SDMP aims to create responsible, self-reliant and resource-based communities capable of developing, implementing and managing community development programs, projects, and activities in a manner consistent with the principle of people empowerment. Engr. Alilo C. Ensomo, Jr., MGB XIII Regional Director, has emphasized that the SDMP as a sustainable development program is intended for the general welfare of mining continue reading : MGB ROXIII and Appropriate Experts deliberate over 2016 ASDMP of Caraga mining companies

Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation conducted a public consultation for its proposed Scandium Recovery Project on March 4, 2016 at the Taganito Sports and Cultural Center in Claver, Surigao del Norte. The company conducted the said consultation in cooperation with its Environmental Impact Assessment Preparer, Philkairos, Inc., and the Environmental Management Bureau.  Representatives from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII, Parish Pastoral Council and Reach Foundation were also present as observers. The residents of Brgys. Urbiztondo, Taganito, Hayanggabon and Cagdianao in the Municipality of Claver, Surigao del Norte took part in the activity. The proposed Scandium (Sc) Recovery Facility will cover 1.4 hectares of land within the present THPAL area. It will utilize the barren liquor that may contain traces of scandium, iron, aluminum and chromite, which is presently discarded as waste from the high pressure acid leaching process. The barren liquor is allowed to pass through a continue reading : THPAL Nickel Corporation conducts Public Consultation for its Scandium Recovery Project

Mining companies in Caraga Region have implemented the 2015 Annual Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (AEPEP) in compliance with Section 171 of DENR Administrative Order No. 2010-21, the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. Grouped according to company location by province, below are the financial accomplishments of mining companies:  Name of Company Annual Accomplishment (Php) Surigao del Norte 1. Pacific Nickel Phils., Inc. Php 14,555,044.96 2. Hinatuan Mining Corporation – Talavera Nickel Project Php 59,976,288.54 3. Greenstone Resources Corporation Php 25,376,062.00 4. Adnama Mining Resources, Inc. Php 19,612,068.04 5. Taganito Mining Corporation Php 208,111,446.72 6. Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation Php 2,173,762,532.57 7. Platinum Group Metals Corporation Php 110,404,456.00 Surigao del Sur 1. CTP Construction and Mining  Corporation – Adlay Project Php 106,892,387.70 2. CTP Construction and Mining  Corporation – Dahican Project Php 20,350,363.44 3. Carrascal Nickel  Corporation continue reading : Caraga mining companies post 2015 Annual EPEP financial accomplishments