MGB ROXIII, Surigao City ENRO support legalization of small-scale mining

In support of the undertaking to legalize small-scale mining, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office (RO) No. XIII attended a consultation meeting with barangay officials and small-scale miners on July 8, 2020 in Barangay Nabago, Surigao City. The participation of MGB RO NO. XIII was in response to the request of Surigao City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Engr. Elmer C. Tecson, for technical assistance in the conduct of a consultation meeting. The said request of Engr. Tecson was anchored on the legal basis of BarangayResolution No. 021 Series of 2020 of Barangay Nabago dated June 22, 2020 primarily passed to put an end to illegal small-scale mining in the mountainous area of Barangay Nabago.  Regional Director (RD) Glenn Marcelo C. Noble and his technical staff attended the meeting.    To start the program, Punong Barangay Alberto D. Aba-a delivered the welcome remarks highlighting the current predicament of continue reading : MGB ROXIII, Surigao City ENRO support legalization of small-scale mining

MGB ROXIII GAD Focal Point System strengthens women participation in resilient development

The Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office (RO) No. XIII took part in the Webinar Series on Pursuing Climate-, Gender-, and Health-responsive Programs on Environment and Natural Resources Managementvia Zoom Platform on July 8 to 9, 2020. The webinar series aimed to increase the participants’ understanding of the links of biodiversity management, climate change, disasters, gender and health and identify possible entry points and recommendations in the pursuit of climate-, gender-, and health-responsive environment and natural resources management programs.  Hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) National Gender and Development Focal Point System and Climate Change Service, the said activity was attended by the Directors, GAD Focal Persons and Planning Chiefs of the DENR Central Office Services, Bureaus and Attached Agencies and the Regional Executive Directors, GAD Focal Persons, Climate Change Focal Persons, Planning Chiefs, and Regional continue reading : MGB ROXIII GAD Focal Point System strengthens women participation in resilient development

MGB ROXIII capacitates PMC, MMPRC

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office (RO) No. XIII capacitated the Department Managers and Environmental Management System Auditors of Philsaga Mining Corporation (PMC) and Mindanao Mineral Processing and Refining Corporation (MMPRC) with its technical assistance through the Seminar-Workshop on Mining Laws and Policies on June 18-19, 2020 at the PMC Training Room in Rosario, Agusan del Sur. Following the minimum health protocol during this time of pandemic, a technical team facilitated the two-day seminar-workshop in response to the invitation of PMC. The team was composed of seven (7) MGB RO No. XIII personnel headed by Regional Director Glenn Marcelo C. Noble. The seminar-workshop is one of PMC’s activities in the approved Annual Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program for CY 2020, specifically on training and awareness of employees on mining and environmental laws and policies. The MGB team was welcomed by Engr. Ferdinand A. Cortes, PMC Resident Manager and continue reading : MGB ROXIII capacitates PMC, MMPRC

MGB ROXIII, CMEMCI spearhead 2020 Environment Month Celebration of Caraga minerals industry

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office (RO) No. XIII, in partnership with the Caraga Mine Environmental Management Council, Inc. (CMEMCI), spearheaded the 2020 Environment Month Celebration with the Caraga minerals industry on July 7, 2020 at the MGB RO No. XIII Training Center in Surigao City amidst the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.  With the theme “Protect Nature, Sustain Our Future”, this year’s celebration aimed to heighten public environmental consciousness and encourage the mining companies to intensify their efforts in the conservation of natural resources through the Environmental Video and Succulent Dish Gardening Competitions.  The entries were submitted to the Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division on July 6, exactly 12 days after the notice of competitions was communicated to the mining companies.  Only a few number of participants from the Caraga mining companies were able to take part in the event due to the current health continue reading : MGB ROXIII, CMEMCI spearhead 2020 Environment Month Celebration of Caraga minerals industry

MGB ROXIII conducts Seminar/Webinar-Workshop on Accounting for Non-Accountants

Undeterred by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII continued to pursue learning with the conduct of a Seminar/Webinar-Workshop on Accounting for Non-Accountants on June 26, 2020 at the MGB RO No. XIII Training Center in Surigao City and via Zoom Platform to comply with the current health protocol of social distancing. Atty. Jeffrey P. Galido, CPA, Attorney III of MGB RO No. XIII, served as the Resource Speaker of the said activity that was participated by 15 physical and 34 web-based attendees from MGB RO No. XIII and MGB Central Office particularly the Mining Tenement Management Division headed by its Division Chief, Engr. Larry M. Heradez and his technical staff. The workshop aimed to capacitate the MGB technical personnel/evaluators to become more effective in carrying out the implementation of the standard evaluation procedures under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Memorandum Order No. continue reading : MGB ROXIII conducts Seminar/Webinar-Workshop on Accounting for Non-Accountants

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. Eighteen (18) 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