Caraga Resilient Mining Week: Elevating Responsible Mining and Stronger Collaboration towards Community Resilience

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII, in cooperation with the Chamber of Mines of Caraga Region Incorporated, Philippine Society of Mining Engineers Caraga Chapter, Community Relations, Education and Development Officers Organization-Caraga, Inc. and mining councils, held the first-ever Caraga Resilient Mining Week (CRMW) on July 24 to 28, 2023 at the Philippine Gateway Hotel in Surigao City.  With the theme Responsible Mining – Pathway to Community Resilience, the game changing event aimed to bring together stakeholders from Caraga Region to engage across a weeklong series of activities that are designed to foster stronger collaboration, ignite relevant conversations and chart a new path towards climate change and disaster resilience for the industry, the community, and the country as a whole – all anchored on the principles of responsible mining. The Caraga Resilient Mining Week comprised the following four key activities: Professional Development Sessions – lectures and talks that continue reading : Caraga Resilient Mining Week: Elevating Responsible Mining and Stronger Collaboration towards Community Resilience

CREDO-Caraga, Inc., MGB ROXIII conduct Capacity and Capability Training for Caraga Community Relations Officers

The Community Relations, Education and Development Officers Organization-Caraga, Inc. (CREDO-Caraga, Inc.), in cooperation with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII, conducted a three-day Capacity and Capability Training for Caraga Community Relations Officers on July 13 to 15, 2023 at Lutas Beach Resort in Barangay Magsaysay, Municipality of Libjo, Province of Dinagat Islands. The said activity is part of the ongoing commitment of CREDO-Caraga, Inc. to strengthen and capacitate all Community Relations Officers of Caraga mining companies to have a standardized understanding of the implementation of Social Development and Management Program in order to uphold sustainable community development. The following mining companies participated in the said training: AAM-PHIL Natural Resources and Development Corporation (Parcel 2B) ADFIL Corporation Agata Mining Ventures, Inc. Cagdianao Mining Corporation Century Peak Corporation Comet Mining Exploration Corporation CTP Construction and Mining Corporation East Coast Mineral Resources Company Incorporated (Phase 3) Equi-Parco Construction Company Greenstone continue reading : CREDO-Caraga, Inc., MGB ROXIII conduct Capacity and Capability Training for Caraga Community Relations Officers

MGB ROXIII, PENRO SDN, PLGU Surigao del Norte and Caraga minerals industry hold Environment Month Celebration Activities

In keeping with the 2023 Philippine Environment Month Celebration, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte, Chamber of Mines Caraga Region Inc., Caraga Mine Environmental Management Council, Inc. and Caraga minerals industry, held the Environment Month Celebration Activities on June 20, 2023 at the Provincial Convention Center in Surigao City. The theme of this year’s celebration is No to Waste: Advancing Circular Economy to #BeatPlasticPollution.  It aimed to end plastic pollution in the country through a circular economy where all plastic applications are reused, recycled, and responsibly managed during and after use while enabling a lower greenhouse gas emissions plastic economy. At the program, messages were delivered by Engr. Larry M. Heradez, MGB Caraga Regional Director; For. Agapito T. Patubo, DENR-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer of continue reading : MGB ROXIII, PENRO SDN, PLGU Surigao del Norte and Caraga minerals industry hold Environment Month Celebration Activities

MGB Kids for the Environment Annual Fest: Advocating green practices and celebrating friendships

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII, in cooperation with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Employees Association Region XIII Chapter, conducted the MGB Kids for the Environment Annual Fest on June 24, 2023 at the MGB Regional Office No. XIII Training Center in Surigao City. Attended by the children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews of MGB Regional Office No. XIII employees, the said event started with the Welcome Remarks of Regional Director Larry M. Heradez.  It was then followed by the presentation on Solid Waste Management given by For. Enjie G. Pacillos-Cañete, Senior Environmental Management Specialist. After the presentation, For. Pacillos-Cañete taught the children how to segregate waste and put the three R’s of waste management (reduce, reuse and recycle) into practice.  The children also posted their pledges to eliminate waste and protect the environment on the commitment wall. On the same note, the children took delight in the continue reading : MGB Kids for the Environment Annual Fest: Advocating green practices and celebrating friendships

MGBEA Forum: Fostering Workplace Wellness

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau conducted the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Employees Association Continuing Employees Welfare Program and Benefits Forum (Series VI) on May 17 to 19, 2023 at the Swiss-Belhotel Blulane in Sta. Cruz, Manila. The theme of this year’s forum is Building a Healthy and Productive MGB Workforce through a Sustained Workplace Wellness Program. It was spearheaded by the MGBEA National Chapter and participated by Officers of MGBEA National, Central and Regional Chapters. The three-day event aimed to introduce and promote the basic concepts and principles of Workplace Wellness to strengthen the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) provisions on Employees Welfare and Development. Day One focused on the lecture presentations (re-echo of CSC-CSI Course) on the Eight (8) Dimensions of Workplace Wellness given by the selected MGBEA National Officers. These dimensions are physical, mental/emotional, occupational health and safety, social/community, career, spiritual, financial, and intellectual. A continuation of the lectures continue reading : MGBEA Forum: Fostering Workplace Wellness

Nickel prices weakened in the 1st quarter of CY 2023

Based on the platform London Metal Exchange (LME), the trend as to the performance of nickel prices declined in the first three months of the year 2023. As shown in the graph, there was a big drop of approximately 23.39% in the prices from US$31,118 per metric ton (MT) on the 3rd day of January 2023 to US$23,838 per MT on the last day of March 2023.  The LME is a world center for the trading of industrial metals. Some of the observed factors considered in the decrease of the nickel prices are as follows: Increasing supply from Indonesia coupled with a slower-than-forecast demand rebound from China that hit the market in the first quarter, which created a slowdown at a time when the industry is still recovering from the year 2022 LME meltdown. (The LME nickel meltdown is attributed to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 which sparked continue reading : Nickel prices weakened in the 1st quarter of CY 2023

MGB ROXIII building: A piece of history

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII building is fast becoming a landmark in Surigao City. Highlighting it is the newly-constructed flagpole featuring the emblems of Caraga mining companies in recognition of their significant socioeconomic contributions to national progress.  The emblems represent the Caraga minerals industry and affirm its rich mining history which dates back to pre-colonial times.  Dubbed as the mining capital of the Philippines, Caraga Region is blessed with vast mineral reserves, tracts of potential mining lands and numerous mining operations.

MGB ROXIII, Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands conduct Public Hearing for the Disestablishment of the Proposed 402.8-hectare Provincial Government Center from the Mineral Reservation

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII, in cooperation with the Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands, conducted the Public Hearing for the Disestablishment of the 402.8-hectare Provincial Government Center from the Mineral Reservation on March 27 to 28, 2023 at Barangays Wilson and Cuarinta, Municipality of San Jose and Barangay Doña Helene, Municipality of Basilisa in the Province of Dinagat Islands. Governor Nilo P. Demerey, Jr., Regional Director Larry M. Heradez and representatives of Mayors Yngwie Hero B. Ecleo and Ozzy Reuben M. Ecleo delivered messages during the activity. On the same note, the activity featured presentations on Updates on the Status of the Disestablishment of the 402.8-hectare Area Covered by Presidential Proclamation No. 391 by Engr. Kimlloyd Y. Manzanares, Monitoring Officer of MGB Regional Office No. XIII; Result of the Geologic Assessment of the Area Covered by the Proposed Provincial Government Center by Mr. Noel G. Lumague, continue reading : MGB ROXIII, Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands conduct Public Hearing for the Disestablishment of the Proposed 402.8-hectare Provincial Government Center from the Mineral Reservation

MGB, Philippine mining industry carry on with 2nd Series of Public Relations and Crisis Management Training

In support of the National Unified Information, Education and Communication Program of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Philippine mining industry, the 2nd Series of the Public Relations and Crisis Management Training was conducted on February 28 to March 4, 2023 at the Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. Information Officers, Community Affairs Officers and key personnel of the Social Development Section from the MGB Central and Regional Offices, together with select participants from mining companies, took part in the said training which was organized by the Mineral Economics, Information and Publication Division of MGB Central Office in cooperation with the NUIECP National Steering Commitee.  The program started with the Welcome Remarks of Ms. Angelita Lee, Co-Chair of the NUIECP National Steering Commitee.  It was then followed by the Inspirational Message of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines Executive Director and NUIECP National continue reading : MGB, Philippine mining industry carry on with 2nd Series of Public Relations and Crisis Management Training

MGB conducts Levelling Sessions on Gender and Development

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau conducted the Levelling Sessions on Basic Gender and Development Concepts, Gender Analysis and GAD Planning and Budgeting for MGB GAD Focal Point System on February 20 to 23, 2023 at the El Vistra Hotel in Angeles City, Pampanga.  The sessions aimed to achieve the following objectives: level off the knowledge and skills of participants on Basic GAD Concepts,  Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC1), Gender Analysis, Gender Analysis Tools, and GAD Plan and Budget to help them strengthen gender mainstreaming at MGB; clarify concerns on administration and utilization of results of Gender Analysis Tools to contribute to the development of gender-responsive GAD Plan and Budget; enhance the skills of participants in developing comprehensive annual GAD Plan and Budget; and enable the participants to appreciate the significant role of gender mainstreaming as a strategy towards gender-responsive operations. Representatives of the GAD Focal continue reading : MGB conducts Levelling Sessions on Gender and Development