2021 DENR-MGB Stakeholders’ Forum: Strengthening policies and partnerships in the minerals industry

The DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau conducted the Stakeholders’ Forum: Understanding Recent Policy Issuances Relating to Mining via Zoom Platform and Facebook Live on June 8 to 9, 2021. Aimed at intensifying the awareness of various minerals industry stakeholders on recent mining policies issued by the DENR-MGB, the forum featured the following messages and presentations: June 8 Session Opening RemarksAtty. Wilfredo G. MoncanoMGB Director Welcome AddressEngr. Nonita S. CaguioaDENR Assistant Secretary for Finance, Information System and Mining Concerns Policy Issuances on Mining TenementsEngr. Danilo D. DeleñaOIC-Chief, Mining Tenements Management Division MGB Memorandum Circular No. 2020-004:  Clarificatory Guidelines for the Establishment of the Contingent Liability and Rehabilitation Fund for Dredging Projects/Activities pursuant to the DPWH-DENR-DILG-DOTR Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 Series of 2019Engr. Marcial H. MateoOIC-Chief, Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division June 9 Session MGB Memorandum Order No. 2020-007: Policy on Online Filing of Application and PaymentEngr. Juancho Pablo S. CalvezChief, continue reading : 2021 DENR-MGB Stakeholders’ Forum: Strengthening policies and partnerships in the minerals industry

MGB conducts Workshop on Standardization of Regional Monitoring System

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) conducted the Workshop on the Results of the CY 2020 Audit of Regional Monitoring System and Other Related Matters on April 19 to 23, 2021 via Microsoft Teams Platform. Technical personnel from all MGB Regional Offices took part in the five-day activity. In his opening remarks, MGB Director Wilfredo G. Moncano encouraged everyone to look into the provisions of Executive Order No.130 with the following highlights: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall formulate the terms and conditions in the new mineral agreements that will maximize government revenues and share from production, including the possibility of declaring these areas as mineral reservations to obtain appropriate royalties, in accordance with the existing laws, rules and regulations. The DENR shall likewise undertake a review of existing mining contracts and agreements for possible renegotiation of the terms and conditions of the same which, in all continue reading : MGB conducts Workshop on Standardization of Regional Monitoring System

DENR Caraga holds MGB Regional Director Turnover Ceremony

In a simple turnover ceremony held on May 5, 2021 at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga Regional Office in Butuan City, DENR Undersecretary for Enforcement, Mining and Muslim Affairs Jim O. Sampulna officiated the turnover of leadership for the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office No. XIII between outgoing Regional Director Glenn Marcelo C. Noble and incoming OIC-Regional Director Larry M. Heradez. The said ceremony was held in compliance with MGB Special Order No. 2021-055 dated April 15, 2021 issued by MGB Director Wilfredo G. Moncano and DENR Special Order No. 2021-238 dated May 7, 2021 issued by DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu reassigning RD Noble to MGB MIMAROPA and designating Engr. Heradez as the OIC-RD of MGB Regional Office No. XIII. The MGB Director, Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano; DENR Caraga Regional Executive Director, For. Nonito M. Tamayo; Environmental Management Bureau OIC-Regional Director, Engr. Albert continue reading : DENR Caraga holds MGB Regional Director Turnover Ceremony

DENR organizes Learning Event on the Establishment of Bamboo Plantation in Mining Areas

In keeping with the instruction of DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for the mining companies to establish and maintain a bamboo plantation which is equivalent to 10% of their mined-out areas, the Assistant Secretary for Finance, Information Systems and Mining Concerns, Engr. Nonita S. Caguioa, organized the Learning Event on the Establishment of Bamboo Plantation in Mining Areas in cooperation with the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) on March 11 and April 15-16, 2021.  Representatives from mining companies all over the country and MGB Regional Offices participated in the activity. In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the learning event was divided into two parts ― the first part was a virtual training and the second part was an actual field mentoring participated by a limited number of participants. The first day of the learning event was a virtual training composed of continue reading : DENR organizes Learning Event on the Establishment of Bamboo Plantation in Mining Areas

MGB ROXIII takes part in turnover ceremony of Bagakay Mangrove Tourism Trail and Aquaculture Projects

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office No. XIII took part in the turnover ceremony of the newly constructed Bagakay Mangrove Tourism Trail(Phase II) and Aquaculture Projects on April 1, 2021 in Barangay Bagakay, Claver, Surigao del Norte. The Mangrove Tourism Trail Project is funded under the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) while the Aquaculture Project is under the Food Security Program through the realigned SDMP and Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program COVID-19 response plan of the Platinum Group Metals Corporation (PGMC).  The projects are managed by the Bagakay River United Tourism Organization (BARUTO) which is a people’s organization comprising 21 member-beneficiaries organized by the PGMC Community Relations Office.  BARUTO aims to generate extra income for the organization and to address food insufficiency amidst the pandemic. With the project cost of P1 Million, the phase 3 of the project worth another P1 Million will commence this year in continue reading : MGB ROXIII takes part in turnover ceremony of Bagakay Mangrove Tourism Trail and Aquaculture Projects

MGB ROXIII attends Ceremonial Groundbreaking to kick off construction of Cagdianao National High School

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII attended the Ceremonial Groundbreaking to kick off the construction of Cagdianao National High School on March 24, 2021 in Barangay Cagdianao, Claver, Surigao del Norte. The first part of the event was the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement.  It was then followed by the ceremonial groundbreaking and tree planting at the proposed site. Aimed at the promotion of optimal learning, the project will be funded through the Annual Social Development and Management Program of Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation (THPALNC) considering that Barangay Cagdianao is one of its host and neighboring communities.  The school building will be constructed in three phases and is expected to cater to approximately 400 learners and 13 teachers in Barangay Cagdianao. The event was attended by MGB Caraga Regional Director, Engr. Glenn Marcelo C. Noble; Department of Education-Surigao del Norte Superintendent, Ms. Ma. Teresa M. Real;  continue reading : MGB ROXIII attends Ceremonial Groundbreaking to kick off construction of Cagdianao National High School

National Women’s Month Celebration of MGB ROXIII: A paean to Juanas in the time of pandemic

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII celebrated the 2021 National Women’s Month in support of the National Government’s Gender and Development programs. This year’s theme is We Make Change Work For Women… Juana Laban sa Pandemya: Kaya! A series of activities were conducted on March 18 and 22 to heighten awareness of the celebration.  The MGB Regional Office No. XIII employees took part in the activities. On March 18, the Gender and Development Seminar cum Garden Salad Making Competition was held.   The virtual seminar was conducted in the morning via Zoom Platform at the MGB Regional Office No. XIII Training Center in Surigao City.  At the start of the event, Regional Director Glenn Marcelo C. Noble delivered the opening remarks.  Atty. Aurora Luanne R. Cembrano-Ramos, Attorney IV of the Commission on Human Rights-Caraga Region, graced the event.  Atty. Cembrano-Ramos delivered a very insightful inspirational message in her capacity continue reading : National Women’s Month Celebration of MGB ROXIII: A paean to Juanas in the time of pandemic

Caraga minerals industry gains distinctions

The annual Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA), Best Mining Forest Contest-Mining Forest Program (MFP), and Safest Mines Awards (SMA) continued to pursue their goals in recognizing the exemplary efforts and achievements of the minerals industry in the protection of environment and ecology. The said awards aim to encourage participation, intensify public awareness, and improve the quality of life of Filipinos.  Notwithstanding the challenges of the current pandemic, the Caraga minerals industry continues to thrive in fulfilling its commitments and achieving the awards. The PMIEA was re-established through Executive Order No. 374, s. 2004 in compliance with the policy that mineral exploration and operation shall be pro-environment and pro-people in sustaining wealth creation, improving quality of life, and managing mining activities in an environmentally responsible manner. The scope of the said recognition includes programs/projects/activities implemented for environmental protection and enhancement of mining areas; social development of the host and neighboring continue reading : Caraga minerals industry gains distinctions

MGB holds 2021 Geoscience Workshop

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau held the Annual Geoscience Workshop via Microsoft Teams Platform on February 15-19, 2021. The workshop was attended by all personnel from the Lands Geological Survey Division of MGB Central Office and all geologists from the 15 Regional Offices.  All geologists from the technical divisions of the MGB Regional Office No. XIII including the embedded personnel attended the workshop. The five-day workshop started with the usual opening program.  It was then followed by the plenary sessions.  The plenary sessions were moslty conducted for the reporting of the 2020 accomplishments of the different projects. The first to report was Mr. Aniano D. Torres for the Groundwater Resource and Vulnerability Assessment Program and followed by the Geological Quadrangle Mapping Program reported by Dr. Maybellyn A. Zepeda and the report for the Mineral Reservation Program by Mr. Raymundo I. Villones, Jr.  In the afternoon, the accomplishment reports for the continue reading : MGB holds 2021 Geoscience Workshop

JOGMEC Online Program for Mine Pollution Control: Strengthening cooperation between Japanese and Philippine mining sectors

In line with the Memorandum of Cooperation by and between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry through the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in 2019, the JOGMEC Online Program for Mine Pollution Control was conducted on February 5-22, 2021. The program was designed in such a way that it will kindle in the participants an interest in the importance of mine pollution prevention and increase their understanding of basic measures to control mine pollution especially in the field of mining. The contents target a wide audience, particularly DENR Offices concerned with mine pollution. In CY 2019, the DENR-MGB sent eight (8) personnel to Japan since that was the original plan on how the training will be carried out. However, overseas travel became difficult in CY 2020 due to the COVID-19 continue reading : JOGMEC Online Program for Mine Pollution Control: Strengthening cooperation between Japanese and Philippine mining sectors