The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII conducted the Workshop on the Evaluation of Work Programs for Non-metallic Resources on July 3-4, 2019 at the MGB RO No. XIII Conference Room in Surigao City. 

The workshop aimed to capacitate the technical personnel of Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO)-Agusan del Sur and Butuan City in evaluating the Work Programs submitted by a Qualified Person as mandatory requirements for Quarry Permit application at the Provincial/City Mining Regulatory Board. Technical personnel from the MGB RO No. XIII, PENRO-Agusan del Sur and Butuan City participated in the workshop. 

Regional Director Glenn Marcelo C. Noble delivered the Welcome Remarks.  Lectures were given by technical personnel from the Monitoring and Technical Services Section of MGB RO No. XIII. Engr. Brenice Ann M. Gendeve-Castillo gave a presentation on Mining Tenements Issued by Provincial Governor/City Mayor thru the Provincial/City Mining Regulatory Board.Following that,Engr. Crystal Sheen E. Tapales and Ms. Glynis Irene S. Buot discussed the Evaluation of the Five (5)-Year Development/Utilization Work Program.

The evaluation of Five (5)-year Development/Utilization Work Program (5YDUWP) is part of the devolved functions of the Local Government Unit pursuant to Sections 8 and 70 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2010-21. The 5YDUWP is one of the mandatory requirements for Quarry Permit application. It is a detailed description of the course of every phase of development and/or utilization covering the five-year mining cycle within the term of a Quarry Permit.    

The submitted 5YDUWP should be in accordance with the revised MGB Form 06-2 as per DAO No. 2018-20. The resource speaker, however, stressed that there are certain items in the evaluation form that are not applicable to the quarry operation. As for the content and substance, it was highlighted that the declared annual production target should not exceed the maximum allowable production stipulated in the applicant’s Environmental Compliance Certificate. The mining method and design parameters should be specified in the work program, accompanied by a mine layout. The major activities and corresponding expenditures under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program and Social Development and Management Program/Community Development Program should be included in the 5YDUWP.

During the two-day workshop, the participants were able to evaluate work programs and subsequently presented their respective outputs.