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 Surigao del Norte; Mr. Oscar M. Pospia, Jr., Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Surigao del Norte; Mr. Raul B. Tarpin, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Surigao; and Mr. Antonieto M. Charcos, Environmental Consultant of the Province of Surigao del Norte.
Activities such as Photography and Environmental Message, Poster Making, Environmental Music Video and Environmental TikTok Competitions then ensued with great excitement. Selected secondary school students in the Province of Surigao del Norte and City of Surigao participated in the Poster Making and Photography and Environmental Message Competitions while Caraga mining companies participated in the Environmental Music Video and Environmental TikTok Competitions.
The Photography and Environmental Message Competition aimed to encourage senior high school students to nurture their visual talents, creativity and communication skills as they advocate environmental protection. In the same vein, the Poster Making Competition aimed to encourage and tap the potentials of junior high school students to campaign for environmental preservation through creative works.
The Board of Judges for the Photography and Environmental Message Competition comprised Ms. Susil Ragas, Information Center Manager of Surigao del Norte of the Philippine Information Agency Caraga Regional Office; Mr. Reach Matabaran, Proprietor and Videographer of Hyperlink Videography and Hyper Photobooth; and Ms. Rhobie Ruaya, Officer-in-Charge of Surigao City Public Information Office. For the Poster Making Competition, the Board of Judges comprised Mr. James Jaron, Cartographer of Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII; Engr. Louwell Galindo, Junior Assistant Manager of Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co. Philippines, Inc.; and Ms. Rhobie Ruaya.
The Environmental Music Video Competition aimed to tap the creative potentials of mining company employees to campaign for environmental preservation by capturing their vision and expressing their message through music and videography. Apart from instilling hope and inspiration in viewers to take action, the music video entries featured the environmental projects, programs, and activities of the mining companies. Similarly, the Environmental Tiktok Competitionaimed to cultivate the singular talents of mining company employees to support environmental campaigns through dance and other kinesthetic arts.
The Board of Judges for the Environmental Music Video Competition comprised Ms. Glee Lawreez Cagas, Proprietress of Music and Glee; Mr. Guilbert Mantala, Vice President for Student Services of St. Paul University Surigao; and Mr. Reach Matabaran. For the Environmental Tiktok Competition, the Board of Judges comprised Mr. Alfe S. Lito, Junior High School Teacher and Performing Arts Guro of Caraga Regional Science High School; Ms. Glee Lawreez Cagas; and Mr. Guilbert Mantala.
Below are the winners for each competition:
Tayo ang Kalikasan Photography and Environmental Message Competition
1st Place
Joshua G. Pareja
Claver National High School
2nd Place
Fergruexette L. Veronque
Surigao del Norte National High School
3rd Place
Bryan Jay C. Virtudazo
Caraga Regional Science High School
Poster Making Competition
1st Place
Alexander P. Cacho
Claver National High School
2nd Place
Gerald Q. Santos
Gigaquit National High School
3rd Place
Glen Archie J. Zamora
Alegria National High School
Environmental Music Video Competition
1st Place
Yano nga mga Lakang (Paisa-isang Hakbang)
Platinum Group Metals Corporation
2nd Place
Produktibong Basura
Hinatuan Mining Corporation
3rd Place
Lihok Na (Kilos Na)
Taganito Mining Corporation
Environmental TikTok Competition
1st Place
Hinatuan Mining Corporation
2nd Place
Platinum Group Metals Corporation
3rd Place
CTP Construction and Mining Corporation
Before the event drew to a close, the new set of Officers of Chamber of Mines Caraga Region Inc., Community Relations, Education and Development Officers Organization-Caraga, Inc. and Caraga Mine Safety and Health Council took their oath of office before RD Heradez.
