GOVPH

In an effort to support women workers in the small-scale mining industry, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in partnership with planetGOLD Philippines, held a two-day online workshop on gender inclusivity last December 9-10, 2021. The workshop, dubbed “Mainstreaming Gender in Small Scale Mining,” aimed to help the participants gain knowledge on gender issues in the small-scale mining industry. Over 50 representatives from the MGB Central Office and the gender focal from the regional offices participated in the workshop.

“For mining practice to be socially responsible, it should address the needs of men and women in small-scale mining communities. The...

With the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issuing an order to lift the moratorium on the open-pit method in the country through DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 2021-40 issued on Dec. 23, 2021, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Mine Safety, Environment, and Sustainable Development Division (MSESDD) Chief, Engr. Marcial M. Mateo went on “Kapamilya Konek”, radio program DZMM Teleradyo on January 11, 2021, to comment on repealing the open-pit mining ban.

Engr. Marcial H. Mateo, Chief, Mine Safety, Environment, and Social Development Division, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), addressed the concerns on the recent discoloration on the Maputi and Pintatagan rivers in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental during an interview on Radyo 5’s Ted Failon and DJ Chacha show last January 21, 2022.

Engr. Mateo clarified that the mining company responsible has admitted accountability in the initial interviews, explaining the discoloration was caused by the unforeseen heavy rain last January 13, in which the siltation pond was unable to contain the flow of laterite. He said that the parties involved, namely Riverbend Consolidated...

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Central Office (CO) was once again recommended for certification to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS), after the conduct of the second (2^nd) recertification audit by the auditors from SGS Philippines, Inc. (SGS), the Bureau’s certifying body, last January 6-7, 2022, via Microsoft Teams.

The objective of the said  recertification audit was to intensively review all aspects of the enrolled processes of MGB CO. It also aimed to assess the ability of the organization to evaluate and document the changes that happened within its three-year QMS implementation.

The...

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Central Office (MGB CO) successfully passed the second surveillance audit conducted by the SGS Philippines, Inc. (SGSPI) for its International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001:2015, Environmental Management System (EMS). SGSPI, the certifying body, recommended for the Continued Certification after its four (4) auditors completed the said audit on December 22, 2021, via Microsoft Teams.