In accordance with Article VIII (Employees Welfare and Professional Development) of the approved 2021 Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) by and between the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) management and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Employees Association (MGBEA), a three-day seminar was held for MGB Central Office participants on March 28–30, 2023, to highlight the significance of mining, metallurgy, and geology in everyday life.

Group photo of participants to the MGBEA Seminar with OIC Assistant Director - Engr. Teodorico Sandoval and MGBEA Central Office Chapter President - Dr. Maybellyn Zepeda.

For the first two days, lectures on mining, metallurgy, and geology were presented by the speakers from various divisions, including the Mining Tenements Management Division (MTMD), Lands Geological Survey Division (LGSD), Marine Geological Survey Division (MGSD), Mining Technology Division (MTD), Metallurgical Technology Division (MeTD), and Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division (MSESDD). The presenters also provided background information and a general overview of the duties performed by their respective divisions.

MGB Employees listening to the discussion during day 1 and 2 of the lecture-seminar.

On the third day, participants took a tour of the MGB's RPS Explorer, a marine vessel used to conduct geological and geophysical surveys of the marine and coastal environments. The tour, organized by MGSD Technical Staff and supervised by Engineer Nathaniel Ching, allowed the attendees to see the vessel up close and learn how it carries out its scientific research duties.

MGB Employees inside the RPS Explorer.

The annual three-day event aims to deepen participants' knowledge of the role of MGB and the relevance of the mining industry in nation-building. It is meant to help both new MGB employees and those who haven't yet attended any of the previous MGBEA seminars fully understand the contributions of both mining and geosciences in our daily lives and, hopefully, for them to share their learnings with family and friends so that they can become advocates of responsible mining.

By: Mineral Economics, Information and Publication Division