In a display of creativity and sustainability during the holiday season, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau's (MGB) Mine Safety, Environment, and Social Development Division (MSESDD) unveiled a festive "Christmas Mining Village" as part of the MGB Christmas Decoration Contest. The MSESDD decorations, crafted from recycled materials including old Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) Program covers, newspapers, bottles, beer cans, and plastic bottles, not only celebrated the holiday season but also underscored MSESDD’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.
A key feature of the display was the Christmas Safety and Health, Environment, and Social Development (SHES) Corner, reflecting the Division’s year-round dedication to the welfare of its employees, communities, and the environment.
Further advancing its environmental stewardship efforts, the MSESDD donated the recycled Christmas decoration materials to Republic Cement and Building Materials, Inc. (RCBMI) – Teresa Plant. The materials were repurposed and utilized as alternative fuel in RCBMI’s cement plant under their Alternative Waste System (AWS), an initiative that supports the MGB’s PlastiKalikasan Program.
In addition to this, RCBMI continues to encourage sustainability within its workforce through the innovative Stop Wastes And Plastics (SWAP) Raffle Promo. This program rewards employees for responsibly managing waste by allowing them to swap generated materials for prizes, fostering a culture of environmental awareness throughout the organization.
By transforming waste into festive displays and then redirecting those materials to support sustainable energy production, MSESDD and RCBMI have demonstrated that creativity and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. This collaboration not only reduced waste but also exemplified the holiday spirit of renewal, proving that even discarded items can contribute to a more sustainable future.
Through this meaningful partnership, MSESDD and RCBMI set a powerful example of how sustainability can be integrated into all aspects of daily life, while also promoting a shared responsibility to protect the planet for generations to come.
Lastly, this effort is part of the Plastikalikasan Program of the DENR-MGB, aimed at addressing the growing concern of plastic waste in the mining industry. It is a comprehensive program designed to strengthen plastic waste management by encouraging mining companies to adopt sustainable practices in handling and reducing plastic waste. This initiative includes strict guidelines on waste segregation, proper disposal, and recycling of plastics in mining operations, in line with the government’s broader environmental goals.
By Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division
Photo No. 1. MSESDD waste materials from the MGB Christmas Decoration Contest at the RCBMI Office.
Photo No. 2. RCBMI’s Stop Wastes and Plastics (SWAP) Raffle Promo.
Photo No. 3. MSESDD “Christmas Mining Village.”