The Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ), together with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes Technical Secretariat (CCOPTS), organized the 9th International Workshop of the Geoinformation Sharing Infrastructure in East and Southeast Asia (GSi) held last February 25-27, 2025, in Subic Bay, Zambales.
24 participants attended the three-day workshop from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Vietnam, and the CCOPTS.
Dr. Young Joo Lee, CCOPTS Director, welcomed all the workshop participants, while Assistant Secretary for Mining Concerns and concurrent OIC-Director and Representative of Philippines to CCOP, Engr. Michael V. Cabalda officially opened the workshop. Also present during the event was OIC Regional Director Noel B. Lacadin of MGB Regional Office No. III.
Dr. Shinji Takarada, CCOP-GSJ GSi Project Leader, discussed the project's progress. A total of 4,010 map layers are available on the GSi Web System, 3,156 of which are already visible to all users. On the other hand, Dr. Joel Bandibas, the GSi System Developer, presented the system’s updates and new features.
The participants then presented their respective reports which included progress of data upload and country portal sites, requests and suggestions for GSi system improvements, and recent geo-information developments in each country.
The workshop also included a field excursion visiting Mapanuepe Lake, a freshwater lake located in the Municipality of San Marcelino, Province of Zambales. This lake was created after the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991.
The said event was officially closed by MGB Chief Geologist Dr. Karlo L. Queano, Alternate Representative of the Philippines to CCOP, and Dr. Shinji Takarada, CCOP-GSJ GSi Project Leader.
The CCOP and GSJ thanked and showed their appreciation to MGB for all the assistance resulting in the success of the workshop.
The participants of the 9th International Workshop GSi with the CCOPTS, Assistant Secretary for Mining Concerns and concurrent OIC-Director Engr. Michael V. Cabalda, and MGB Region 3 OIC-Director Noel B. Lacadin
MGB Region 3 OIC-Director Noel B. Lacadin, Assistant Secretary for Mining Concerns and concurrent OIC-Director Engr. Michael V. Cabalda, and CCOPTS Director Dr. Young Joo Lee
Dr. Kevin Garas of MGB-LGSD discussing the field excursion to Mapanuepe Lake
The participants during their field visit to Mapnuepe Lake
By: Mineral Economics, Information and Publication Division