The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) continues to uphold its mission to be the steward of the country’s mineral resources and promote its responsible development.
Last Monday, during the flag ceremony at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Central Office Grounds in Quezon City, MGB Acting Director Atty. Wilfredo Moncano reported the recent, current and upcoming events of the MGB.
Recent
The DENR - MGB has successfully hosted the 53rd Annual Session of the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP) last October 15 -19 at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and the 69th CCOP Steering Committee Meeting last October 20-21 at the Bellevue Resort Hotel in Bohol.
The event was co-organized by the CCOP Technical Secretariat and the Department of Energy - Energy Resources Development Bureau (DOE - ERDB), in cooperation with the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST – PHILVOCS) and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
MGB Acting Director Moncano added that the DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu delivered his keynote speech during the 53rd CCOP Annual Session opening ceremony in Cebu.
During the 69th CCOP Steering Committee Meeting in Bohol, the Philippines had been elected as the vice-chair for next year. “On the other hand, the Philippines was elected as the Vice-Chair of the CCOP Steering Committee for 2018, with Malaysia as the Chair,” MGB Acting Director Moncano said.
He also discussed their mine visit in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. He was with MGB Assistant Director Atty. Danilo U. Uykieng, along with DENR representatives Mario Chan, head executive assistant of DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu and DENR Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Ernesto Adobo Jr.
The purpose of the visit was for them to observe their best mining practices, “know their mining standards” and “adopt what is applicable to Philippine conditions.”
Current
Meanwhile, MGB Region VI is currently holding the 3-day Annual Technical Forum in Ilo-ilo City, which started last November 8 and will end on November 10.
According to Moncano’s speech, the Annual Technical “Forum is a venue for the personnel of the Bureau to present technical and policy papers which are the products of research and development studies/projects, geological investigations on geohazards, vulnerability risk assessments, geochemical surveys, stakeholders’ engagement and consultations conducted during the preceding year.”
The forum also serves as an “opportunity for the technical personnel of the Bureau to collect Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units which are now required by the Professional Regulatory Commission in the renewal of professional identification cards.”
Upcoming
The MGB’s next major event is the 64th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference.
It will be held in Baguio City from November 21 – 24, 2017.
By: Mineral Economics, Information and Publications Division
MGB Acting Director Atty. Wilfredo Moncano giving updates during the flag ceremony at the DENR Central Office grounds
MGB Acting Director Atty. Wilfredo Moncano (middle) posing with the MGB Chorale