The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) attended the Minerals and Mining Scoping Workshop which was jointly organized by the Natural Environment Research Council of the United Kingdom (UK) and the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development of the Philippines held at Hotel Astoria, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on March 3-5, 2020.
The said workshop aims to gather an interdisciplinary community of UK and Philippine researchers and stakeholders to clearly articulate the challenges affecting the Philippine mining sector, and to explore the scope of a potential new research program into resilient, sustainable mining in the Philippines.
During the first day of the workshop, keynote speakers from the private and government/regulatory agency highlighted the challenges in minerals and mining in the country. Engr. Rodolfo L. Velasco, Jr., Chief, Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division, MGB of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), presented the status of minerals industry in the country as well as the Safety and Health, Environment and Social Development provisions in the Mining Act. On the other hand, Atty. Ronald Rex Recidoro, Executive Director of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, presented the challenges besetting the mining industry and its way forward towards responsible mining.
In addition, various speakers from the academe, government agencies and research institutions from UK and Philippines presented case studies or current practices on areas such as change and land fragmentation; biodiversity; ecosystem effects and recovery, environmental contaminants and their effects on human health; air and water quality, etc. Likewise, Engr. Velasco also presented the current status of abandoned mines in the country, as well as, the accomplishments of the Mine Rehabilitation Program (MRP) of MGB. Breakout sessions were simultaneously done among the participants to discuss and determine the priority research areas and challenges in UK and Philippine setting.
On the second day, the participants visited Puerto Princesa the Palawan Quicksilver Mines, Inc., an abandoned mercury mine located in City, Palawan, wherein various engineering, rehabilitation and research and development efforts were undertaken by the MGB through its Mine Rehabilitation Program in coordination with MGB MIMAROPA Region and Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau of the DENR.
Overall, the workshop fostered networking and established new links between UK and Philippine research communities in the area of environment research and new technology development.
By: Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division
Photo 1. Participants during the opening of the UK-PH Minerals and Mining Scoping Workshop in
Hotel Astoria, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Photo 2. Group Photo of the participants during the UK-PH Minerals and Mining Scoping Workshop
in Hotel Astoria, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Photo 3. Engr. Rodolfo Velasco Jr. presenting the Status of Minerals Industry in the Philippines