On January 29, 2021, Atty Wilfredo G. Moncano, Director, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), issued a Memorandum re: Realignment of 2021 Annual Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) Fund, and Safety and Health Program (SHP) to Purchase the COVID-19 Vaccine for Host and Neighboring Communities, and Employees/Workers, Respectively, to all MGB Regional Offices (ROs).

The said Memorandum aims to help the government in purchasing additional supply of COVID-19 vaccines through the initiatives of the mining industry. It may be recalled that MGB also approved the realignment of SDMP funds during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic through a Memorandum dated March 27, 2020, re: Realignment of SDMP’s Unutilized Funds to Support Affected Impact and Non-impact Communities due to COVID-19.

The recent MGB directive authorizes the realignment of the Annual SDMP and SHP funds of mining companies for 2021 for the purpose of procuring COVID-19 vaccines for the host and neighboring communities, and employees/workers, pursuant to Section 136-E of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2010-21, the Consolidated Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the “Philippine Mining Act of 1995” and Rule 21.2 of DAO 2000-98, the Mine Safety and Health Standards.

The Mining Contractor/Permit Holder shall realign its 2021 funds and the said procurement shall be chargeable against the Development of Host and Neighboring Communities of the SDMP for the impact barangays/municipalities, and Health and Control Services of the SHP for the employees/workers.

In addition, the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccines shall be in accordance with the guidelines and procedures set forth by the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Taskforce on COVID-19 (NTF) of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

MGB hereby enjoins all mining companies to report the implementation of this Memorandum in the quarterly accomplishment reports of mining companies subject to monitoring of the MGB Regional Office concerned. 

 By: Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division