BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc. (OGP) has allocated P768.43 million for the Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Plan (FMRDP) of its Didipio Mine in Nueva Vizcaya, with P551.4 million already deposited in a trust fund as of 2026.

The listed company said the fund will continue to increase in line with the required annual provisioning schedule as it carries out rehabilitation work while the mine remains in operation.

“Responsible mining means planning for rehabilitation throughout the life of the mine and closure long before operations eventually conclude,” said lawyer Joan D. Adaci-Cattiling, President and General Manager for External Affairs and Social Performance.

Adaci-Cattiling added that “by progressively rehabilitating our operating areas and steadily building the rehabilitation fund while operations continue, we are ensuring the resources, systems and plans are in place to support a safe, responsible and sustainable transition beyond mining.”

Progressive rehabilitation during operations

The Didipio Mine operates within a 975-hectare approved mining permit area. Its actual operating footprint is about 340 hectares.

Of that area, 100 hectares are designated for progressive rehabilitation during the mine’s operating life. Company data show more than 55 hectares had been rehabilitated as of end-2025. The remaining areas will be rehabilitated in phases over the coming years.

At the end of operations, approximately 221 hectares are projected for final rehabilitation. Another 58 hectares, including the open pit and selected mine camp facilities, are being considered for potential post-mining community uses instead of conventional revegetation.

Based on consultations with host communities, proposed post-mining land uses include agriculture, forestry, a freshwater lake, and an enterprise tourism development area. The company said these proposals remain subject to technical assessment to determine safety, suitability and sustainability for specific areas of the mine site.

The approach reflects a shift in industry practice where rehabilitation and closure planning are integrated years before a mine ceases operations, rather than treated only as an end-of-life activity.

FMRDP updated every two years

The FMRDP serves as the blueprint for closure activities and financial provisioning. Under government requirements, the FMRDP is reviewed and updated every two years to account for rehabilitation progress, changes to the mine plan, new technical data, stakeholder input, and regulatory requirements.

The next review is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026. The company said the plan will continue to be refined as closure designs are further developed and post-mining land-use studies become more detailed.

“We have been part of the Didipio community for 20 years, building enduring partnerships founded on mutual respect and shared progress,” Adaci-Cattiling said. “As our operations continue in the years to come, we are already investing in rehabilitation and closure planning to help ensure positive and sustainable outcomes for the environment and our host communities well into the future.”

About the operation

OGP operates the Didipio gold-copper mine in Luzon under a Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement or FTAA. The company, with stock symbol “OGP,” is listed on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange.

According to the company, its commitment includes safely and responsibly maximizing free cash flow from the operation while delivering returns to shareholders and meeting environmental and social obligations tied to mining.

AHEAD of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Jose “Jing” Gambito pointed to one of the most important but least flashy reforms of this administration: the decision to “download” nationally funded projects directly to local government units (LGUs) for implementation.

It is a shift worth keeping and expanding.

For too long, infrastructure and social programs designed in Manila would arrive in the provinces with little local input and even less local accountability. When problems surfaced — delays, substandard work, or projects that existed only on paper — the blame was diffused across agencies hundreds of kilometers away. Residents had no clear person to ask.

The current arrangement changes that. Under it, budgets from national agencies are transferred to LGUs, and it is governors, mayors, and municipal engineers who manage the bidding, construction, and reporting.

As Gambito noted, this puts implementation where oversight is closest. Local officials are elected by the very people who will use the road, the hospital or clinic, or the irrigation canal. If a project is delayed or poorly done, there is no passing the buck. “Local officials are the first ones the public will hold responsible,” Gambito said. That direct line of accountability is not just political theory. It is the daily pressure of town halls, market conversations, and the next election.

The shift also addresses a chronic problem: “ghost projects.” When LGUs handle the funds and must answer to their constituents for results, the incentive to participate in fictitious initiatives drops. Credibility is on the line in the same community where leaders live. As the governor put it, when the LGU implements, it ensures the project “will genuinely benefit the people.”

This is not an argument for leaving LGUs to do everything alone. National agencies still have a vital role in setting standards, providing technical support, and auditing. But execution belongs where the need is felt first. Local governments know the terrain, the contractors, the weather patterns, and the community priorities better than any central office can.

Nueva Vizcaya’s experience illustrates the point. Gambito thanked the national government for its continued support to the province and expressed hope that the partnership continues in the remaining years of the administration. That partnership only works if both sides play to their strengths: the national government provides the resources and policy direction, LGUs deliver on the ground.

With two years left in this term, the challenge is to institutionalize the gains. That means faster budget releases to LGUs, clearer guidelines to prevent confusion, capacity-building for smaller municipalities, and transparent reporting so citizens can track every peso.

Decentralization is not new in Philippine law. What is new is the consistent practice of trusting LGUs with the money and the responsibility, and then letting voters judge the results.

The SONA will rightly focus on big numbers — growth, debt, energy, food. But governance is also measured in smaller units: a finished barangay road, a functioning health center, a dam that actually irrigates.

By putting implementation in the hands of elected local leaders, the administration has brought government closer to the people it serves. That is a shift worth defending, and worth making permanent. (LCD)

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya — Six scholars supported by FCF Minerals Corporation here have completed their college degrees, with the company citing their achievement as a milestone for its education and community development programs.

The graduates include one scholar under the company’s Direct Mining and Technical Group (DMTG), scholarship program and five scholars from Barangay Runruno under the Social Development and Management Program, or SDMP.

Jay Bennett Pedro of Adamson University earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology. She received her diploma on July 9, 2026 during commencement exercises held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Manila.

Also graduating were five SDMP scholars from Nueva Vizcaya State University, Bayombong Campus: Sydney Guillaao with a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness, graduating Cum Laude; Francis Banih, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology; Yvone Mae Escaño, Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management; Jessa Mae Nginhayan, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; and Sebrelyn Omas, Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education.

Company presence at graduation

Members of the DMTG Program Management Committee witnessed the graduation ceremonies. Also present were FCF Community Relations Office Manager Agnes Rosales and DMTG Scholarship Coordinator Benilyn Calilit.

In a statement, FCF Minerals Corporation recognized the graduates for their hard work and perseverance. Lorne Harvey, FCF General Manager for Operations, said  “their accomplishments bring pride to the FCF Minerals Corporation family and serve as inspiration to other students in host and neighboring communities.”

Scholarship programs

The DMTG scholarship supports students pursuing degrees related to mining, geology, and other technical fields. The SDMP scholarship is part of FCF’s commitments to Barangay Runruno, where the company operates the Runruno gold-molybdenum project.

Under SDMP, FCF provides educational assistance to qualified residents of host communities as part of its social development initiatives. The program covers tuition and other school expenses to help students complete tertiary education.

Harvey said the scholarships aim to develop local human resources and provide graduates with opportunities to contribute to their communities and chosen professions.

FCF Minerals Corporation expressed optimism that the new graduates will pursue careers that will benefit both the industry and their hometowns.

“Your hard work, perseverance, and dedication have brought pride and inspiration to the entire FCF Minerals Corporation family. We are proud of your achievements and excited to see the bright future ahead of you,” Harvey said.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Mining Development Corporation (PMDC), the government’s mining arm, has expressed its support for and adoption of “Big Brother–Small Brother” initiative, a partnership framework that encourages cooperation between large-scale mining operators and small-scale miners.

PMDC President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Job Adrian M. Ambrosio said the Corporation is adopting the approach in recognition of the support of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for collaborative programs that promote the formalization of small-scale mining, responsible mineral development, improved mine safety, environmental compliance, and inclusive economic growth.

Under the model, established and technically capable mining operators may assist small-scale miners in transitioning toward legal, properly regulated, and environmentally responsible operations. Assistance may include technical guidance, mine planning, safety systems, environmental management, mineral processing, regulatory compliance, and access to legitimate markets.

The proposal seeks to demonstrate that responsible mining can create lasting economic opportunities while significantly improving worker safety, environmental stewardship, and community welfare in mining host communities.

For decades, a significant portion of the country’s small-scale mining sector has operated outside the formal regulatory system. Illegal and unregulated mining activities often expose workers to hazardous underground conditions where accidents and fatalities remain a serious concern.

The unregulated use of mercury and cyanide may also contribute to the contamination of rivers and waterways, while the absence of proper engineering, mine planning, waste management, and erosion-control measures increases the risks of landslides, pollution, and environmental degradation.

Illegal mining operations have likewise been associated with child labor, inadequate social protection, and economic inequities, where a limited number of individuals receive substantial profits while many miners continue to work under dangerous conditions and earn only modest incomes.

Recognizing these longstanding challenges, Ambrosio said enforcement must be accompanied by practical and viable legal alternatives that encourage small-scale miners to enter the formal economy and become part of a safer, more productive, and properly regulated mining industry.

“The MGB has recognized that cooperation between large-scale mining companies and small-scale miners can provide a practical pathway toward formalization. PMDC supports this direction and intends to adopt the Big Brother–Small Brother approach in appropriate PMDC mining areas,” Ambrosio said.

Ambrosio noted that the partnership approach draws from programs such as the Big Brother–Small Brother initiative implemented by Itogon-Suyoc Resources, Inc. (ISRI), a subsidiary of Apex Mining Co., Inc., which demonstrates how established mining operators can help small-scale miners improve safety, compliance, environmental management, livelihood generation, and operational sustainability.

PMDC will work closely with the MGB, local government units, indigenous cultural communities, small-scale mining associations, partner operators, and other concerned government agencies to determine how the model may be responsibly implemented in suitable PMDC projects and mineral areas.

Ambrosio said the future of Philippine mining should be inclusive—one where mineral development benefits small-scale miners and their families, host communities, local governments, and the national economy.

“Responsible mining must create opportunity, not exclusion. By working with the MGB and our mining communities, we can help transform informal mining into a safer, legal, environmentally responsible, and sustainable industry that provides long-term livelihoods for Filipino miners,” Ambrosio said.

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — The leadership of the Balatoc Kalinga Tribe Inc. (BKTI) has strongly denounced recent statements circulating in the media opposing the development of the Batong Buhay mining project, describing them as false, misleading, and unrepresentative of the legitimate position of the Balatoc Tribe.

Speaking on behalf of the Balatoc tribe, Victor Gumisa emphasized that the statements being attributed to the Balatoc community do not represent the views of the recognized Indigenous People’s organization (IPO), the Council of Elders, nor the overwhelming majority of the Balatoc, Pasil people in Kalinga.

“The public deserves to know the truth. These statements are not supported by the recognized leadership of the Balatoc Tribe. They are false, misleading, and intended to create confusion regarding the legitimate aspirations of our people,” Gumisa said.

BKTI Holds the Lawful Mandate

Gumisa explained that the Balatoc Tribe has already exercised its priority rights over its ancestral domain, as recognized by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in 2008.

As the duly recognized representative of the Balatoc Tribe, BKTI was subsequently granted the Certificate of Precondition (CP) covering the exploration area, giving it the authority and responsibility to determine the development of the mineral resources within Exploration Permit Application (EXPA) No. 79.

“The authority to decide the future development of our ancestral domain rests with BKTI and the recognized leadership of the Balatoc Tribe—not with individuals pursuing their own personal interests,” Gumisa stressed.

Strong Community Support for Responsible Mining

According to Gumisa, the President and Board of Directors of BKTI, together with the majority of tribal elders, have expressed their full support for the responsible development of the Batong Buhay Mine.

BKTI has formally nominated Metals Exploration as its preferred mining partner to develop the project under a partnership model designed to ensure that Indigenous Peoples become genuine stakeholders in the project.

Under the proposed Joint Venture arrangement, the Balatoc tribe will receive a 20-percent equity stake in the operating company and representation on its Board of Directors.

“This is a pioneering model in the Philippine mining industry. For the first time, an Indigenous community will become a true equity partner in a major mining operation rather than simply receiving royalties. We believe this can become the benchmark for future responsible mining developments on ancestral lands.”

Development Benefits for the Entire Community

FEMC (Faratuk Exploration & Mining Company) has already presented a draft Memorandum of Agreement to the community outlining substantial development commitments, including:

-Construction of the long-awaited ₱100-million access road to Balatoc;

-Improved healthcare facilities and medical services;

-Scholarship programs for local students;

-Employment and livelihood opportunities;

-Infrastructure development;

-Community development and other long-term social benefits.

“For decades our people have waited for meaningful development. This partnership offers an opportunity to improve the lives of future generations while ensuring that our ancestral domain remains under Indigenous ownership and participation,” Gumisa said.

Gumisa did not sign any MOA or JOA yet until the Balatoc tribe, and PMDC will reach acceptable agreement.  What the people and government will decide, that is what I support. I did not sign any agreement without consulting my community and presenting documents to Balatoc lawyers and professionals, they need to be involved. The June 25 meeting at Balatoc was initial presentation of MOA.

Questions Raised Over Illegal Mining Operations

Gumisa also expressed concern that opposition to the project appears to be driven by vested interests seeking to preserve existing illegal mining activities in the area.

“If these efforts succeed in preventing the responsible development of Batong Buhay, it will not be the ordinary people of Balatoc who benefit. Instead, poverty will continue while only a few individuals involved in illegal operations profit from our natural resources.”

Improper small scale mining caused the death of some of our tribes’ members.  Responsible small scale mining will continue with technical assistance of FEMC. We will prioritize CADT certificate of ancestral domain titling processing and ADSDPP ancestral domain sustainable development plan of our Tribe.

A Project of National Importance

Gumisa emphasized that the proposed Batong Buhay project represents far more than a local mining venture. It is expected to contribute to the country’s critical minerals development strategy while delivering lasting benefits to Indigenous communities.

“The choice before us is clear. We can continue with unregulated and illegal activities that benefit only a few, or we can pursue a transparent, legally compliant, community-led mining project that creates jobs, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and lasting prosperity for our people.”

QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya—FCF Minerals Corporation could after all continue its operation after its expected closure in 2027 with the identification of an exploration target near its Runruno Mine here.

According to the London-based Metals Exploration (MTL), a mineral resources exploration and development company that owns 100 percent of the FCF Minerals-operated Runruno Gold Project, the exploration target is located in the municipality of Dupax del Norte in this province.

“The exploration target could potentially extend ore processing operations at Runruno after ore feed from the Runruno Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) tenement is exhausted,” MTL said.

It added that the potential ore feed from Dupax del Norte could utilize the existing Runruno process plant infrastructure and be re-purposed to accommodate a different type of ore feed and that any ore from Dupax would likely be processed into a saleable mixed metal concentrate.  

Darren Bowden, MTL chief executive officer, said the Dupax del Norte prospect “provides an exciting opportunity to explore a potential extension of ore processing at Runruno.”

“It is a VMS target with rock samples indicating very high grades of up to 15.47 grams per ton gold and 7 percent copper, with minimal drilling expected to bring it into a resource-ready basis for operation,” Bowden said.

A VMS target in mining is a volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit which is a valuable source of metals like copper, zinc, lead, silver and gold. 

Bowden also explained that following a recent review of the prospect, which included taking fresh rock samples, they are optimistic about the potential that it presents.

He said there is an old mined area on the tenement that allows them to assess the scale of the previous operation and to advance their understanding of the target’s potential.

“We are currently finalizing environmental and forestry approvals and aim to commence exploration as soon as possible. It is too early to say how long it could extend ore processing operations at the Runruno process plant, but I am confident that it has the potential to provide an extension, even if it is only for a few years,” Bowden said.

According to MTL, the Dupax del Norte tenement has been applied for by Woggle Corporation, which is 40 percent owned by the company and its subsidiaries, with 60 percent being owned by the staff pension plan of its   FCF Minerals Corp. subsidiary. 

In addition to FCF Minerals Corp. or the Runruno Mine, MTL completed in August 2024 the acquisition of the Yamang Mineral Corp. or YMC which holds an extensive exploration tenement in the prospective Abra area covering 16,200 hectares.

Under Philippine mining law, exploration tenements can only be a maximum of 40 percent foreign-owned. However, the processing of ore from any mining operation can be 100 percent foreign-owned. 

MTL said the company will optimize the ownership structure relating to the Dupax del Norte project should the exploration program be successful and if the tenement is converted to a mining lease. 

The company said it had previously relinquished an interest in the Dupax del Norte tenement, which it re-applied for in 2023. 

The project area is covered by an Exploration Permit Application ExPA 000168 RII whose tenement covers an area of 3,101.11 hectares.

It is approximately 20 kilometers directly southwest of the company’s existing Runruno Mine site and five kilometers from Dupax del Norte Municipal Hall.

OCEANGOLD Philippines (OPG) recently turned over three more farm-to-market (FMR) projects worth P9 million to villagers in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces in simple ceremonies.

“For hundreds of villagers in these two provinces, a simple road means more than just a path. It is a bridge to opportunity, security and progress,” said Joan Adaci-Cattiling, OGP president and general manager for external affairs and social performance.

With these newly completed FMR projects, Adaci-Cattiling said around 500 residents are now able to travel more safely and conveniently to schools, farms and nearby towns.

These new FMRs included those constructed at Barangay Villa Aurora, Diadi in Nueva Vizcaya, a 223.5-meter road reinforced with three cross drainages and a sturdy retaining wall; Barangay Ricarte Sur, Diffun in Quirino, a 246-meter road with a cross drainage unit, a retaining wall, and a drainage canal for better water flow; and Barangay Pinaripad Norte, Aglipay, also in Quirino, a 247.5-meter road strengthened with a pipe culvert and slope protection.

Adaci-Cattiling noted that for many years, villagers traveled through rough and muddy trails, making it difficult for farmers to bring their produce to the market and for children to go to school.

“Now, with these newly built roads, funded through OGP’s Community Development Fund (CDF) everyday life becomes a little easier, and possibilities grow a little bigger,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Diffun and Aglipay roads in Quirino province were officially turned over in January, while the Diadi project in Nueva Vizcaya was completed in December 2024.

As these roads open new doors for the communities, they stand as a testament, Adaci-Catting added.

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya: The Didipio Mine here is helping coffee farmers boost the industry by extending financial assistance and capacitating particularly the farmer-members of a coffee growers cooperative here.

Didipio Mine president and general manager for external affairs and social performance Joan Adaci-Cattiling said the mine partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry to provide training to coffee growers.

She said the recent capacity-building activity for members of the Kasibu Coffee Growers Association, Inc. (KCGAI) was mainly on coffee post-harvest operations.

Under the 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 project, Cattiling added that Didipio Mine and KCGAI have realier forged an agreement for a P2.5 million pesos financial assistance.

“This project is under the Didipio Mine’s corporate social responsibility or CSR program aimed at contributing to the association’s community, financial and organizational sustainability,” she said.

Cattiling said the project intends to assist coffee farmers in monitoring and managing their crops as well as provide them with technical assistance.

“It will also cover the establishment and maintenance of a nursery, building the capacity of the association’s farmer-members, and regular monitoring of the coffee farms,” she said.

According to Cattiling, the acquisition of needed machinery, tools, and equipment; the augmentation of fertilizer needs of farmers; and the provision of coffee trees and other tropical trees are also covered by the agreement.

The DTI Region 2 led by Regional Director Ma. Sofia Narag and DTI Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Director Michael Paggabao, paid a courtesy visit to Cuaresma on November 24, 2024 on the sidelines of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Meeting in the House of Representatives, to discuss areas for collaboration.

Paggabao said the meeting served as a platform to reaffirm DTI’s commitment to collaborating closely with the congresswoman’s office in advancing initiatives that empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), enhance local industries and support the overall economic progress of Nueva Vizcaya.

“We are delighted to solidify our partnership with Congresswoman Cuaresma in achieving shared goals for the province. Her support will truly help us achieve our unified vision to bring impactful programs and services to the people of Nueva Vizcaya,” Paggabao said.

Narag and Paggabao were accompanied by the other leaders of DTI Region 2 namely Provincial Director (PD) Mary Ann Dy, acting PD Lourdito Antonio, acting PD Cyrus Restauro, Division chief Tessie Isidra Guitering, and chief of staff Elena Marie Ferrer. DTI NUEVA VIZCAYA

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO

BAGUIO CITY—FCF Minerals Corporation has won its third consecutive Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA) during the 70th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) held at the CAP-John Hay Trade and Cultural Center here from November 19 to 22, 2024.

The award, according to Lorne Harvey, FCF Minerals general manager for operations, is an “unprecedented achievement of the company for all its efforts in responsible mining.” 

“FCF Minerals not only maintained its PMIEA excellence but also captured two additional safety distinctions, marking a remarkable industry milestone,” Harvey added.

The company also received the Safest Surface Mining Operation Award as the winner and the Safest Mining Operation Award, also as winner.

He said the triple PMIEA achievement underscores FCF Minerals’ unwavering commitment to responsible mining practices and industry leadership in sustainable operations.

Engineer Diosdado Dimalanta, Infrastructure and Security Manager, and lawyer Rowena Marcos, Legal and Compliance Manager, who represented Harvey at the November 22 awards ceremony, accepted the PMIEA award.

The Safety Awards were received by the company’s safety team Engineer Maria-Rica-Xtra Arguel, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) manager; Engineer Alex Lagbas, OSH superintendent; and Engineer Tiana May Bonoy, Safety Engineer.

Awarded annually, the PMIEA recognizes mining companies that demonstrate exceptional performance in environmental protection and management, workplace safety and health practices and social development and community engagement.

Dimalanta noted that the awards received by the company are a “solid testament to compliance beyond international standards truly becoming a beacon in the mining industry.”

Meanwhile, the FCF Emergency Response Team (ERT) also clinched second place in the First Aid Competition at the Melvin Jones Grandstand on November 22.

Harvey said their dedicated ERT also demonstrated their exceptional skills across multiple challenges including Fire Brigade Competition, Fire Extinguishment Event and Tug of Peace Challenge.

“This remarkable achievement highlights our team’s dedication to emergency preparedness and commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards at FCF Minerals Corporation,” he said.

Joining the FCF Minerals delegation during the Minerals Industry Parade, led by Dimalanta representing Harvey on November 22 from SM Baguio to the Melvin Jones Grandstand, were the barangay officials of Runruno in Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya, headed by barangay captain John Babli-ing. Runruno is the company’s host community.

The company also participated in the two-day booth exhibit during the 70th ANMSEC  from November 20 to 21 which was visited by different mining companies, contractors, students and other interested individuals who wanted to know more about responsible mining.

Harvey said this enables the company to share and discuss its operations and best practices, particularly in its Safety and Health, Environment and Social programs.

There were 1,300 individuals recorded visitors who dropped by the booth participating in the dart board game that enabled them to win prizes after following the company’s official Facebook page and inviting their Facebook friends to follow the page.

The 70th ANMSEC was spearheaded by the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA),  the country’s leading advocate for occupational safety, health, environmental management, and social responsibility in the minerals industry, in coordination with various key stakeholders.

These stakeholders include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB), the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, the Philippine Society of Mining Engineers, as well as mining companies, quarries, mineral processing plants, suppliers, service contractors and various professional organizations.

This year’s event marked a significant milestone in the history of ANMSEC, highlighting seven decades of dedication to improving safety standards and environmental practices in the mining industry.

Anchored on the theme “Endurance and Innovation for Sustainability,” the MGB Region 2 Director Mario Ancheta said the conference “reflects the unique challenges faced by the mining industry in the country and the need to navigate these challenges by embracing innovative and sustainable practices and solutions towards achieving responsible and sustainable mineral resources development.”