[Iloilo City] – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office VI (MGB VI) hosted the Regional and Provincial Multipartite Team (MMT) raining Workshop, held from May 15-17, 2024 in the province of Guimaras. Themed “Upscaling Skills and Proficiencies of Multipartite Monitoring Team Members towards Environmentally Responsible and Socially Acceptable Mining Practices,” the event gathered 55 participants composed of regional and provincial MMT members.
Hosted at Raymen Beach Resort in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, the event focused on upscaling the skills and expertise of multipartite monitoring team members to promote environmentally responsible and socially acceptable mining. Through a series of expert-led sessions, interactive workshops, and collaborative discussions, participants enhanced their abilities to address the complex challenges associated with sustainable mining practices.
MGB VI OIC Regional Director Cecilia L. Ochavo-Saycon welcomed the participants. In her welcome message, OIC RD Saycon said, “As regulators, our job is to ensure that our clients are compliant with the different rules and regulations in the mining industry. She underscored the vital role the MMT plays as partners in nation building as a source of technical and evidence-based guidance for an industry that is serious in meeting its corporate environmental and social commitments. Though generally perceived as a critic and “fault-finder,” she encouraged the delegates to help change that perception, and one concrete step is the continuous learning and leveling-up of skills relevant to the roles and functions of the MMT.
Under the mining law and regulations, the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC) deputizes and operationalizes a multipartite monitoring team (MMT) as an expert body overseeing and ensuring that permit holders are conducting their projects responsibly and transparently, particularly those with significant environmental and social impacts.
Leonard Pasiderio, Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PGENRO) of Guimaras welcomed the delegates on behalf of the provincial governor. He gave a brief history of the province of Guimaras and talked about the importance of a functional regulatory body such as the MRFC and its monitoring arm, the MMT. He emphasized the importance of having dynamic and enabling legislation and proactively keeping the public informed on the actions of the regulatory bodies. He expressed his hope for the delegate to enjoy their stay in Guimaras and achieve productive capacity development.
The participants gave positive feedback on their learnings from the two-day seminar covering topics on Safety, Environment and Social Enforcement Policies, Pertinent Environmental Laws particularly Air/Water Sampling Methods, Forestry Laws, Rules and Regulations, Biodiversity Conservation Policies and Programs, and Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring, tackled by resource persons.
A major workshop output was an improved and standardized Compliance Monitoring and Validation Report format.
Engr. Ronald C. Villamora, MGB VI OIC Chief of the Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division (MSESDD) formally closed the event by giving his gratitude and congratulatory message to the team and participants in the successful conduct of the training workshop. (MGB VI)
