Philippine Resources Journal - Issue 1, 2024

THE MAGAZINE FOR MINING, CONSTRUCTION &

PENARROYO:

THE ROLE OF FILIPINO GEOLOGISTS IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BUNYE:

DELIVERING ON A PROMISE TO REVITALIZE THE MINING INDUSTRY

PMEA’S STORY AND MILESTONES:

AN INTERVIEW WITH JOEY AYSON ON ITS SILVER ANNIVERSARY

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Marcos Bets Mining

Marof his myriad inflation and against economic from the hard put consumer public a tight result declincosts further dollar fuel for materials more for debt the proand the Government facilienergy utiliAmong recovery are conflict weaker about by intercountry. businessmoney and and serespecially economic globally. groups, the mining sustainable refrom the pandemic and slowdown. investments for underscored Secreassured the commitment to environment Diokno also expects adhere to practices. He strike environand supsocioeconomic Marcos ecomedium-term fissucceed mining

The Role of Filipino Geologists in National Development

written by: FERNANDO PENARROYO

By Fernando Penarroyo

AFernando “Ronnie” S. Penarroyo specializes in Energy and Resources Law, Project Finance and Business Development. He is also currently the Chair of the Professional Regulatory Board of Geology; the government agency mandated under law to regulate and develop the geology profession. He may be contacted at fspenarroyo@penpalaw.com for any matters or inquiries in relation to the Philippine resources industry and suggested topics for commentaries. Atty. Penarroyo’s commentaries are also archived at his professional blogsite at www.penarroyo.com

Philippine Resources is published independently for executives in Philippine mining, construction, resources, and associated business sectors.

Publisher Elizabeth Galura

Consulting Publisher Greg Brimble

Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle

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Matt Brimble +63 927 721 6622

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industry would have to perform well. Dur ing the Philippine Economic Briefing in New York where President Marcos delivered a keynote message to American investors, Diokno emphasized the administration’s commitment to help maximize the mining sector’s potential in attracting more foreign investments.

Playing Catch Up

The mining industry considered the Duterte administration as another wasted era for realizing the full economic potential of the sector. The Marcos government in herited a mining industry reeling from the anti-mining stance of the previous administration with the appointment of the late Regina Paz Lopez, a staunch anti-mining advocate, to head the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The appointment was bitterly opposed by the industry resulting in Lopez’s rejection by the powerful bicameral Commission on Appointments.

During her term, Lopez ordered the closure of mining operations and initiated a national mine audit conducted on behalf of the Mining Industry Coordinating Council. Mining stakeholders described the three years of closure of these companies as “arbitrary” and claim that at that time, the industry practically “gasped for breath.”

s Chairperson of the Professional Regulatory Board of Geology, December of last year was quite a busy month. I was given the honor to present the keynote speech during the opening of the Geological Convention (GeoCon) 2023 last 05 December 2023 and the Oath Taking Ceremonies for New Geologists on 11 December 2023. In my speeches, I emphasized the important relationship between geology and national development as geoscientific data and knowledge are essential for informed decision-making and policy-setting in various areas of the economy. The profession is important in the primary production of mineral and energy resources, infrastructure building, advancement of science and technology, and prediction and cost-damage avoidance through better understanding and mitigation of natural hazards.

With COVID-19 bringing down the economy on its knees and a worsening economic fallout becoming inevitable, Duterte issued Executive Order No. 130 in April 2021, lifting the nine-year moratorium on the granting of new mining permits. Finally in December 2021, the Duterte administration succumbing to economic pressure, lifted the ban on open-pit mining.

While the Philippines is a minor contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, we are undeniably one of the most impacted nations, facing the imminent threat of rising sea levels due to increasing global temperature. Hence, we must recognize that climate change is not an isolated issue. It is an integral factor in our national policy. It is our collective responsibility to tackle this challenge head-on and without hesitation.

the various industries that strive to achieve the same goal, and thus, we must work hand in hand to achieve this ambitious goal.

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Contributors

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Fernando Penarroyo

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It is well to note that at the height of the pandemic in 2021, the mining sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product

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During GeoCon 2023, I started my speech with a reflection on the recent onslaught of different calamities and super typhoons that ravaged our country in the last few years. These devastating disasters have had far-reaching impacts, hindering the development and growth of our nation. These highlighted the urgent need to address climate change, not just on a local scale, but as a global concern that affects every aspect of our society.

To address these challenges, the geology profession must embark on a journey of energy transition, building the capacity for resilient communities and a resilient nation. It is imperative that we develop our green economy, as it holds the key to unlocking numerous job opportunities, livelihoods, and the sustainable future we envision for our people. However, this transition will require a collaborative effort between the government and

Renewable energy technologies, such as wind turbines, solar photovoltaic panels and batteries, are essential for transition to climate neutrality. Deployment, maintenance and replacement of this infrastructure requires significant resources, including many substances in the list of critical raw materials.

ADDRESSING WASTES

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However, waste arising from end-of-life clean energy infrastructure is projected to grow up to 30-fold over the next 10 years. This presents significant opportunities to reduce consumption of scarce raw materials by recycling metals and other valuable resources back into the

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production systems. Waste arising from the development and use of renewable energy infrastructure includes rare earth elements as well as other valuable materials such as steel, copper and glass.

The fast pace of technological development means that equipment can be subject to relatively rapid obsolescence and can generate complex waste streams. These present technical and logistical challenges for managing this infrastructure at the end-of-life stage. Recovering materials and reintroducing them into the production cycle faces challenges. Policy makers and industry can address the waste and resource challenges associated with the shift to renewable energy technologies through circular economy approaches.

CRITICAL MINERALS

The Philippines has grand ambitions to take on the global electric vehicle boom with its nine million hectares of land with high mineral potential. Government estimates suggest less than five percent (5%) of our country’s mineral reserves have been extracted so far.

The country is already, after Indonesia, the world’s secondlargest producer of nickel and the fourth-biggest producer of cobalt. Nickel and cobalt are among the critical minerals crucial to the modern technological world and the clean energy transition. Both are essential elements for electric vehicles batteries, consumer electronics and advanced defense technologies.

However, the Philippines also faces competition from other nations in seeking new investments in critical mineral exploration, development, and processing. At the same time, mining regulatory policies are complicated as the industry has long been synonymous with environmental destruction and social dislocation.

THE END OF FOSSIL FUELS?

Developments in clean energy transition have led to an assumption that the world economy is “done” with fossil fuels. There is no need for further development of new nonrenewable energy resources, and we have to stop using them as soon as possible. This assumption has also led to a perception of “good” renewables-based technologies, on the one hand, and “bad” fossil

fuels-based technologies, on the other.

The reality is that this debate requires a more thorough analysis. Carbon capture and storage technology and managing methane emissions throughout the fossil energy value chain can help meet ambitious CO2 emission reduction targets while fossil fuels remain part of the energy system. This will allow fossil fuels to become “part of the solution”, rather than remain “part of the problem”. All technologies have a role to play in an energy system as long as they are guided by rational economics.

Addressing the issue of sustainable energy requires the engagement of all possible groups of stakeholders. Ignoring the role of fossil fuels will have a negative effect. Many developing countries, like the Philippines, have large untapped fossil fuel resources that they intend to use to develop their economies. Insisting that they forego the use of these resources in favor of renewables is likely to create repercussions in their economies. Let us be reminded that the developed countries built their existing economies on fossil fuels and are still heavily relying on them. The Philippines, with

untapped natural gas reserves in offshore Palawan, can use its resources to develop its economy.

Rather than a “non-fossil fuel” agenda, a more pragmatic approach should be used to create a more-balanced strategy. Our government regulators should encourage the use of a broad range of resources available - energy efficiency, renewables, and fossil fuels in a sustainable manner. I see no need to join the bandwagon of banning the exploration, development, and utilization of our fossil-based resources. Energy security must be the primordial objective of the Philippine government. Let me say it again. The Philippines is a minor contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions.

The other stakeholder group that is often vilified in the energy transition agenda is the private sector in the fossil fuel industry. In fact, the private sector holds the expertise and often the financial resources to support the needed change to an inclusive green economy. For example, experience in petroleum drilling can be applied to the geothermal industry. Using the financial

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resources of the big companies along with their knowledge and experience, can facilitate the energy transition. Governments should instead encourage them to diversify to green energy and use environment, social, and government or ESG standards in sustainability reporting. Treating them like outcasts will make the energy transition harder and more expensive.

THE ROLE OF FILIPINO GEOLOGISTS

Filipino geologists are in the forefront of fueling the energy transition journey. Geoscientists are employed in a wide variety of jobs, from traditional mining and petroleum to many new areas such as water quality and supply, land-use management and geologic hazards. In a global study, employment of geoscientists is expected to grow 5% in the next 10 years, which is faster than the average for other professions.

Science, policy, public health, engineering, education, law, business— all of these fields overlap with the understanding of the earth that comes with a degree in geosciences. The continued need for energy, materials, including the critical minerals for energy transition is projected to increase demand for geoscientists in the future. Responsible stewardship of land and resources are also regularly being deployed in

fields that focus on renewables such as hydrothermal power, geothermal, and sites for solar and wind.

It’s also important to note that automation and artificial intelligence don’t necessarily mean there’s no future for geologists. What it means is that geologists, like many other professionals, need to learn new skill sets. Robots may be taking over areas such as field mapping and routine jobs like soil and rock sampling but ultimately humans make the final decisions about what to do with the data and information. It’s also human geologists who have to explain to higher management what all the data and information mean! Automation and AI is an opportunity to learn and apply new skills. Let us all embrace change and become digitalsavvy geoscientists!

In my speech during the oath taking of new geologists, I emphasized that the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) will spare no effort to provide the support necessary to address the pressing concerns that hinder the professional development of our geoscientists. And even as the PRC invests in infrastructure and institute reforms to improve the geology profession, it will continue to channel the hard-earned money of our taxpayers to empower our geologists—making them productive contributors to the continuing cycle of opportunity and progress.

The PRC bear witness to the oaths of exemplary and honorable geologists who have been, and who will continue to be assets to our country. These individuals became leaders and trailblazers in our profession — exemplars of patriotism, of excellence, and wholehearted service throughout their careers and endeavors.

For geologists who will join government, public service is no easy task. Serving in an office with such a significant and influential role in the nation’s affairs will be difficult. Life in government will always be hard and challenging, but every service delivered brings purpose, it brings fulfillment. They will be assured of PRC’s unshakable commitment to their protection and welfare, to ensure that they are provided with the necessary tools to perform their tasks and duties in the fulfillment of their service to the nation and the people.

The persistent critical challenge presented is to ensure an improved quality of life and economic growth, while reducing the environmental footprint of the resources sector. The transition to a sustainable energy system is an opportunity to improve energy efficiency from exploration to consumption, minimize environmental impacts, reduce energy use and carbon footprints, and correct energy market failures and leakages.

Taking advantage of the opportunity will require a coordinated policy review and reforms across many sectors, most especially from the ranks of Filipino geologists. The idea of green mining and the presence of stringent environmental compliance measures may not be enough to make mining widely acceptable to the public. It is their responsibility then to explain the importance of resource development to the general public.

I ended my speech by thanking our Filipino geologists, for their dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to our beloved nation. The Filipino geologists can make a real difference in climate change mitigation, digital transformation, and clean energy transition, and most especially in the pursuit of a sustainable and prosperous future for the Philippines.

Delivering on a Promise to Revitalize the Mining Industry

written by: PATRICIA A. O. BUNYE

Adviser on Investment and Economic Affairs, Frederick Go, that mining is at the top of the government’s list of five priority areas [the other four being semiconductors, agriculture, steel, and pharmaceutical industries], expectations are high that this administration will finally deliver on its promise to revitalize the mining industry.

One step in this direction was the signing last November of a Memorandum of Understanding for Sustainable Development and Investment in Mineral Extraction and Processing among the concerned government agencies and private organizations.

Among them are the AntiRed Tape Authority (ARTA) represented by Secretary Ernesto V. Perez, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) represented by Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) represented by Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, Department of the Interior and

Patricia A. O. Bunye is a Senior Partner at Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia where she heads its Mining & Natural Resources Department and Energy practice group. She is also the Founding President of Diwata-Women in Resource Development, Inc., a non-government organization advocating the responsible development of the Philippines’ wealth in resources, principally through industries such as mining, oil and gas, quarrying, and other mineral resources from the earth for processing.

Local Government (DILG) represented by Undersecretary Marlo L. Iringan, Department of Finance (DOF) represented by Undersecretary Karlo Fermin Adriano, and University of the Philippines Public Administration

Research and Extension Service Foundation, Inc. (UPPAF) represented by the Chief of Party of the Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development (RESPOND) Project, Dr. Enrico Basilio. The signing was held at the United States Embassy Residence, Scout Hill, Camp John Hay, Baguio

City, on the sidelines of the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association’s Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference.

This initiative was led by the UPPAF under the RESPOND Project, which is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

The MOU aims to maximize the huge potential of the mining sector in the country through a more responsible, sustainable,

and inclusive exploration, development, and utilization of mineral resources to catalyze socio-economic growth.

Under the MOU, technical assistance will be extended to key government agencies in the areas of pursuing extractive policy reforms, drafting a sound mining taxation framework, conducting capacity-building sessions, and taking a wholeof-community approach to ensuring the active participation of various stakeholders in the pursuit of mineral extraction activities.

***

ARTA, as a key agency in implementing Republic Act No. 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery (EODB EGSD) Act of 2018, will collaborate with UPPAF-RESPOND in streamlining and reengineering the business permitting and licensing system of DENR’s regulatory agencies, particularly the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

There is no question that the Philippines is highly mineralized. The global demand for critical minerals should also push the country to the forefront as a source for these. However, whether is actually attractive to investors is another story, as we continue to be our own worst enemy due to, among others, policy shifts and the difficulty in doing business.

One only must look at the Global Competitiveness

Index for 2023, where the Philippines was ranked 52nd in a list of 64 countries, falling four spots from 48th place in 2022.

The report ranks countries using 255 criteria spread across four competitiveness factors: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure. In the case of the Philippines, it declined in three out of four main factors or dimensions of competitiveness.

In particular, the country’s business efficiency factor fell from 39th in 2022 to 40th in 2023, while its infrastructure factor, which has been a perennial challenge for the Philippines, also dropped from 57th in 2022 to 58th in 2023.

In the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, the Philippines ranks 95th, compared to the leaders New Zealand

and Singapore, which are ranked 1 and 2, respectively. According to the World Bank, a high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. Conversely, the farther a country is from number one, the harder it is to do business in that country.

By the time this issue comes out, the DENR would have convened (or be close to convening) a Mining Summit bringing together the industry’s stakeholders to discuss the issues that continue to stymie mining in the Philippines. While issues like the mining fiscal regime will surely be high on the agenda, it is hoped that equal time will be devoted to more basic issues like red tape and the lack of coordination among the government departments and agencies that deal with mining.

In February, I had the pleasure of emceeing two mining events: first was a webinar organized by the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines entitled “Digging Deeper: Innovations and Opportunities in the Philippine Mining Sector”; and second was a seminar jointly organized by the Philippine Mining Club and Yokogawa with the theme “Powering a Sustainable and Resilient Mining Industry.”

The Canadian Embassy event was participated in by Canadian mining companies, equipment/ technology suppliers, and other prospective investors.

The PMC-Yokogawa event, on the other hand, highlighted, among others, how technology may aid companies in meeting their ESG objectives. One such example is Yokogawa’s Carbon Footprint Tracer, which was launched just days before.

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From Boom to Bust: Nickel’s Plunge and its Implications for Philippine Nickel Mines

written by: EDISON D. MATING

The global nickel market has recently experienced a significant downturn, marked by a sharp decline in nickel prices, plummeting by over 50% within 12 months. This unsettling trend has reverberated across nickel mines worldwide, impacting the Philippine mining industry.

As nickel prices continue their downward spiral, Philippine mines face mounting challenges, necessitating new strategies, and fortifying the industry’s resilience amidst uncertain market dynamics. What factors are driving the price of this critical metal down, and what implications does it hold for Philippine nickel mines?

UNDERSTANDING THE NICKEL MARKET DYNAMICS

Nickel, primarily utilized in stainless steel production and recently designated as a critical mineral by the USGS, has witnessed its prices decline, due to an influx of cheap supply from Indonesia. China’s substantial investments in Indonesia’s Morowali Industrial Park have bolstered Indonesia’s influence on global nickel supply chains.1

Consequently, China’s ownership of processing units has enabled it to control nickel production, influencing prices worldwide. This influence poses a significant challenge to global nickel mines, including those in the Philippines.

The reactions of the global nickel industry, characterized by mine closures and production

halts, foreshadow potential challenges for Philippine mines if prices continue to slump without government intervention.

Canadian miner First Quantum Minerals (TSX: FM) was the first to take a hit after it announced the suspension of its Ravensthorpe nickel mine operation in Western Australia.2 Panoramic Resources (ASX: PAN), entered voluntary administration, ceasing mining activities at their Savannah nickel mine.3

Construction works at cosmos nickel operation by IGO (ASX: IGO) was halted.4 BHP also shut down its nickel processing plant in Western Australia following Wyloo Metals’ announcement to temporarily close its nickel mine. 5

Finally, Glencore (LON:GLN) announced it will sell its stake in Koniambo Nickel SAS (KNS) in New Caledonia and that production at KNS’s processing plant will

be halted for six months while a new investor is sought for the loss-making business. 6 Despite closure of these mines, nickel continues to slump, putting the entire industry in uncertainties.

IMPACT ON PRODUCTION AND INVESTMENT

The decline in nickel prices will exert pressure on mining companies operating in the Philippines. With lower prices, many mining operations will face reduced profitability, prompting some companies to balance cost and production output.

Investment in new mining ventures will also be affected by the downturn in nickel prices. Investors, cautious of uncertain returns amid price volatility, will become more selective in funding mining projects.

This cautious approach will slow down the development of new nickel mines and exploration activities in the Philippines, impacting the long-term

growth prospects of the industry.

Among the nickel projects on the line are the following:

1. Nickel Asia Corporation’s Bulanjao Mine and Manicani Mine

Last April 2023, Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC) (NIKL: PSE) The country’s largest nickel producer announced that it will bring two (2) more nickel mines in three years and assess the viability of another HPAL Plant. Nickel Asia is targeting annual nickel ore production of at least 4 million wet metric tonnes (WMT) from the Bulanjao mine, near its existing Rio Tuba mining site in the southwestern Palawan province, and at least 2 million WMT from Manicani mine in central Samar province. 8

2. Philex Mining Corporation’s Nickel Project

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References:

Bloomberg. (2022, December 15). Chinese companies are flocking to Indonesia for its nickel. https://www.bloomberg. com/news/articles/2022-12-15/ chinese-companies-are-flockingto-indonesia-for-its-nickel

ABC News. (2024, January 15). Ravensthorpe nickel mine to cut 30 per cent of workforce as mining ramps down. https:// www.abc.net.au/news/2024-0115/ravensthorpe-nickel-mine-tocut-30-per-cent-of-workforce-asmini/103322050

Philex Mining Corporation (PX: PSE) also announced in September 2023 it is looking into developing their nickel property in Zambales. Philex has been trying to raise capital for this project along with its Silangan Copper Mine in Surigao.

3. DMCI Mining Projects

DMCI Mining also announced it would spend about P250 million to develop a nickel mining project in Zambales. It will be developed inside an existing field operated by subsidiary Zambales Diversified Metals Corp. (ZDMC) and to be run by another unit, Zambales Chromite Mining Co. (ZCMC). It is estimated to produce approximately 20 million metric tons (MT). 9

EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS:

The nickel mining industry is a significant contributor to employment and economic development of the country. However, the effects of low nickel prices will affect local communities and economies dependent on mining-related activities.

A decline in mining investments and production can lead to job losses and reduced income opportunities for workers in the sector and related industries. Moreover, the ripple effects of a slowdown in mining activities can be felt across supply chains, affecting businesses that provide goods and services to the mining sector. As a result, communities reliant on mining for livelihoods may experience economic hardship and social challenges.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

The closure of nickel mines can have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems and local communities, underscoring the need for responsible mining practices and stakeholder engagement.

As mines grapple with economic pressures, environmental stewardship and social responsibility must remain central tenets of their operations to mitigate adverse impacts and foster sustainable development.

Striking a balance between economic development and environmental sustainability remains a complex challenge for policymakers and

stakeholders in the Philippine mining sector.

OUTLOOK AND OPPORTUNITIES

The effects of low nickel prices on the Philippine mining industry are multifaceted, impacting production, investment, employment, and environmental sustainability. While nickel prices are influenced by global market dynamics beyond the control of domestic stakeholders, the Philippine mining sector must adapt to navigate the challenges posed by price volatility.

In response, mining companies may explore strategies for operational efficiency, cost optimization, and increased production. Policymakers on the other hand can show its support for the industry through policy support and stability, investment incentives and infrastructure development.

As the Philippine mining industry continues to evolve amidst fluctuating nickel prices and evolving regulatory frameworks, proactive measures and strategic partnerships will be crucial to ensuring the sector’s long-term viability and contribution to national development.

Stay strong nickel!

Australian Mining. (2023, December 15). Panoramic Resources enters voluntary administration. https://www. australianmining.com.au/ panoramic-resources-entersvoluntary-administration/ Mining.com. (2024, January 30). IGO puts Cosmos nickel mine on care and maintenance. https://www.mining.com/web/ igo-puts-cosmos-nickel-mine-oncare-and-maintenance/

Australian Mining. (2024, January 23). BHP shuts down WA nickel processing plant. https://www.australianmining. com.au/news/bhp-shuts-downwa-nickel-processing-plant/ Reuters. (2024, February 12). Glencore to halt New Caledonia nickel plant, sell stake. https:// www.reuters.com/markets/ commodities/glencore-halt-newcaledonia-nickel-plant-sell-stake2024-02-12/#:~:text=Feb%20 12%20(Reuters)%20%2D%20 Glencore,for%20the%20 loss%2Dmaking%20business. Trading Economics. (2024, February 13). Nickel. https:// tradingeconomics.com/ commodity/nickel

Reuters. (2023, April 25). Nickel Asia to open two more Philippine mines, eyes power unit IPO. https:// www.reuters.com/article/ nickel-asia-philippines/ update-1-nickel-asia-to-opentwo-more-philippine-mineseyes-power-unit-ipoidUSL4N2ZS1JK

Inquirer Business. (2023, September 26). DMCI Mining readies 2 new sites after breaking 2022 Record

PMSEA 2023 Promotes Safer, Smarter, Sustainable Mining

written by: MARCELLE P. VILLEGAS

To celebrate the 69th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC), the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) hosted the conference on Nov. 14-17, 2023, at CAP – John Hay Trade & Cultural Center Main Hall A & B, Baguio City.

This annual event brings together mining professionals and practitioners, and other stakeholders to share their expertise and innovations in the industry to enhance the country’s mining sector practices and policies.

On the Mining Exhibit Opening day on Nov. 14, 2023, the Master of Ceremonies was Andrew Pinero, with guest speaker Engr. Leandro “Doy” Tabilog, Executive Assistant III and representing the Office of the City Mayor. Ms. Jovita A. Ganongan was the Guest of Honor. A lively and colorful intermission number was performed by the Hapiyoh Mi Cultural Dance

Troupe, where they later encouraged attendees to join in the cultural dance.

On his opening speech for the Community Relations Officers (COMREL) Conference on Nov. 15, 2023, ANMSEC President, Engr. Louie Sarmiento mentioned that the Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference anchors on the following: to generate less waste by re-using or re-purposing, and to conserve water resources.

With that said, he stressed that drinking water during the conference will only be served upon request, and that ID lanyards used for the event will be reused for next year. Engr. Sarmiento also said that this annual gathering aims to renew our bonds with each other as we flex our expertise in mining.

Additionally, he noted that it is inspiring to see experts and stakeholders join together in this event to ensure the longevity of the mining industry.

[Baguio City] Nov. 16, 2023 - ANMSEC - The Minerals Industry Symposium 2023. (L-R) Engr. Roel A. Collado, Engr. Donald G. Estrella, (DENR Secretary) Hon. Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Engr. Louie Sarmiento (Photo by Marcelle P. Villegas)

ANMSEC President, Engr. Louie Sarmiento | The Chancellor of the South African Embassy, Hon. Chantelle Naidoo on the Mining Exhibit Opening Day

The event was supported as well by foreign dignitaries such as The Chancellor of the South African Embassy, Hon. Chantelle Naidoo who graced the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on the opening day.

On the following day, Her Excellency MaryKay L. Carlson, Ambassador of the United States to the Philippines (U.S. Department of State, Embassy of the United States, Manila) was the keynote speaker at the Community Relations Officers (COMREL) Conference.

On her keynote speech, she said, “You are making important contributions to the Philippines through your work, promoting safe, smart and sustainable management of the mining sector. I welcome the increasing collaborations between our two countries on sustainable mining practices.”

“The U.S. government continues to support efforts aimed at strengthening Philippine transparency and accountability in natural resource governance.”

“For almost a decade now, our mission through USAID has supported the implementation of the Extractive Industries and Transparency Initiatives or EITI, both the national and local levels.”

She emphasized that EITI strengthens the government reporting systems which cover proper accounting of wealth revenues.

The Ambassador highly praised the exceptional performance of the Maddela Comprehensive High School Bamboo Ensemble (c/o OceanaGold Philippines Inc.) who performed a cultural dance number. She commented that it was hard to believe they are high school students when their performance level is on par with professional dancers.

On Nov. 16, 2023, Philippine Society of Mining Engineers (PSEM) hosted and organized the ANMSEC - The Minerals Industry Symposium 2023.

“This annual event is the gathering of mining professionals and practitioners, its downstream and upstream industries and mineral stewards come together to talk, collaborate and to share new learnings, experiences, practices, innovations, and concerns in the industry,” according to Engr. Roel

“This year’s theme, “MINING 4.0: Safer, Smarter and Sustainable” is a statement that the industry has grown to be sounder, keener, and more stable. We in the industry have advanced our mindset and practices in safety and health; we have innovated using the latest technologies and science-based approaches and systems, and we have consistently exercised and employed sustainability in our operations from

explorations to rehabilitation. These are encapsulated in the 17 papers that are to be presented in today’s Minerals Industry Symposium,” Engr. Collado said in his welcome remarks.

“This symposium also marks the first time that it is sanctioned by the Continuing Professional Development Councils (CPDC) for mining engineering, geology, and metallurgical engineering through the efforts of the PSEM National Board and our Accredited CPDProvider PSEM CARAGA Chapter.”

Engr. Roel A. Collado, President of Philippine Society of Mining Engineers Northern Luzon Chapter

A. Collado, President of Philippine Society of Mining Engineers Northern Luzon Chapter.

H. E. MaryKay L. Carlson, Ambassador of the United States to the Philippines

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The symposium was graced by the presence of the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines (Australia in The Philippines), Her Excellency HK Yu PSM, who stated that the partnership between Philippines and Australia in mining is “a match made in heaven”.

The Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines (Embassy of Canada in the Philippines), His Excellency David Hartman was also one of the honored guest speakers as well. He mentioned how Canada’s IGF or Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) supports more than 75 nations committed to leveraging mining for sustainable development to ensure negative impacts are limited and financial benefits are shared. He pointed out that the Philippines is one of the first countries in the world to adopt the sustainable mining practices.

Other notable guest speakers are Philippine Society of Mining Engineers (PSEM) President Engr. Donald Estrella; Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association President Engr. Louie Sarmiento; DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Atty. Danilo Uykieng, and DENR Secretary, Hon. Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga as keynote speaker.

Sec. Yulo Loyzaga said, “We are here to fully support becoming smarter, safer and more sustainable in the era of 4.0, and while we know that science and technology can help us leapfrog into the future of the mining industry, we also know that

it is really the ‘pusong minero’ that will enable us to build a just, resilient and prosperous country and become citizens of a more peaceful and sustainable tomorrow.”

On the final day of the event, Nov. 17, 2023, the day started with a vibrant parade that was held from SM City Baguio through Baguio Session Road and to the Melvin Jones Football Grounds. The parade was accompanied by the Baguio City National High School Band and the Saint Louis University Band. Participants of the parade include the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Center and Regional Offices, mining companies, service contractors, suppliers, the academe, and other civic organizations. Mining companies participated in various competitions to showcase their skills and expertise in emergency response, firefighting, and operational techniques.

Special recognitions were given by the PMSEA Board to the following for their support for the Mine Safety Field Competition: MGB Cordillera Administrative Region, ItogonSuyoc Resources, Inc., Bureau of Fire Protection – Baguio City Fire Station, Saint Louis University, and Cebu Institute of Technology University. The event was officially inaugurated by Engr. Louie R. Sarmiento.

The winners of the competition are the following:

First Aid Competition

• Champion: CTP Construction and Mining Corporation

• 1st Runner-up: Taganito Mining

Corporation

• 2nd Runner-up: Filminera Resources Corporation - Masbate Gold Project

Fire Brigade (Busted Hose and UpThe-Ladder) Competition

• Champion: Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation

• 1st Runner-up: Taganito Mining Corporation

• 2nd Runner-up: Ipilan Nickel Corporation

Fire Extinguishing Competition

• Champion: Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation

• 1st Runner-up: Zambales Diversified Metals Corporation

• 2nd Runner-up: Platinum Group Metals Corporation and TVI Resource Development (Phils.), Inc. – Balabag

Hand Mucking Competition

• Champion: Philex Mining Corporation - Padcal

• 1st Runner-up: Itogon-Suyoc Resources, Inc. - Sangilo

• 2nd Runner-up: Apex Mining Company, Inc. - Masara

Machine Drilling Competition

• Champion: Philex Mining Corporation - Padcal

• 1st Runner-up: Itogon-Suyoc Resources, Inc. - Suyoc

• 2nd Runner-up: Itogon-Suyoc Resources, Inc. - Sangilo

Tug-of-Peace Competition

• Champion: Philex Mining Corporation - Padcal

• Runner-up: Itogon-Suyoc

Resources, Inc. - Sangilo

H. E. HK Yu PSM (Australian Ambassador to the Philippines)

| H. E. David Hartman (Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines)

Achieve the highest standards for responsible and sustainable development of our country’s natural resources!

Best Surface Safety InspectorAldrin L. Resullar

We Made History in 2021

Best Surface MinerJennifer Q. Inting

Safest Surface Mining Operation

Safest Mining Operation

Best Mining Forest for Metallic Category

Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award

We Did It Again in 2022

3rd Runnerup Best Mining Forest for Metallic Category

Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award

< Page 26

In the evening, thirteen (13) mining and mineral processing companies were honored and awarded at the 2023 Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA) during the Testimonial Dinner and Annual Awards Night. (Please refer to the table above.)

Executive Order No. 399, series of 1997, mandates that PMIEA is awarded every year to mining companies that have shown exemplary performance in safety and health management, environmental protection and enhancement, and social and community development (SHES).

The PMIEA Selection Committee (PMIEASC) and its Technical Working Group (TWG) conducted rigorous assessment and onsite validation of the accomplishments and initiatives of thirty-five (35) mining companies across the country under Surface Mining Operation, Quarry Operation, and Mineral Processing Operation categories on September 18 – October 21, 2023.

DENR Usec. Juan Miguel T. Cuna, (DENR Field Operations –Luzon, Visayas and Environment) gave the Welcome Address where he mentioned the agency’s commitment towards responsible mining and sustainable mineral development through the implementation of an effective framework on innovative, data-driven, and science-based processes.

The PMIEASC also awarded

the Platinum and Titanium Achievement Awards to qualified mining and mineral processing companies that did not meet the required rating for the PMIEA but attained a high degree of SHES performance. (Please refer to the tables above for the PMIEASC Achievement Awardees and the winners and runners-up for the Safest Mines Awards (SMA).

Reference:

[1] https://mgb.gov.ph/2015-05-1302-02-11/mgb-news/1508-pmseahosts-69th-anmsec-mine-safety-fieldcompetition-champions-crowned-invarious-events

[2] https://mgb.gov.ph/2015-05-1302-02-11/mgb-news/1518-miningand-mineral-processing-companiesreceive-2023-pmiea-bmfc-awardsand-sma

CanCham Gives an Update on Major Issues in Mining

written by: MARCELLE P. VILLEGAS

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines hosted an online Business Briefing on Jan. 25, 2024, Thursday. This is the first of their series for the year with the title “Mining: Update on Major Issues”.

CanCham President, Julian H. Payne hosted the online event along with CanCham’s Assistant Corporate Secretary, Maria Rowena Gempesaw-Cuyno, with Atty. Odette Javier of Lepanto Mining as moderator.

Speakers include Atty. Ronald Recidoro (Executive Director of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines - COMP), Karlo Fermin Adriano (OIC-Undersecretary, Department of Finance), Malyn Molina (President, EON Group), and Atty. Dennis Quintero (Partner, Quisumbing Torres).

As an overview of the briefing, “There have been significant changes in mining practices, government regulation, and public understanding about large-scale mining in the Philippines in recent years. The economic benefits and risks have become clearer. The proposed new fiscal regime for mining will have a major impact on the interest of international mining companies and their foreign

investors in mining in the Philippines. The future of mining in the country is at a critical juncture.”

The objective of the discussion is primarily to inform and clarify the impact of the proposed new fiscal regime on the additional costs and benefits of mining for the national government, local governments and their communities, and mining companies. Secondly, the

discussion covered the current attitudes of Filipinos in both mining and non-mining communities about large-scale mining as reported by a survey done by EON Group. Lastly, the briefing mentioned to what extent international mining companies and their foreign investors are now viewing the Philippines as an attractive country to launch new mining operations as reported by Department of Finance.

On the presentation “Philippine Mining: Legal and Policy Updates”, Atty. Recidoro discussed the opportunities, regulations, and taxation. He gave a quick overview of Philippine Mining. There are 56 operating large-scale metallic mining projects where only about 600,000 hectares (2% of total PH territory) are covered by mining contracts and permits. The 56 operating large-scale metallic mines occupy less than 10,000 hectares of the country’s 30 million hectares of land area (0.03%).

To mention some metallic mining industry facts and figures, the total Philippine exports are worth $7.23 billion (9.17% of total PH Exports), Php44.8 billion or 1.17% of total taxes comes from mining, mining generates Php153.1 billion Gross Value Added (GVA) or 0.7% of total GDP. There are approximately 208,778 people working in mining companies. This is 0.46% of the total Philippine workforce.

“For such a highly mineralized country, the large-scale metallic mining sector does not substantially contribute to the national economy. The industry has been stymied by policy problems, resulting in no new investments and therefore no growth.”

Atty. Recidoro pointed out some policy shifts in the last decade that affected the industry. There was EO79 by President Aquino in 2012 that placed a moratorium on new mining projects. In 2016, President Duterte appointed the late Gina Lopez, an anti-mining activist as DENR Secretary. On the following year, Sec. Lopez ordered an audit of all mining operations and initiated the abrupt closure/suspension of 28 mines. On the same year, Sec. Lopez placed a ban on new open pit mining. In 2018, Congress passed the TRAIN Law that increased the excise tax on minerals to 4% of gross output.

President Duterte issues EO130 in 2021 lifting the moratorium on new mining projects. On the same year, DENR Sec. Cimatu issues DAO 2021-40 which lifts the ban on open pit mining.

In 2022, President Marcos bats for mining and orders DENR to strictly implement environmental laws. Finance Sec. Ben Diokno banks on mining for post-COVID recovery.

Regarding the amendment of the Philippine EIA system, Atty. Recidoro mentioned some key features of the

bill include re-orienting the nature and purpose of the EIA System as a planning tool and renaming the ECC as Certificate of Proponent’s Environmental Commitment (CPEC). Another key feature is the introduction of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for proposed policies, plans, or programs.

He also mentioned the approval of the new fiscal regime for large-scale metallic mines (HBN 8937) with key features such as: a lowered royalty for those operating in MRs--from 5% down to 4%; a royalty for LSMs operating outside of mineral reservations, but which is conditioned on income; windfall profits tax that operates in the same way but which only kicks when the company achieves a “windfall” which starts at a profit margin of 35%; and provisions for thin capitalization, transfer pricing, ring-fencing, and fiscal transparency.

On Usec. Karlo Adriano’s report titled “Rationalization of Mining Fiscal Regime”; he provided an overview of the mining industry. He said the Philippines is geographically endowed with abundant mineral resources as copper, gold, nickel, and chromite. He said that 9 million hectares are identified as having high mineral potential but only 779,446.41 hectares or 2.60% are covered by mining tenements as of June 2023. For the estimated value produced in 2022, he gave the following figures: gold = Php91.05 billion, nickel and nickel products = Php117.64 billion, and copper = Php25.67 billion.

Usec. Adriano also reported that according to the Fraser Institute, the Philippines has one of the best mineral potentials, but the current policies do

not encourage investments in the sector.

He also reported that the discussion of a new mining fiscal regime has been ongoing since 2021, which is one of the challenges surrounding it. Other challenges include factors like having several mining fiscal regimes, resulting in complex tax system, and the Average Effective Tax Rate (AETR) or government’s take on mining is relatively high compared to peers.

On the presentation titled “Unearthing Opinions: Exploring Filipinos’ View on Mining through Data Insights” by Malyn Molina, she reported the results of a public survey about the reputation of the industry and how well lay people understand what mining does for the Philippines. Molina is the President and CEO of EON Group. Molina is a highly accomplished communications expert.

“In a local landscape where responsible mining has yet to be acknowledged as a reality, and data on the topic is limited and low in visibility, how did we discover the starting point in building the trust narrative for the country’s mining industry?”

“Through our survey, we affirmed that many people still associate mining to the same disturbing outcomes caused by climate change.”

“The positive contributions of the industry and the benefits it provides fall behind in terms of awareness. However, the data also shows clear opportunities to shift public perception.”

“Many people have yet to see the care and integrity that goes into the process. Mining has yet to be established as a value chain rather than just plain extraction. There are already hu-

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man-centric processes in place that address what they are looking for. We just have to show them the bigger picture.”

Covering online news and social media, their study shows that there are approximately 4.4K mentions of the Philippine mining industry and related topics. Among these articles, 75.7% are positive stories, 8.1% are negative stories, and 16.2% are neutral.

The last speaker for the business briefing was Atty. Dennis A. Quintero, Head of Energy, Mining, and Infrastructure Industry Group at Quisumbing Torres Law Offices. He heads the PMRCC Membership Committee and member of the Legal Committee of the Chamber of Mining of the Philippines.

Atty. Dennis Quintero provided an in-depth rundown of the history of the Philippine mining industry, supplementing on the timelines provided by Atty. Recidoro.

His discussion started in 1995, during the time of President Fidel V. Ramos when the country has the current Mining Act. It was an era when the government extensively promoted exploration

and mining to foreign investors, which resulted in major and junior mining companies investing here. There were some major foreign companies that came to the Philippines to undertake exploration works.

The government’s attitude back then changed to a policy of mere tolerance of mining which later shifted to active promotion during the time of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2002.

Atty. Quintero said, “This also coincided with the decade of the mining boom globally from 2002 to around 2011 to 2012.”

“The Philippine mining sector experienced a slowdown starting in 2012, which was the tail end of the global mining boom of the 2000s. And this was also coupled by the issuance of Executive Order No. 79 which instituted a moratorium or a stop on new mineral agreements until a new Mining Fiscal Regime Law was passed by Congress.”

“The reality during that particular period up until 2016 was that the government afforded very little opportunity for dialogue with the private sectors as the Philippine mining industry stagnated.”

Moving forward, in 2020 until the present time, there is now a focus on

downstream nickel processing to take advantage of the country’s position as top producers of critical minerals, namely: nickel, copper and cobalt. These minerals are used for battery storage systems that are employed in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. In 2022, the new government under President Bongbong Marcos recognized the Philippines in its unique position to be an important player in the clean energy transition and a critical partner in realizing development goals.

“The government has stated that a resilient and sustainable mining industry can support the country’s economic and social development. DENR also stated that developing the country’s mineral resources is not only beneficial to the country but should be regarded as essential in transitioning to a decarbonized society.”

As an effect, by 2022, the doors are now open for a direct dialogue and consultation between the government and private sector. “This is offered with the aim of realizing the shared goals of the state and the mining industry, for the development of the upstream and downstream sectors of the industry.”

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PMEA’s Story and Milestones An Interview with PMEA President on its Silver Anniversary

written by: MARCELLE P. VILLEGAS

On Dec. 4, 2023, Philippine Mining & Exploration Association Inc. (PMEA) celebrated its 25th year anniversary and Silver Christmas Party at Misto 2 and Straight UP Bar at Seda Residences Makati. This is a milestone event for a mining group that, for more than two decades, has been fostering camaraderie and professional development among its members. This is one of their key imperatives. Through the years, PMEA has been encouraging, facilitating, and coordinating activities related to the exploration, development, and utilization of mineral resources; and providing a unified voice and becoming a respected advocate for the sustained and responsible development of mineral resources.

As a tribute to PMEA’s Silver Anniversary, we interviewed Mr. Joey Nelson Ayson, PMEA President.

Mr. Ayson is a graduate of BS Geology from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, and trained under the MGB - UNDP for 4 years. He worked in Indonesia for 8 years, worked for Oxiana Limited, and Royalco Philippines until 2015. He is currently involved in the pre-feasibility study of a copper-gold prospect in the north.

As a Competent Person for Geology, Mr. Ayson does consulting work for many companies with regard to mining exploration management, tenement management, government liaison, and more. He is the President of the Philippine Mining & Exploration Association (PMEA), a regular emcee in Philippine Mining Club Luncheon and Webinars, President of the Geological Society of the Philippines, and Chair of the UP-Geology Alumni Association.

[Makati City]

Dec.

PRJ: Please give us a short background on the origins and early beginnings of PMEA. Who are the key people behind it? What was the objective(s) of creating the group?

JNA: The Philippine Mining & Exploration Association Inc. (“PMEA”) is a non-stock, non-profit entity organized and managed by its membership for the express purpose of providing effective and responsible representa-

4, 2023 –PMEA’s 25th Year Anniversary and Silver Christmas Party (Photo by Marcelle P. Villegas, Philippine Resources Journal)

tion of the mineral exploration and mineral resources development sector. PMEA is an Affiliate member of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines. PMEA’s representative also sits as a Member of the Awards Committee for the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Awards (“PMIEA”).

PMEA was originally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in September 1998 as the Philippine Mineral Exploration Association, Inc. Its formation was initiated by the International Mining and Exploration Committee (IMEC), a sub-committee of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines. IMEC had been in existence since the early 1990’s and its membership and focus had been to represent and monitor the interests of foreign mining and exploration companies which were either directly, or indirectly, investing in the Philippines.

With the passage of time and new minerals sector developments it became clear that a broader organization was necessary to more effectively represent the mineral exploration industry, including local companies and investors.

This led to the formation and incorporation of PMEA and the institution of regular monthly meetings. More recently, growth in the local minerals industry and the growing membership of the Association, prompted PMEA Members to amend the Association’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws and to adopt the revised name Philippine Mining & Exploration Association, Inc. to better reflect the evolving profile of the Association’s membership. The Securities and Exchange Commission issued its approval for said amendments in December 2011.

The original incorporators of PMEA are Malcolm Norris, Joel D. Muyco, Robert D. Guest, Rufino B. Bomasang and Alfredo F. San Miguel Jr. (+).

The PMEA is managed by a Board of Trustees composed of: Joey Nelson R. Ayson, Fernando S. Peñarroyo, Cecilio C. Bautista, Manuel S. Ancheta, Roderick R.C. Salazar III, Johannes M. Raadsma, and George Yap III.

PRJ: In your opinion, what are some of the memorable moments or milestones or achievements of PMEA through the years?

JNA:

• Since its inception, the PMEA has always been able to hold monthly meetings except during COVID.

• PMEA has an MOU with The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (“AusIMM”) to assist each other in the implementation of programs that benefit members and increase their professional knowledge.

• Holding an annual Baguio Technical Forum as part of the Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (“ANMSEC”)

• Book launching by Atty Deo Contreras – “The Laws and Realities of Small Scale Mining in the Philippines”

• PMEA provided the seed capital to help progress the PMRC 2020 consultations and discussions.

PRJ: What are the difficulties or challenges that you and the other officers of PMEA experienced in the past that affected the activities of PMEA?

JNA:

• Sec Gina Lopez was a wake-up call for the industry. PMEA had always advocated Best Practice and beyond compliance.

• The closure of mines without due process impacted on members ability to raise funds for the Philippines and listed companies experienced significant drop in share prices.

• Getting speakers and sponsors for the monthly meetings has always been a challenge

• PMEA has maintained its meeting fees despite the increase in meeting costs (especially if there are no sponsors) and this reduces our funds.

PRJ: Are there any future plans or major projects of PMEA for this year or in the near future?

JNA: We plan to organize mine tours for professionals and students either independently or as part of a conference, and to Involve students in the meetings to present research. For upcoming events in 2024, please support the 11th PMEA Golf at Ayala Greenfield, Calamba, Laguna on April 22, 2024.

PRJ: Is there a message you wish to convey to our readers to encourage them to be a member of PMEA and to support our Monthly Membership Meetings?

JNA : When you attend our Monthly Membership Meetings, you will benefit in two ways:

• One can be kept regularly updated on the latest industry news

• One can network with mining company staff, consultants, service providers, etc.

In summary, “PMEA seeks to stimulate interest and participation in the Philippine mineral exploration and mine development sectors by providing appropriate meetings and networking fora where its members can discuss current issues and agree on a sensible course of action. The primary forum is a regular monthly meeting for members and guests, which is usually held on the first business Monday of every month. It endeavors to feature a key speaker addressing issues of interest to the Mine Development and/or Mineral Exploration sectors.” (taken from PMEA’s website)

For questions or enquiries, you may send an email to: pmea.secretariat@pmea.ph or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/pmandea.

About the 11th Annual PMEA Invitational Golf Tournament:

The Board of Trustees of the Philippine Mining & Exploration Association (PMEA) cordially invites you and your friends to the 11th Annual PMEA Invitational Golf Tournament on April 22, 2024, Monday, at Ayala Greenfield Golf & Leisure Club, Brgy. Maunong and Putinglupa 4027 Calamba City Laguna. Registration will commence at 6:00 a.m. followed by shotgun tee off at 8:00 a.m.

Proceeds from the tournament, net of costs, shall go to support PMEA’s various activities in promoting Responsible Exploration and Mining.

Should you need any further information, please feel free to communicate with us via e-mail at pmea.secretariat@pmea.ph or c/o Mr. George Yap III, our Golf Committee Chair at +63 9175449402.

You may also contact Girlie Yu at +63 920 9522084 or +632 8569577.

GEOCON 2023 on the Energy Transition Journey

written by: MARCELLE P. VILLEGAS

Quezon City, Dec. 5-6, 2023 - During the GEOCON 2023 of The Geological Society of the Philippines (GSP), various scientific presentations discussed energy transition, innovative studies and technology applications on Earth Science, and more. The theme of the two-day conference is “Our Natural Resources: Fueling the Energy Transition Journey”.

GSP President, Mr. Joey Nelson R. Ayson said that this aptly captures how we recover from the effects of Covid-19 pandemic and at the same time put Environmental, Social, Governance (“ESG”) at the forefront of their activities. He stated, “It also highlights the significant contribution of geologists and geosciences in general to our socio-economic development, environmental sustainability, and climate change adaptation activities.”

“This year we have ten (10) distinguished keynote speakers and sixteen (16) sessions in 2 days on various topics ranging from mineral, oil & gas, and geothermal exploration and development, renewable (solar, wind & hydro) energy, environment, geohazards and disaster risk reduction and management, volcanology, tectonics, and machine learning applications.”

He noted that this year, they

focused on giving back to their members who have contributed to the growth of the Society. “Senior (60-64 years old) members can now apply for Life Membership at a much-reduced rate while those 65 years old and above are free. A modest accident insurance for current members is now in place with the premium paid for by the Society. We have also made the Journal of the Geological Society if the Philippines (“JGSP”) available online including back issues for free to current members. We will continue to populate the GSP library with more materials in the future.”

Additionally, he mentioned that they increased their international presence through collaboration with various associations such as the Japan Geoscience Union and the various ASEAN geological societies.

“Lastly, we now have over a thousand current members from about 700 when the year started,” he said.

From a write up by Dr. Jillian Aira Gabo-Ratio, she reported, “The annual Geological Conference (GEOCON) was successfully convened on December 5-6, 2023. The event was able to provide a fully face-to-face gathering for 550 participants at the Monet Grand Ballroom, Novotel Manila, Quezon City

with an online option for 590 participants consisting of local and foreign geoscientists, policymakers, media practitioners, undergraduate and graduate students, and other stakeholders.”

“The two-day event consisted of 57 oral and 86 poster presentations spread throughout 10 sessions. With the theme, ‘Our Natural Resources: Fueling the Energy Transition Journey’, there was a good mix of wide-ranging talks distributed among relevant topics such as natural hazards (28%), mineral deposits (15%), machine learning and data science (18%), petrology and tectonics (18%), environment (9%), social license to operate (7%), and energy studies (5%), which highlight the significant contribution of geoscientists to the country.”

She stated that for the first time, speakers were given the option to join the best oral presentation and best poster presentation. The following winners were awarded cash prizes and trophies for best oral paper: 1st – Ma. Yna Rose Garcia; 2nd – Karl Jabagat; 3rd – Dainty Clarice Rabang; 4th – Nathaniel Parcutela; 5th –Clarence Joyce Landingin. The winners of the best poster paper are the following: 1st – Kreyvin Geonathan Andal; 2nd – Lyle Andrei Arenque; 3rd – Jim Paulo Bautista.

“The Geological Society of the Philippines and the GEOCON 2023 Organizing Committee are grateful to the sponsors, donors, and exhibitors for their support. The platinum sponsors are Coral Bay Nickel Corporation and Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation; Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc; Teragrail Geology and Geotechnics Construction Inc.; CTP Construction and Mining Corporation; SLB; Petrogreen Energy Corporation; Filminera Resources Corporation; and Nickel Asia Corporation. The gold sponsors are INAEC Aviation Corp.; FCF Minerals; Philsaga Mining Corporation; Eramen Minerals, Inc.; Bell Geospace; Apex Mining Co. Inc.; Cagdianao Mining Corporation; Intertek; Cordillera Exploration Co., Inc; Didipio Mine; Paramina Earth Technologies Inc.; and Tekton Geometrix Inc. The silver sponsors are Cytek Solutions Inc.; Drillcorp; NPG; PXP Energy Corporation; Nido Petroleum Philippines Pty Ltd; Haraya Wind Energy Corp; CSA Resources Corporation; DESCO, Inc.; PNOC Exploration Corporation; Premier Goe-Exel Inc.; TVI Resource Development (Phils), Inc.; Prime Energy Resources Development B.V.; Wings Technology Enterprise, Inc.; Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company; The Philodrill Corporation; Hinatuan Mining Corporation; Philinstruments Corp.; Carmen Copper Corporation; Philippine Geothermal Production Company; and Republic Cement. The exhibitors for this year include: Philinstruments Corp.; Teragrail Geology and Geotechnics Construction Inc.; Wings Technology Enterprise, Inc.; De Leon Import & Export Corporation; Cytek Solutions Inc.; and SGS Philippines. The donors for the best oral and poster presentation awards are: GHD Pty Ltd.; Association of Filipinos for the Advancement of Geoscience; Major Drilling Group International Philippines, Inc; Quest Exploration Drilling (Philippines), Inc.; Verum Terra Geoscience Inc.; and Marcventures Holdings Inc. We also acknowledge the great job done by Xperto in providing the online platform.

GEOCON 2023 pics from GSP.”

On Feb. 15, 2024, The Geological Society of the Philippines (“GSP”) Annual Dinner and Induction of 2024 GSP Officers and Board of Trustees, Committee Chairs, and Accredited Competent Persons for Geology was held at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City. Engr. Janice A. Wayan reported, “The event was attended by a mix of in-person and online participants with Atty. Fernando S. Peñarroyo, the Professional Regulation Commission Board of Geology Chairman serving as the Inducting Officer.”

The 2024 GSP Officers and Trustees are the following: Mr. Joey Nelson R. Ayson (President), Dr. Rogel A. Santos (Vice President and CPD Council of Geology and CP Accreditation Sub-Committee Representative), Dr. Kevin L. Garas (Secretary and Membership Committee Chairperson), Mr. Christian Paul F. Escarian (Assistant Secretary), Mr. Leopoldo T. Virtucio (Treasurer and Finance Committee Chairperson), Ms. Gizella D. Greta Gonzales (Ethics Committee Chairperson), Ms. Josephine T. Aleta (Geology Development Committee Chairperson), Ms. Beverly Mae M. Brebante, (Continuing Education and Training Committee Chairperson), and Engr. Janice A. Wayan (Public Relations Committee Chairperson).

During the event, the Committee Chairpersons for Elections and International Relations were

inducted as well, represented by Ms. Ma. Lourdes Stephanie Leido and Dr. Decibel V. Faustino-Eslava, respectively.

Mr. George B. Baquiran (Vice Chairperson), Mr. Roy Ronald C. Luis (Secretariat Head), Mr. Jesse V. Umbal (Secretariat Vice-Head), and Engr. Leonardo S. Marcelo Jr. (CP Accreditation Sub Committee Vice Chairperson) of the Mineral Reporting Code Committee (“MRCC”) were also inducted that evening.

Another highlight of the event was the oath-taking of three new Accredited Competent Persons (“ACP”) for Reporting Exploration Results/Mineral Resource Estimates under the Philippine Mineral Reporting Code 2020: Mr. John Aldrich S. Angeles, Ms. Princess D. Depalubos, and Mr. Herbert T. Villano.

The oathtaking ceremony was graced by the presence of the entire Professional Regulatory Board (PRB) for Geology; namely, Hon. Fernando S. Peñarroyo, Hon. Benjamin S. Austria and Hon. Elmer B. Billedo.

Hon. Fernando “Ronnie” Penarroyo is Chairperson for PRB (Geology). On his keynote speech during the induction of the board and officers of GSP, he stated, “The Brgy. Masara landslide has again put the mining industry in a negative light. Our profession must be at the forefront of convincing local authorities to include geohazards in their development strategies, policies and plans, bereft Page

From L to R. Atty Penarroyo (PRB Geology Chair), Joey Nelson Ayson (President); Dr. Rogel Santos (Vice-President); Dr. Kevin Garas (Secretary); Leo Virtucio (Treasurer); Beverly May Brevante (Trustee) and Engr. Janice Azores Wayan (Trustee). [Photo by Engr Janice A. Wayan]

of parochial politics. Inevitably there will be occasions where tension may occur between our profession and several stakeholders. However, this difference of opinion creates a healthy and robust debate. Notwithstanding this, government officials must be made to realize that they must continue to work alongside our profession. On our part, we must identify opportunities that ensure that our contributions made to disaster preparedness and resilience of communities are recognized.”

For more highlights from GEOCON 2023, please visit https:// www.facebook.com/geocon2023.

Reference:

[1] Write up on GEOCON 2023 by Dr. Jillian Aira Gabo-Ratio

[2] Write up on The Geological Society of the Philippines (“GSP”) Annual Dinner and Induction of 2024 GSP Officers by Engr. Janice A. Wayan

[3] Speech of Atty. Fernando Penarroyo

Photo credits:

Dr. Jillian Aira Gabo-Ratio, Engr. Janice A. Wayan, Atty. Fernando Penarroyo

Acknowledgment:

Thank you, Mr. Joey Nelson R. Ayson and to all who contributed materials for this article.

< Page 39

Joey Nelson Ayson (President, Geological Society of the Philippines) [Photo by Engr Janice A. Wayan] Atty Penarroyo (PRB Geology Chair)

PH as Newest Member of CRIRSCO

written by: MARCELLE P. VILLEGAS

The Philippine Mineral Reporting Code (PMRC) sets out the minimum standards, recommendations, and guidelines for public reporting in the Philippines of Exploration Results, Exploration Targets, Mineral Resources, and Mineral Reserves,” [1] as explained by Mr. Ciceron Angeles, Jr., PMRC Committee Chairman and Consulting Geologist.

In November 2021, the PMRC Committee (PMRCC) applied for membership in the highly regarded Committee for Mineral Resources International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO).

CRIRSCO is a grouping of international representatives of organizations that are responsible for developing mineral reporting codes and guidelines. The other member countries are Australasia (JORC), Brazil (CBRR), Canada (CIM), Chile (National Committee), Colombia (CCRR), Europe (PERC), India (NACRI), Indonesia (KOMBERS/KCMI), Kazakhstan (KAZRC), Mongolia (MPIGM), Russia (OERN), South Africa (SAMREC), Turkey (UMREK) and the USA (SME). CRIRSCO was founded in 1994. The group is responsible for developing best practices for reporting mineral resources.

The main objective of CRIRSCO is to contribute to earnings and maintaining that trust by promoting high standards of reporting of mineral deposit estimates (Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves) and of exploration.

When the Philippines’ PMRCC applied for membership in CRIRSCO in Nov. 2021, they are hoping to be approved before GEOCON 2023 in December. Fortunately, they received the approval they applied for in the timeframe they hoped for.

On Oct. 17, 2023, a ceremony was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil that formally welcomes the Philippines as a new member of CRIRSCO, thus making the PMRCC its 15th Member. This recognition also promotes the PMRC 2020 as one of CRIRSCO’s “family of codes”.

Representing the Philippines under PMRCC are Mr. Rolando Cruz (VP of Nickel Asia Corp.) and Mr. Ciceron Angeles, Jr. (PMRCC Chair and Consulting Geologist).

PMRCC is the Philippine’s reporting organization that is responsible for maintaining guidelines that ensure transparency, materiality, and competency, as a means to protect the investors, the public and other stakeholders.

With this milestone for PMRCC, they believe that the Philippines will now have a better chance of attracting more mining investments, because PMRCC is now at par with the standards of the other members of CRIRSCO.

Mr. Angeles said, “Joining CRIRSCO is a testament to our commitment to upholding the highest standards of reporting and ensuring the protection of investors. By aligning with internationally recognized reporting standards, we are strengthening the credibility and integrity of the Philippine minerals industry.” [2]

In following the CRIRSCO framework, the PMRC abides by the key principles of transparency, materiality, and competence.

Transparency will guarantee that all pertinent information is reported.

Materiality pertains to the disclosure of all factors that will affect the company’s share price and profitability.

Competence requires that the person who will be tasked to prepare the public disclosure reports is qualified and trustworthy.

The PMRC 2020 Edition (PMRC 2020) was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in September 2021.

“The PMRCC in collaboration of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) is in the final stages of the drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the PMRC 2020. It will still undergo a public hearing and a PSE comment period before PSE submits it to SEC for approval before the end of this year.”

[1] (From “The Philippine Mineral Reporting Code (PMRC) Updates and Its Future for the Philippines” by Ciceron A. Angeles, Jr. –GEOCON 2023)

According to his report, PMRCC is still in discussion with the Department of Energy for the adoption of PMRC 2020. Coal is the last solid mineral commodity that is regulated by PSE among its listed companies but not yet by the corresponding national regulatory agency.[1]

Reference:

[1] Angeles Jr., Ciceron A. (Dec. 2023).

“The Philippine Mineral Reporting Code (PMRC) Updates and Its Future for the Philippines”. Presentation at the GEOCON 2023: Our Natural Resources: Fueling the Energy Transition Journey

[2] Talavera, Catherine (Nov. 2023).

“Philippine accepted as 15th member of CRIRSCO”. PhilStar Global.

Photo credit:

Group photo in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - https://www.manilatimes. net/2023/12/04/public-square/ph-joinscrirsco-as-15th-member-throughpmrcc/1922646

[Rio de Janeiro, Brazil] Oct. 17, 2023

– A ceremony that formally welcomes the Philippines as a new member of Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO) – (L-R) Philippine Mineral Reporting Code Committee representatives, Rolando Cruz (VP of Nickel Asia Corp.) and Ciceron Angeles, Jr. (PMRCC Chairman and Consulting Geologist), with Edson Ribiero (CRIRSCO President) and Peter Stokes (Australia CRIRSCO representative)

The DMT ANCORELOG Case Study

Semi-automated, sensorbased core logging -- in combination with a robust classification model -offers significant benefits during geological exploration programs. Different work steps within the scope of exploration drill core logging can be considered as repetitive processes and thereby offer an excellent area of application for consistent, automated data acquisition with ANCORELOG´s analytical sensors.

Real-time results can significantly increase productivity and reduce long downtimes and the associated costs and loss of quality. New insights gained during the exploration program can be subsequently integrated into the analysis and classification process by systematically and automatically recalculating existing data sets without the need of re-logging physical core samples.

In the following, a case study approximately 2,000-m drill core from four exploration drill holes were scanned and analyzed with the ANCORELOG system within the scope of the exploration of a massive sulphide ore deposit of volcanic origin.

Prior to the measurement campaign, a sensor calibration was carried out using reference laboratory analytics on selected drill core samples and a lithological classification model (convolutional neural network) based on HSI and RFA measurements was calculated.

On site, in the operational area, the measured drill cores were automatically classified into lithological domains. The predicted lithologies were presented in a depth profile alongside the drill core images and the chemical target elements (Fe, S, Cu, PB, Zn).

The sulphide mineralization occurs in a volcano-sedimentary sequence composed of rocks of basaltic, andesitic, dacitic and rhyolitic composition. Rock types of the same composition are additionally distinguished

lithologically from each other by their textural properties. For example, a distinction is made between rhyolites and rhyolitic tuffs. Figure 1 lists the projectspecific classes, in this case lithologies.

To determine the lithologies, the hyperspectral images were used in combination with the XRF raw data in counts per second normalized to 120 seconds. Figure 2 shows a “digital log sheet” with the distribution of target elements (S, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb) as well as the lithological classification predicted from the sensor data and plotted in a depth profile alongside the drill core images.

For a better overview, the 250-meter-long drilling interval has been plotted on a compressed depth scale. The uppermost

formation (100 to 245 m) consists of the mentioned volcanosedimentary sequence. The lead, copper, and zinc grades in this formation are low and have no significant influence on the lithological prediction.

The occurrence of massive sulfides at a depth of 245 to 320 meters is clearly reflected in the rising sulfur, iron, lead, copper and zinc contents. Within the massive sulfide formation, the ratios between the elements provide information about the type of mineralization. At the top of this formation (245 to 250m) there are relatively high iron, copper, zinc and lead contents indicating the presence of a polymetallic sulfide mineralization. (To be continued)

Figure 1: Project specific lithologies of the massive sulphide deposit

Figure 2 Digital Log Sheet illustrating the predicted lithologies and chemical compositions alongside the core images

Chamber of Mines to Fully Implement Sustainability Initiative

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) said its 19 member-companies will fully implement the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative, a global environmental, social, and corporate governance performance measurement standard.

In a statement in February, COMP said TSM is a set of tools and indicators to ensure that key mining risks are managed responsibly and best practices are used at members’ mining facilities.

At present, the Philippines through COMP is the only country in Asia to subscribe to TSM.

COMP said member-companies will submit their self-assessment reports on eight TSM protocols for their 2023 performance.

These TSM protocols include safety and health; community and Indigenous Peoples outreach and social development; crisis management and communications;

tailings management; water management; biodiversity conservation management; and climate change.

The report will be submitted via an online app called Mine Site Sustainability Audit (MSSA).

The mines will conduct internal audits and should be able to support their self-ratings with proofs and evidence.

COMP said 10 of the 19 mines will be subjected to independent external verification by highly qualified Verification Service Providers (VSPs) to validate the reports while the other nine will be validated next year.

The results of all self-assessment and externally verified reports will be made public.

“After we adopted TSM in December 2017, we embarked on a six-year preparation period that saw our members actively participate in the Filipinization of the TSM Protocols,” COMP

chairperson Michael Toledo said. “That period also saw the formation of our multi-sector Community of Interest Advisory Panel, the training and accreditation of our VSPs, the development and cascading of the MSSA, a self-assessment dry run, and the mock external verification of three volunteer mines: Rio Tuba Nickel, OceanaGold Didipio, and Philex Padcal,” he added.

Other COMP member-firms with operating mines include Benguet Corp., Cagdianao Mining Corp., Carmen Copper Corp., Carrascal Nickel Corp., CTP Construction and Mining Corp., Dinapigue Mining Corp., Eramen Minerals, Inc., FCF Minerals, Inc., Filminera Resources Corp., Hinatuan Mining Corp., Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co., LNL Archipelago Minerals, Inc., Platinum Group Metals Corp., Taganito Mining Corp. and TVI Resource Development Phils., Inc.

HMC Partnership with TESDA Produces 47 NC II Holders From its Host Communities

To empower local communities and enhance skills development, Hinatuan Mining Corp. (HMC), a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), has partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Surigao del Norte Provincial Office for a specialized training program on Heavy Equipment Operation.

The training, lasting from September 14 to December 15, 2023, focused on Dump Truck Driving and Hydraulic Excavator Operation. One of the objectives of the training was to equip residents from the host communities of HMC with the necessary skills they can use in mining and construction industries.

A total of 47 host community residents joined the training program with 38 residents coming from Barangay Talavera, 8 from Sitio Bagong Silang, and 1 from Sitio Campandan. The participants, from the local communities surrounding HMC’s operations, underwent rigorous training sessions conducted by experienced instructors and industry professionals.

BENEFITS TO THE TRAINING PARTICIPANTS

Clariza R. Atillo, a resident of Sitio Bagong Silang, detailed how beneficial the training was for her and her fellow trainees. She said the training helped her practice self-discipline, which she can also share to her family, particularly to her kids.

She also added: “The lectures during the training, especially the safety aspect, can also be applied to our daily lives. I am also grateful to the allowance HMC provided during the training. It really helped us on our daily expenses.”

Josephine R. Gemparo also shared the same sentiments. “As a trainee, what I had undergone really helped me. I was able to learn the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitude. I am also thankful that I was able to complete the training and earned an NC II certificate in spite of the hardships and the challenges. My family was my inspiration to succeed. Thank you HMC for the opportunity.”

For Nicole D. Mesias, the training gave her with the chance to learn new skills and widen her knowledge with regards to driving. She also viewed the

training as a way to help her family in the future, saying: “This training helps not only me but also my family because I can use the skills I learned and to support my family soon.”

Jessce Q. Japay, a resident of Barangay Talavera, also viewed the training similarly. “It helped me gain new knowledge and skills. This will be beneficial to me and my family since I can use what I have learned to help my family in the future. They are the reason why I wanted to learn the skills in training. They are my inspiration, I want to help them.”

GRATEFUL NC HOLDERS

Nicole D. Mesias is grateful to HMC and TESDA for conducting free training for the community, “I’m very glad they gave us the chance to get the opportunity to learn new skills. I’m also happy that even though we are not college graduates, there are opportunities provided for us. Thank you very much HMC and to all people behind this project.”

Jezreel C. Vanzuela, a resident of Barangay Talavera, was likewise thankful for the opportunity provided, saying: “The training HMC and TESDA have provided helped me learn how to drive and operate a vehicle. It helped me earn NC II certificate.”

Josephine R. Gemparo was not only grateful to HMC and TESDA but also to the ComRel personnel of HMC and the staff of TESDA. “Thank you to the staff of ComRel and TESDA for helping us from the start of our training until the day we earned the NC II certification. We would not have completed it without your guidance and support.”

“The NC II certification opened up new opportunities that would not have been possible without the help of HMC and TESDA,” said Clariza R. Atillo.

“Our skills and knowledge were improved and gave us the opportunity to be hired as drivers. Drivers have a higher salary compared to others, which would really help with our daily expenses. I am hoping that the mine life of HMC will be extended so that they can help more people and provide opportunities like what they have done with me and my NC II holder batch mates.”

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

“Creating opportunities for local residents earn skills and secure gainful employment is one of the commitments HMC has with our host communities,” said ComRel Supervisor Romen John G. Libaste. “The program was designed to not only enhance the participants’ technical skills but also to instill a strong sense of safety awareness and professionalism in their approach to operating vehicles and heavy equipment.”

Community Development Coordinator Myline B. Ragas also added: “The collaboration with TESDA demonstrates the commitment of the company to fostering local talent and investing in the development of the communities where we operate. By equipping residents with valuable skills and knowledge, the training program opens doors to sustainable livelihoods and career advancement opportunities for the beneficiaries.”

MGB XIII Approves Taganito Mining’s Php90-M Fund for Social Development

The 2024 Annual Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) of Taganito Mining Corp. (TMC) has already been approved last Jan. 24 by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office XIII with an estimated budget of P90 million.

Under the law, at least 1.5 percent of the total operating cost of a Company must be monetized to support its host and neighboring communities.

For TMC, a subsidiary of natural resources development company Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), the SDMP comprises of community development programs focused on health; education; enterprise development and networking; infrastructure and support services; sociocultural protection; Information, Education and Communication (IEC) programs; and development of mining technology and geosciences.

The plan was crafted following a series of consultations and planning workshops in August last year with stakeholders from TMC’s four host mining barangays and 10 neighboring non-mining barangays. The multistakeholder representatives of host and neighboring communities from line agencies and religious organizations then reviewed and endorsed the proposed programs, projects, and activities.

For the year 2023, TMC was able to log a 100-percent accomplishment rate for its annual SDMP with a budget of P93.4 million. This translated to 744 scholarships given to high school and college students; training sessions for 150 light and heavy equipment trainees; subsidies for 69 education and health personnel; livelihood and sociocultural support; information campaigns; and emergency disaster preparedness programs.

Part of TMC’s 2023 SDMP is P23 million-worth of infrastructure which supported

the establishment of the following: Marine Education Center in Barangay Urbiztondo, Claver Parish Convent, CAPSASSCO hardware store, Lapinigan access road, BISIBOS pig pen, improvement of purok centers, and installation of solar lights and panels.

On top of its mandated SDMP, TMC also mobilized P35 million for corporate social responsibility projects which included its annual medical-surgical

mission, provision of scholarship to indigenous peoples, cosponsorship of the 2nd Panaghiusa Jigging and Shorecasting Competition, and socio-cultural support.

TMC is one of NAC’s subsidiaries located in the municipality of Claver, Surigao del Norte. It exports saprolite and limonite ore and provides limonite ore and non-mining services to the adjacent Taganito HPAL plant of THPAL.

Taganito Mining Corp. Hosts First-Ever People’s Organizations Conference with 24 PO Attendees

As part of its commitment to contribute to the brighter future of its host and neighboring communities, Taganito Mining Corp. (TMC), in partnership with the Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., hosted the 1st TMC People’s Organizations Conference with over 200 representatives from 24 people’s organizations last January 9-10, 2024, in Claver, Surigao del Norte.

The conference with the theme, “Harmony in Resources: Collaborative Pathways for Sustainable Communities,” aimed to provide a platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and discussions on how to responsibly use our natural resources through everyone’s collective efforts toward sustainable community development.

Along with other local government officials and key government heads who attended the event, Claver Mayor Georgia Gokiangkee recognized TMC’s efforts in providing livelihood opportunities to Clavernons and described the event as another pride of Claver.

“Congratulations to TMC for the first-ever PO conference and thank you for holding it in our LGU function hall and for all the best practices and experiences shared with our POs,” Gokiangkee said.

Engr. Artemio Valeroso, Vice President and Resident Mine Manager of TMC, also shared his hope towards uplifting the lives of the community residents through skills and enterprises development. He added that these initiatives can benefit Clavernons beyond the life of the mine and is a huge step towards creating sustainable communities.

TMC people’s organizations are engaged in various enterprises such as farming, tourism, tailoring, food production and value adding, among others.

Five people’s organizations also shared their journey and success stories – PRIME and CAPSASCCO General Merchandises, Urbiztondo Crop Producers, Claver Red Mountain Agriculture Cooperative, and Taganito Concern People

Consumers’ Cooperative (TACPECCO).

Roger Parpan, chairman of the 77-strong TACPECCO, shared how their cooperative started a water refilling business that later expanded to an agrivet supply business.

Parpan noted that in their five years of operation, they were able to release patronage and dividend sharing of at least P6,000 depending on the capital buildup of the member.

During the pandemic, the group also sponsored the provision of drinking water to quarantine facilities and even distributed food and water to frontliners.

Aside from the different talks on community empowerment, digital innovation, farm tourism,

agri-fishery, and food business, an awarding ceremony was also held to recognize POs with compliance from the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, and Cooperative Development Authority; Most Visited POs, Best in Government Partnership, Most Innovative Enterprise, Best Selling PO Product, and Best Service Provider, among others.

TMC is one of the subsidiaries of the natural resources development firm Nickel Asia Corp., located in the municipality of Claver, Surigao del Norte. It exports saprolite and limonite ore and provides limonite ore and non-mining services to the adjacent Taganito HPAL plant of THPAL.

Transforming Flowsheets with Innovative Technologies

Weir’s Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer Paula Cousins recently spoke at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates about the importance of harnessing innovative technologies to make mining more sustainable.

In a panel discussion hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and moderated by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Cousins talked about a recent study that highlights a significant opportunity to reduce energy use and emissions in comminution.

The study is the first to utilize the WBCSD’s Avoided Emissions Guidance to examine mining processes and the results have been independently assured by SLR Consulting Limited.

Three of Weir’s technology combinations were evaluated against a conventional comminution circuit design for an archetypal mine processing 15 million tonnes of copper ore per year in Chile.

Each circuit was based on a ‘rock to recovery’ system boundary – that’s to say, reducing rock direct from the mine to a size that enables the mineral to be recovered.

The four configurations were:

1. Conventional comminution circuit based on a Semi-Autogenous Grinding (SAG) mill and ball mill.

2. Weir’s Enduron® High Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGR) replacing the SAG mill at the initial grinding stage.

3. Enduron® HPGR, plus Swiss Tower Mills’ (STM) vertical stirred mill replacing the ball mill.

4. Addition of Eriez’s HydroFloat® coarse particle flotation (CPF) unit.

The study shows that replacing conventional technology with innovative new solutions can cut energy use by 40%, while also avoiding 50% of CO2e emissions.

The world needs more transition metals to achieve net zero, but the mining industry needs to extract these using significantly less energy and water, Cousins explained.

‘Our new, externally assured study

highlights the potential for energy savings of 40% and for 50% of CO2e emissions to be avoided in comminution, the most energy intensive stage of mining processes,’ she said.

‘By adopting a systems-based approach to technology collaborations, we can help the mining industry scale up and clean up at the same time.’

The full results are published here:

The STM mill has a vertical mill chamber, with grinding rotors (discs with castellations) installed on the central mill shaft. The mill feed is a slurry, pumped through the bottom of the mill and discharged from the top. The mill chamber is filled with ceramic grinding media to approximately 60% of its volume.

The grinding media bed moves only in the horizontal plane, which ensures

Comminution equipment doesn’t operate in a vacuum – it’s part of a wider and deeply interlinked mineral processing plant where the comminution circuit’s overall performance significantly influences mineral recovery.

Therefore, a holistic review of the overall circuit – from rock to recovery – is required.

These circuits are prone to increased feed variability, which requires the right combination of size reduction and classification equipment to minimize the fluctuation in product quality, as this enables greater efficiencies in the recovery circuit, explains Bjorn Dierx, Weir Minerals Global Product Manager Enduron® HPGR and Vertical Stirred Mills.

‘Enduron HPGRs can adapt to changing feeding conditions instantly because the roll speed and grinding force can be changed while in operation; as a result, the most effective, minimal stressintensity force is applied to the particles to ensure they break at the given throughput rate,’ he said.

energy isn’t wasted. The vertical mill arrangement, combined with bottom feed entry and top discharge, ensures coarse particles don’t short-circuit the mill.

‘The grinding circuit that delivers the highest recovery and the lowest possible energy consumption is achieved by combining these two proven technologies. The Enduron HPGR prepares the feed for the two-stage STM vertical stirred mill grinding concept,’ Dierx said.

‘This grinding circuit is followed by Eriez’s HydroFloat CPF technology, which allows the use of a coarser, rougher grind size, delivering the operator additional reductions in grinding energyrequirements.’

The recovery or efficiency of conventional flotation is strongly related to the particle size of the ore.

‘Eriez’s HydroFloat CPF represents a major step forward in terms of recovery, by extending flotation efficiency over a size range that is two to three times greater than conventional flotation machines’ limit,’ Dierx said.

Metro Manila Subway Project: A Reality within 5 Years

written by: JIMBO GULLE

Filipinos, especially in the National Capital Region, can look forward to using a modern underground train system in five years’ time, as construction of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) Phase 1 has hit 40 percent completion and is proceeding apace.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) shared the news during the site inspection of the MMSP in late February, led by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative to the Philippines Takema Sakamoto.

“We have shown to Secretary Ralph Recto the ongoing development and briefing on what the project is all about, and with the support of JICA we are implementing this project on time for completion in 2029,” said Bautista.

With a budget of P488.5 billion, the underground mass transport system is expected to cut travel time from Valenzuela City in northern Metro Manila to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in the south from 1.5 hours to just 35 minutes, the DOF stated.

The Metro Manila subway, considered the third largest project under the Marcos administration’s Build Better More program, can accommodate 519,000 passengers each day once fully operational, the DOF added.

Recto said the subway will not only improve convenience and speed but also generate approximately P2.5 billion in daily economic benefits.

The subway’s direct economic benefits, totaling P930.26 billion annually, will be a result of reduced vehicle costs, shorter travel times, and decreased carbon emissions.

Stretching across 33 kilometers, the Metro Manila subway will feature 17 stations connecting Valenzuela to Parañaque City, with a designated stop at NAIA Terminal 3.

The interest rates for both the first and second tranches of the loan are set at 0.10 percent per year for nonconsulting services and 0.01 percent

per year for consulting services, the DOF statement read.

period of 40 years, which includes a 12-year grace period for the first tranche and a 13-year grace period for the second tranche.

The 17-station subway, running from Valenzuela to NAIA, is expected to cost about P355.6 billion and will cut travel time from one hour to 30 minutes.

Based on a JICA study, the travel congestion in Metro Manila cost the economy over P3.5 billion per day or P1.27 trillion every year.

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Bautista meanwhile told reporters they are currently working on the operations and maintenance of the Metro Manila subway.

“We are now on the process of procuring O&M for MRT-3, NorthSouth Commuter Railway, and Metro Manila subway,” Bautista said.

“We’re working with a transaction adviser so that they can advise us on the parameters, terms and conditions that will be followed by the possible concessionaire,” he added.

The DOTr chief did not say what entities will acquire the O&M of the project but said he hopes “to have something” before the end of the year.

The MMSP is currently being financed by two active loan agreements and is expected to enter

construction of a deport and a 33-kilometer railway line made up of 17 stations that will connect Valenzuela City to Pasay City with a spur line to Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Parañaque City.

COMPLETION BY 2029

Bautista said that the DOTr is currently in discussion with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Finance (DOF) for review of draft documents pertaining to the loan deal provided by JICA and the government of Japan.

“With the support of JICA, we are implementing this project on time for completion in 2029,” Bautista said.

Recto has also expressed support to ensure the project is completed on time, while the DOTr addresses the right-of-way issues.

The MMSP only resumed its actual construction in January 2023 following the right-of-way issues after some property owners refused to surrender their land to the state.

“The Department of Finance is fully committed to securing the funding for this project,” said Recto. “We aim to finalize the loan agreement for the 3rd tranche of financing by March 2024.”

117 PPP Projects Worth PHP2.5 Trillion in Pipeline, says Center Chief

The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center currently has 117 projects worth PHP2.5 trillion in the pipeline for undertaking between the government and private sector.

“This is as of February 2.

Particularly, we have a bulk of the projects still in the transportation sector because we are doing a lot of catching up,” PPP Center Executive Director Cynthia Hernandez said in a forum in Makati City.

Hernandez said that aside from transportation, other priority sectors include solid waste management, health and water.

“Out of the 117 projects, there are 15 that are expected to be approved in 2024,” she said.

Some of these projects include the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Metro Manila Subway, North-South Commuter Rail O&M, San Ramon Newport, University of the Philippines Philippine General Hospital in

Diliman, Cagayan Valley Medical Center-Hemodialysis Center, and the National Capital Region EDSA Busway Project.

Other projects include the O&M of the following projects: Cebu Bus Rapid Transit, Davao City Bypass, Metro Rail Transit-3, and Light Rail Transit-2.

Unsolicited PPP projects for approval this year also include the rehabilitation, operation, maintenance and expansion of both the Puerto Princesa International Airport and the Iloilo International Airport; upgrade, expansion and O&M of New Bohol International Airport; the Long-Term Water Resource Development for Metro Manila Project; and the operation and maintenance of the Philippine Identification System.

“For 2025, we have these projects that are currently in the early stages of development. And the preliminary studies are expected

to be completed. Once completed, they can be submitted by the implementing agencies for approval by 2025,” Hernandez said.

These projects include the New Cebu International Container Port, Air Navigation Services-Air Traffic Services Project, Philippine Automatic Fare Collection System, San Mateo Railway Project, Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake Ferry Project, North Integrated Transport System, Mindanao Railway Project Phase 3, North Long Haul InterRegional Railway Project, and Davao City Bypass Construction Project O&M.

The Laguna Lake Road Network O&M PPP project, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office Building Project, Iloilo-Capiz Aklan Expressway, and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Solid Waste-to-Energy project are also expected to be submitted for approval next year.

Next Phase of Pasig River Rehab Expands to Intramuros Area

Sustained construction on the next phase of the Pasig River Urban Development Project would interconnect the showcase area at the back of the Manila Central Post Office with the walled city of Intramuros.

The 500-meter showcase area of the Pasig River rehabilitation project, dubbed the “Pasig Bigyan Buhay Muli” (PBBM), was completed on Jan. 17 with the official unveiling led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.

The next stage of the nine-phase rehabilitation project that stretches to the Intramuros area will be led by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

“This will greatly contribute to tourism in the city of Manila. Here we are also projecting that there will be commercial shops that will give opportunities to our countrymen

which is the vision of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos,” DHSUD

Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said in a news release.

“ We at the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development Project will continue to work until this project is completed,” he added.

Apart from boosting tourism and maximizing the economic potentials of Pasig River, the PBBM Project also aims to promote transportation interconnectivity in Metro Manila as the waterway traverses several major cities across the capital region.

The project envisions to transform the 25-kilometer stretch of the river into people-centered and communitydriven park with walk paths and bike lanes.

When completed, it will provide a seamless travel on foot or two wheels

from Manila Bay to Laguna de Bay.

The revitalization project stemmed from Executive Order No. 35, issued by the President in July 2023, that created the IAC-PRUD tasked to “transform Pasig River back into historically pristine condition conducive to transport, recreation and tourism.”

The showcase area was completed and opened to the public six months after the issuance of the order.

The project has an estimated completion timeline of three to five years and will be funded solely through donations from the private sector.

Overall, the revitalization project aims to capitalize on the full potential of Pasig River and bring it to the level of other major waterways in the world such as the Thames River in London, the Chao Phraya in Bangkok and the Seine River in Paris.

Climate Resiliency of Roads in the Clouds

written by: ZEEVIK HALBER

Editor’s note: Zeevik Halber is the CEO of AnyWay Solutions, a company with a longstanding presence in Papua New Guinea and after a few years of exploring is now looking to bring its climate resilient designs and solutions to the Philippines.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a land of mystery and splendor. Its untouched wilderness, breathtaking landscapes, diverse cultures, tropical jungles, and majestic high-altitude mountains make it one of the most unique countries in the world.

One of the main roads in the country, The Highland Highways, forms the central backbone of the nation’s road network. It begins at the main port city of Lae in Morobe Province, which runs north-easterly towards Madang Province, branches off to the east well before Madang and heads far inland to the Southern Highlands. Even though it serves as the main access road, most of the highway’s length is no more than a two-lane single carriageway, connecting a large portion of the country’s population and leading to some of its most vital mining projects.

The road was initially constructed in the 1950s and has since undergone several rehabilitation and maintenance upgrades. Due to the progressive increase in traffic, especially heavy vehicles, the Government of PNG initiated an ambitious upgrade and rehabilitation program with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) called the Sustainable Highlands Highway Investment Program (SHHIP). Through the SHHIP, significant portions of the Highlands Highway were rehabilitated, including drainage and water management elements, as well as the road pavement itself.

Through the Department of Works and Highways (DOWH), the Government of PNG set a goal to enhance the climate resiliency of its road network by implementing an advanced engineering approach, including in-place recycling through stabilization. By implementing this approach, the sub-standard

materials of the existing roads’ pavement structures would be recycled, processed, and stabilized. The superior strength of pavements achieved through implementing this approach significantly enhances climate resiliency.

In addition to strengthening the pavement structures, drainage and water management elements would be upgraded and rebuilt to withstand the climatic events that have become more frequent in the region. In recent years, the DOWH has also embarked upon extensive rehabilitation work on existing roads in the country’s main cities, including the ones connecting them. This is over and above the many new roads being designed and constructed to support the rapid growth in the country.

Of the few alternative rehabilitation solutions that were considered, the approach AnyWay Solutions (AnyWay) offered was to enhance climate resiliency using cold in-place recycling through stabilization. Given the lack of suitable natural pavement materials near many of the roads throughout the country, the solution was preferred and selected with thorough research conducted by the DOWH.

Rehabilitation of the Highlands Highway started in late 2010 with the upgrading of the 60-km branch road linking Wabag town and the Western Highlands province’s capital, Hagen. The mountainous environment

and associated extreme climatic and topographical conditions pose challenges to getting to and from the relevant project sites and overcoming operational difficulties related to the terrain in which these project areas are located.

AnyWay has specialized in providing climate resiliency engineering designs and solutions for transport infrastructure for more than two decades, and has worked with the DOWH in developing specific engineering designs and solutions that fit the special conditions of PNG. AnyWay was consulted and has provided an innovative approach to rehabilitating and upgrading many other road projects in PNG, including the Highlands Highway.

To assist the DOWH in achieving its ambitious climate resiliency goal, AnyWay’s main approach has been to address pressing issues, such as the lengthy time it takes to construct roads in this region, the lack of readily available quality roadbuilding materials, and the country’s unique natural environment.

AnyWay’s approach to enhancing the climate resiliency of transport infrastructure projects has always been based on localizing the solutions. Thus, AnyWay sent its team of experts to work with the DOWH engineers to evaluate the problem areas, perform geotechnical investigations, provide appropriate pavement designs, and oversee

CONSTRUCTION

local contractors’ rehabilitation and upgrading works.

Through the joint work, AnyWay’s experts shared the wealth of experience they have gained over many years of working on such projects with the various stakeholders, engineers, contractors, supervisors, and local communities. Like in many roads in PNG, the existing pavement structure of the highway has, in most cases, been constructed mainly with locally available alluvial materials that have been identified as being of substandard quality and one of the principal causes of the observed premature distress, leading to the disintegration of the road pavement.

Modifying the rounded aggregate used in the initial construction of the road’s pavement layers was essential to obtain the desired angularity and resultant interlock of the coarse fraction to enhance the strength of the base layer of the road pavement. This element is critical for improving the climate resiliency of roads.

For this to be achieved economically, a recycling approach was taken with a road recycler

employed in the construction process. This machine can mill the upper pavement layers, incorporating the bituminous wearing course in areas where the road has been paved and breaking down the rounded coarse aggregate fraction to more angular particles to ensure better resistance to repetitive loading. An added benefit of the recycler is that its penetration depth can be readily adjusted and accurately controlled to produce a new uniform, well-mixed base course material. The fact that this process is performed in-situ reduces traffic congestion and major earthworks along the rehabilitated stretches.

As specialists in climate resilience for transport infrastructure, AnyWay have developed various technologies and solutions that enable the use of such techniques in scenarios that were previously not possible. These solutions are designed to expand the scope of climate resiliency and make it accessible in a wider range of circumstances.

One of these technologies and solutions is a cementitious binder

called AnyWay’s Natural Soil Stabilizer. Subsequent stabilization of the processed layers with an ANSS, also using the recycler, has been repeatedly proven to be an effective solution for rehabilitation with a very successful result. The sections of this highway and many roads being rehabilitated since that have been completed using this method are performing to the required standard and, in some cases, exceed expectations. The resiliency of these roads is undoubted, as they withstand the extreme climate events imposed on the region over more than a decade.

Many roads throughout PNG have since been rehabilitated utilizing the rehabilitation and upgrading approach presented by AnyWay. Through this process, the DOWH engineers and many of the site supervisors, laboratory technicians, equipment operators, and contractors have not only gained a wealth of experience but also increased their knowledge and became well acquainted with the application of this approach.

Proper Site Investigation: A Crucial Step for Construction Projects

SITE INVESTIGATION HOLDS AN UNDENIABLE SIGNIFICANCE IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. CAM WYLIE FROM RDCL EXPLORES THE VALUE OF A THOROUGH SITE INVESTIGATION AND ITS POTENTIAL TO SAVE MONEY AND CREATE VALUE IN THE LONG RUN, EVEN WITH THE INITIAL INVESTMENT.

Can we put a dollar figure on understanding the ground beneath what we build?

It is widely recognized that site investigation plays a pivotal role in successfully undertaking any construction venture. Countless articles, essays, and reports emphasize its criticality and the need for careful consideration. In short, conducting a comprehensive site investigation can create cost reduction for a project.

At RDCL, we regularly see construction problems stem from unforeseen ground conditions that could be pre-empted through a proper site investigation. In the Philippines we see this manifesting in large infrastructure projects like tunnels, dams, transport corridors and flood protection being a major part of nationwide growth.

The implications of these oversights can be extremely costly both short and long term. Considering the monetary

cost impact is one piece of the picture.

As well as this, we are also talking more broadly about the very real costs to the resilience of the people, whenua (land), and infrastructure in future risk scenarios.

Alarming, isn’t it? Despite the proven cost-effectiveness and overwhelming evidence supporting thorough site investigations, industry / geotechnical specialists we talk to in various associations across the country regularly express concerns about the insufficient quality of site investigation data they often receive.

WHAT IS SITE INVESTIGATION?

Put simply, site investigation involves gathering essential information and data below the ground to conduct an accurate assessment of the risk. Through this, potential hazards lurking beneath the ground can be identified, allowing engineers to design

foundations based on reliable data regarding the physical properties and arrangement of sub-surface materials.

The scope and design of each investigation depend on factors like anticipated geology, previous site usage, and construction proposals.

Our specialist team of Geotechnicians use a variety of solutions and tools for each project. Generally, site investigations encompass four to six stages, each serving a specific purpose.

ON-SITE TESTING = BETTER PRECISION, BETTER DECISIONMAKING

While it’s true that on-site testing during investigations is more cost-effective than laboratory testing, the latter yields significantly more precise data. Unfortunately, what we often see is the choice of techniques being driven by financial considerations, rather than aligning with the actual ground

conditions. This inevitably leads to complications.

In the Philippines, where RDCL operates, recognizing the value of a thorough site investigation can make all the difference. By investing in this critical process, the construction industry can ensure efficient project execution, minimize unforeseen challenges, and achieve long-term cost savings and value.

If we want to contribute to a thriving future, we must be taking a long-term view to our projects.

THE FOUNDATION OF SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS

In the realm of construction, a thorough site investigation serves as a crucial step to address uncertainties related to contamination and ground conditions. Neglecting to adequately mitigate ground risks during the initial planning stages could have substantial ramifications on the project’s cost and timeline. Timely identification and mitigation of ground risks is imperative for project success.

It is often underestimated how site investigation can lead to cost savings. By investing dedicated efforts in this crucial aspect, construction projects can maximize financial efficiency.

Regardless of the approach chosen, site investigation is a pivotal step in the construction process, and a nonnegotiable task that should never be skipped, hurried, or disregarded under any circumstances.

A WISE INVESTMENT

What is often underestimated is how site investigation can be a total gamechanger when it comes to saving money. By accurately matching subsequent ground engineering work to the actual ground conditions, costly guesswork and “over-engineering” can be avoided, safeguarding projects from future unknowns.

For projects in the Philippines, every dollar counts. It is crucial for our project decision-makers to recognize the value and significance of site investigation.

So, let’s change how we look at things and see this is a prudent investment that ensures smoother construction, reduces financial burdens, and brings projects to completion on time.

DIGGING DEEPER: WHAT IS A DETAILED SITE EXAMINATION?

Sometimes, a preliminary site investigation doesn’t paint the full picture when it comes to designing and building foundations. That’s where a detailed site investigation becomes indispensable. It’s like going the extra mile to make sure we’ve got all the facts straight.

During this phase, we uncover any potential contamination, material complexities, or conceivable risks that might have revealed themselves during the initial phase. It’s all about conducting a thorough examination to ensure a solid foundation for your project.

A comprehensive site investigation involves a meticulous process that includes conducting multiple test borings to gather disturbed and undisturbed soil samples from various depths. These samples are then subjected to visual observation and laboratory tests.

The number and depth of borings will vary based on the project requirements. Typically, for most construction projects, starting with at least one boring at each corner of the planned infrastructure, and one at the

centre, would be ideal.

Additional test borings may be necessary, guided by soil uniformity. It is vital to ensure that the test borings reach through unsuitable foundation materials and penetrate into the firm soil layers.

In the context of your project, this thorough site investigation approach will lay a strong foundation for successful construction, ensuring your project’s integrity and longevity.

CAM WYLIE, DIRECTOR, RDCL

Cam Wylie is the Managing Director, CEO & Principal Engineer at RDCL Limited. With 30 years in the industry, Cam is a Chartered Professional Engineer with extensive overseas experience, working on major projects in the Philippines, Indonesia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. His expertise includes Project Management, Geotechnical/ Dam Engineering, Mining, Roading, Infrastructure, large subdivisions, and Residential Dwellings, and he is a contributor to the Hawke’s Bay Cyclone Gabrielle Engineering Leadership Group.

Studies on Decarbonization and Green Energy Revolution

written by: MARCELLE P. VILLEGAS

Last year’s Geological Conference or GEOCON 2023 of the Geological Society of the Philippines (GSP) (Dec. 5-6, 2023) highlighted 57 oral reports and 86 poster presentations throughout 10 sessions. The theme of the conference is “Our Natural Resources: Fueling the Energy Transition Journey”. There was a rich discussion among the presenters and the audience where the topics revolved around natural hazards, mineral deposits, petrology and tectonics, environment, energy studies, and more.

In this article, we would like to highlight four (4) informative reports and abstracts about energy.

For a better understanding and background on how the energy industry works, Robert C. Shoup (Subsurface Consultants & Associates LLC) clarifies the dynamics. His presentation is titled “The Future of Energy - Meeting the Demand”

He explained that energy is a fundamental element of our economy, our society and key to maintaining our environment.

“Although we take affordable and reliable energy for granted, it is essential for everything we consume. Therefore, it is important that we can provide the energy

needed to meet the demand.”

Since energy is a commodity, it is subject to the Law of Supply and Demand – a law that is constant and immutable.

“The market will price a commodity based on the demand for that commodity relative to the supply. When the demand exceeds supply, there will be a shortage. When supply exceeds demand, there will be a surplus. In times of shortage, people will pay more, so the price is high. In times of surplus, people will pay less so the price is low. The point where the curves cross is the Market Clearing Price.”

The report points out three factors that will determine the rate at which energy demand will increase: the post-pandemic recovery, GDP growth, and inflation.

“Post-pandemic recovery and GDP growth will increase energy demand. Inflation will slow the rate of demand growth, and if severe enough, could reverse demand growth.”

“There are four factors that will influence energy supply: the impact of the 2015 oil-price collapse, the skill capability gap, investor pressure, and societal pressure. All four factors are negative, so energy supply will decline.”

Of note, oil, natural gas, and coal combine to provide approximately 80% of the world’s energy. The remaining 20% are supplied by biofuels, nuclear, wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal combined.

On the contrary, the energy mix for the Philippines is slightly different, with oil, natural gas, and coal providing 70% of the energy, and geothermal contributing just under 8%, and other renewables providing the remaining 23%.”

“The supply and demand curves are currently at or near the Market Clearing Price, portending the potential for an economic recession or depression in the near future unless we take proactive steps today to increase the energy supply.”

The study that was presented by S&P Global Philippines Inc. explains the connection between green metals and energy supply. Their report is titled, “Assessing Philippines’ potential in the global green metals’ revolution” by Eillen Grace Dela Cruz, Paul Manalo, Marc Rayos and Althea Keziah Liwanag of S&P Global Philippines Inc. (Commodity Insights Division).

“With the effects of climate change becoming more pronounced each year, the public and private

Maibarara Geothermal Power Facility in Sto. Tomas Batangas [Photo credit: Maibarara Geothermal Inc. (MGI) https:// petroenergy.com.ph/ maibarara]

sectors are in a rush to soften the impacts on our way of life. The transportation and power generation sectors have accounted for about 60% of global sector emissions. Thus, the electrification of mobility and expansion of the use of batteries and energy storage are vital pieces of the puzzle to humanity’s fight against climate change.”

They mentioned that to achieve this goal, we need metals such as copper, lithium, nickel, and cobalt in meeting the great demand from automotive electrification and rising electricity storage capacity driven by expanding renewable energy generation.

“The rapid pace of the green energy transition poses a looming threat of supply deficits of key metals in the medium term. The Philippines, being one of the mineral-rich countries in the world, is eyed to play a pivotal role in the green metals revolution, especially for copper and nickel.”

Their research evaluates the Philippines’ potential in the global green metals industry.

Analyses of different key metrics in the country’s upstream metals industry –exploration, reserves and resources, production, and mine costs – reveal:

1) Despite the recovery of exploration in the country postCOVID-19-related lockdowns, current budget allocations to the country remain far from the totals a decade ago.

2) Vast untapped reserves, with more than 60% of contained copper and 60% of contained nickel either awaiting development or production

3) The Philippines ranks alongside Indonesia as a major global mined nickel producer, a position the country is likely to maintain in the medium term.

4) Limited local processing for nickel, leading to significant raw ore exports

“These findings underscore the importance of increased exploration, particularly in nickel and copper assets, for revitalizing untapped reserves and resources, and increased investment on local processing

capacity for enhancing local valueadded production.”

One of the notable problems associated with the energy industry is the amount of carbon footprint that they leave in the environment. Thus, decarbonization initiatives and strategies are becoming a trend.

Where and how can energy corporations get decarbonization solutions that help make the journey to net zero possible?

“Accelerating decarbonization through innovation and science” is a report by James Daniel of SLB -- a global technology company that drives energy innovation for a balanced planet.

“With a global footprint in more than 100 countries and employees representing almost twice as many nationalities, we work each day on innovating oil and gas, delivering digital at scale, decarbonizing industries, and developing and scaling new energy systems that accelerate the energy transition.”

He emphasized that, “As the first company in the energy services industry to include Scope 3 emissions in our 2050 net zero target, we are making a significant impact throughout the value chain, not only increasing our operational efficiency, but also developing new technologies to help our customers optimize their environmental footprint.”

“In this energy transition journey, we are scaling up new energy systems and accelerating the transition to lowcarbon energy through:

1) Making net zero possible with Carbon Capture and Sequestration, Harnessing Geothermal Energy

2) Accelerate a low-carbon future with pioneering capabilities such as energy storage, hydrogen, and lithium.

3) Accelerating change through collaboration and partnerships.

“Coal Power Phasedown: A technology review” is a presentation by Guillermo R. Balce (Private Consultant).

“The Philippines is a signatory to the Paris Agreement which was adopted at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris in December 2015. As such, the country is committed to phase down coal power. In partial compliance

to the Paris Agreement, the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) has imposed a moratorium on the construction of new coalfired power plants since October 27, 2020. However, more has to be done.”

According to his report, there are currently 62 operating coal-fired power plants in the Philippines, providing about 60% of the country’s electricity supply. Is it possible to phase them down without risking nationwide power failures and economic disruptions?

Mr. Balce suggests that one solution is just to let the plants reach the end of their operational lifespan.

However, there is a problem. Among these coal-powered plants, 17 of these plants (total capacity = 6,152 MW) are only 8 years old or younger and by 2050 will just be in their prime.

“A more proactive solution is to repurpose the plants by replacing coal with hydrogen, ammonia, or biomass. Alternatively, coal can first be converted to hydrogen or ammonia which can then be used as fuel. “

“This paper aims to introduce some of the technologies that may be used in repurposing coal-fired power plants in the Philippines to enable them to continue operating while at the same time contribute to the country’s decarbonization commitment. These technologies are: (1) Coal replacement by hydrogen or ammonia; (2) Coal replacement by biomass; (3) Integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC); (4) Underground coal gasification; (5) Electrochemical coal reforming; and (6) Biological coal digestion.

“Gradual replacement of coal by biomass and feedstock conversion to hydrogen or ammonia as fuel are the most publicly acceptable and immediately adoptable options. These schemes will link energy generation closer with agriculture and forestry and involve more stakeholders in the countryside in energy production.”

Reference:

GEOCON 2023 Souvenir Program – abstracts and scientific papers

https://geolsocphil.com/geoconsessions/index

Australia’s Aboriginal People Partner with PH RE Company

written by: MARCELLE P. VILLEGAS

Australia recently launched one of their largest indigenous-led renewable energy project. Australia’s First Nations Yindjibarndi people have partnered with ACEN, a Philippine renewables company, to develop and operate renewable energy projects in Western Australia.

In the Philippines, ACEN is one of the subsidiaries of the Ayala Corporation and is the Philippine Stock Exchange listed energy platform of the Ayala Group. The company has ~4,800 MW of attributable capacity from owned facilities in the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India with a renewable share of 99%. This percentage is among the highest in the region.

The Yindjibarndi are an Aboriginal Australian people of the Pilbara region in Western Australia. Their traditional lands are located around the Fortescue River.

Her Excellency HK Yu PSM FCPA (Aust), Australian Ambassador to the Philippines stated, “What ACEN and the Yindjibarndi group are doing is fully aligned with the Strategic Partnership between Australia and the Philippines. We are happy to collaborate and work together to ensure that the partnership is mutually beneficial and sustainable.”

The Yindjibarndi people and ACEN will work together on wind, solar, and renewable energy projects on Yindjibarndi Ngurra. This area is approximately 13,000 km2 within Yindjibarndi’s exclusive native title land in Australia. The partnership will be through Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC).

YEC is targeting to generate 750 MW of combined wind, solar, and battery storage under construction within the next few years. The investment will be more than PHP 36 billion. The energy that they will produce will be for domestic and export markets. For the next stages of the project, their goal is an additional 2 GW to 3 GW of combined wind, solar, and battery storage.

The leadership of YEC includes Anton Rohner, ACEN-appointed director and chairman, and Craig Ricato, Yindjibarndi-appointed director and CEO of YEC.

Ricato stated, “This partnership between ACEN and the Yindjibarndi

People was built on shared values. ACEN were genuine in their interactions with the Yinjibarndi people – they were honest about their intentions and listened to what the Traditional Owners needed. This made the Yindjibarndi comfortable around ACEN’s people and put them in good standing to negotiate the terms of the partnership agreement.”

ACEN International CEO Patrice Clausse said, “We feel deeply honored by the trust that Australia’s Yindjibarndi community has given us to work collaboratively with them. The Pilbara region is home to some of the largest industrial energy users globally, many of whom have expressed their desire to transition to a carbon-neutral future. We are actively engaged in promising dialogues with potential off-take customers to purchase the renewable energy.”

ACEN has established a solid footprint in Australia’s renewable energy sector, contributing significantly to the country’s clean energy transition and sustainability goals.

The Australian Embassy in the Philippines is supporting ACEN with market information and opportunities.

Clausse also noted, “Australian investment advisors in the Philippines and Australia are helping us keep up to date with developments in Australia’s growing renewable energy sector and sharing information on investment opportunities.”

“They are also pivotal in helping us connect with government representatives at federal and state levels.”

Its partnership with the Yindjibarndi is not its first with First Nations groups on energy projects in Australia. In March 2023, the renewable energy firm launched in New South Wales the first stage of its New England solar project. As part of this project, ACEN has partnered with the local Anaiwan people to ensure culturally significant areas located on the project site are protected for future generations.

Photo source: Courtesy of Australian Embassy in the Philippines

ACEN executives and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu PSM, FCPA (Aust) welcome Yindijibarndi delegation on their first visit to the Philippines.

Digital Transformation for Underground Mines:

PART 2: PREPARING FINANCIAL MODELS, COLLABORATIVE REPORT SHARING AND VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES

written by: MAE ANN CABASAG, EM

As the landscape of the mining industry evolves more rapidly than it did decades ago, critical balance between market demands and sustainable extraction is paramount. Intensive study and planning are needed to achieve this; however, mine planners often only have a limited amount of time to produce the plan that best achieves the said

balance and is most resilient to sudden changes. Being limited in time, we are often unsure that the absolute best plan has been made. Digital transformation with Dassault Systemes (DS) would be key to this challenge; DS provides a framework on how transformation can be achieved via six processes. For underground mines, this is shown as follows:

We start with the evaluation of a potential or ongoing mining project and utilizing current resource data as foundation. These procedures are undertaken with the ultimate objective of generating a strategic mine plan or revised Life-Of-Mine plan, encompassing feasibility studies and project viability assessments.

Part 1 of this article (published previously) delved into the four of the six processes of digital transformation for underground mines. The first process involved DEFINING

Part 2 of the Digital Transformation for UG Mine will cover the remaining two processes— PREPARING FINANCIAL MODELS and COLLABORATIVE REPORT SHARING AND VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES.

The fifth process in strategic mine planning is PREPARING FINANCIAL MODELS

After producing the final strategic mine schedule in the fourth process, the fifth process involves forecasting monthly, quarterly and yearly production tons and grades. Dassault Systèmes’ Analytics Tool enables us to seamlessly report tons, grades, and materials throughout the life of mine. Analytics Tool generates various financial models, budgets and reports, thereby increasing results accuracy, transparency and collaboration with stakeholders. This enables better visual issue identification, and the full Analytics Tool package facilitates easy comparison of potential solutions, thus reducing time to analyze alternatives.

OBJECTIVES, KPIs, and CONSTRAINTS using the 3DExperience Platform. Subsequently, the second focused on STOPE SHAPE OPTIMIZATION, employing Surpac Stope Optimizer and Process Composer. The third involved performing STABILITY ANALYSIS through Process Composer and Results Analytics. The fourth process involved producing STRATEGIC MINE SCHEDULE, utilizing 3DExperience Platform, the Process Composer, Surpac, and Minesched.

The fifth and last process is COLLABORATIVE REPORT SHARING AND VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES

Through 3DExperience Platform, sharing and collaborating data across multiple departments and stakeholders is possible. Dashboards visually represent key schedule outputs, ensuring easy visualization for all relevant stakeholders of the mine plan and enabling rapid evaluation of historical data to ensure accuracy and feasibility. Dashboards can be presented in two formats: numerically and graphically. Numeric data, including a yearly breakdown of key schedule metrics like drill meterage, volume, and mass can be represented both numerically and graphically to discern overall trends in schedule performance. Graphical such as 3D Stopes are seamlessly integrated into Dashboards, allowing stakeholders to access and visualize the plan without opening the application or requiring an in-depth understanding of the detailed design program. After analyzing results, team collaboration is essential for identifying and addressing potential issues. Collaborations are centralized within the 3D Experience Platform.

The combination of GEOVIA’s underground mine planning tools with the 3DExperience Platform creates a robust solution, facilitating end-to-end simulation. This digital transformation for underground mines enables the project to meet both market needs and ensure sustainable extraction. To learn more about underground mine planning solutions and mining innovations, reach out to Dassault Systèmes

Philippine Partner, Paramina Earth Technologies Inc., via email at paramina_solutions@paramina.com .

References:

Dassault Systèmes. Strategic Mine Planning for Underground. 3DS EVENTS. https://events.3ds.com/ strategic-mine-planning-for-underground Strategic Mine Planning in Changing Times. Dassault Systèmes. https://discover.3ds.com/strategic-mine-planning

A guide to GEOVIA Stope Optimizer in Surpac. 3DS Blog. https://blog.3ds.com/brands/geovia/a-guide-to-geoviastope-optimizer/

The quest for the best plan in Strategic Mine Planning. 3DS Blog. https://blog.3ds.com/brands/geovia/the-quest-forthe-best-plan-in-strategic-mine-planning/

Accelerate Operational Excellence with Fleet Management That Provides Real-Time Insights for Informed Decision Making

OP Pro is Hexagon’s fullfeatured solution for fleet management, equipping mining professionals with invaluable insights into all aspects of their fleet operation within a user experience designed for efficiency.

Used by mines worldwide, this product helps operations safely accelerate efficiency and avoid disruptions caused by poor fuel/time management, disorganized shift changes and substandard equipment utilization. It is an integral part of Hexagon’s open pit and underground fleet management capabilities, which cover machine guidance, operator assist, machine and asset health and fragmentation analysis.

Mine operators can effortlessly receive a complete picture of the position, status, activity, production and utilization of all equipment as OP Pro continuously collects and stores data for graphic representation. The number of loads and tonnes moved per equipment is revealed, material movement is tracked, equipment movement is

monitored, and incorrect transactions are highlighted.

Hexagon OP Pro enables mines to maximize equipment use, improve workflows, reduce costs and improve productivity, combining hardware and software to automate production cycles and operation workflows, optimizing haulage and fuel consumption.

BENEFITS

• Data-informed decision making for improved fleet efficiency and productivity

• Reduced fuel consumption with potential to shrink carbon footprint

• Minimized equipment wear-and-tear for lower maintenance/operating costs

• Enhanced visibility of mobile mining fleet by activity, enabling ongoing material tracking

• Short learning curve for quick adoption by operators

FEATURES

• Real-time situational awareness with a bird’s-eye view for operators

and corporate office through GPS tracking

• Insight-building fleet reporting

• Truck route optimisation

• Recorded movement of time, tonnes and terrain

• Market-leading, modern, intuitive operator interface

• Scalable and integrates with Hexagon safety solutions such as Collision Avoidance System and Vehicle Intervention System

INTEGRATED LIFE-OF-MINE SOLUTIONS

Having one technology partner for the life of your mine is a superpower in the face of modern mining challenges. Our integrated, data-driven solutions help eliminate the need for disparate products across workflows within mine planning, fleet management, monitoring, safety and beyond. With Hexagon, you gain a trusted partner backed by over 50 years of expertise who remains focused on an autonomous future both above and underground.

Become a Part of the Loadrite Legacy: A Golden Opportunity Awaits in Southeast Asia

In a world where precision and efficiency drive profitability, the importance of reliable, accurate payload measurement cannot be overstated. At the heart of this crucial sector stands Loadrite, a name synonymous with quality and innovation in the field of onboard weighing solutions since 1979.

The company is thrilled to announce an extraordinary opportunity for businesses in Southeast Asia to join the growing Loadrite distributor network as it expands into the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

WHY PARTNER WITH LOADRITE?

Joining the Loadrite distributor network isn’t just about selling products; it’s about becoming a part of a legacy. Loadrite is the premier manufacturer of precision weighing solutions, recognized globally for our commitment to accuracy, durability, and cutting-edge technology. Its systems, designed for wheel loaders, excavators, conveyor belts, and more, serve a range of industries, including aggregate, mining, and waste management, and more.

As a Loadrite distributor, a partner gains access to its comprehensive range of products that boast ‘Legal for Trade’ approval in numerous countries. This certification underscores the exceptional level of accuracy and reliability of Loadrite systems, offering clients the assurance they need to manage their operations efficiently.

A PARTNERSHIP ROOTED IN INNOVATION AND SUPPORT

Partnering with Loadrite means more than accessing world-class hardware and software; it’s about embracing a relationship built on support, growth, and shared goals. Its experience in the industry is unrivaled, and Loadrite is committed to providing its distributors with the knowledge, tools, and the assistance needed to succeed.

Partners not only introduce their market to state-of-the-art weighing solutions but also play a crucial role in helping businesses optimize their operations. Loadrite systems have been helping customers around the world increase profitability, maximize productivity, and improve operational efficiency. The high-quality and easily accessible data provided by Loadrite is essential for productivity analysis and making informed decisions.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Become a Loadrite distributor and be part of our journey in shaping the future of payload management solutions in Southeast Asia. If your business is looking for an opportunity to expand your portfolio with world-class products, we would love to hear from you.

For more information and to express your interest, contact Bruce Warner.

Email: apac.support@goloadrite. com

Phone: +64 9 820 7723 www.goloadrite.com

The Cutting-Edge Solutions Revolutionizing Mining Exploration in the Philippines

In the ever changing and fast pacing realm of mining exploration, QES Technology Philippines, Inc. in partnership with SciAps, stands out as the leader of innovation and efficiency. Specializing in providing comprehensive solutions for the mining industry, QES offers a diverse range of product solutions encompassing research, exploration, grade control, block modeling, process optimization, and more. At the heart of the wide

spectrum of offerings lie state-ofthe-art exploration equipment, tailored to meet the exacting demands of modern mining operations.

The cornerstone of QES’s exploration expertise lies in their revolutionary handheld EDXRF (Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence) and LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) analyzers manufactured by SciAps, USA. These cutting-edge technologies boast the capability

to analyze any stable elements in the periodic table, from Hydrogen to Uranium, with unparalleled precision and accuracy from a handheld analyzer. With specialized applications in Rare Earth Elements (REE), low-level gold analysis, Lithium detection in brines, and even total organic carbon in bioremediation, these handheld instruments redefine the boundaries of mining exploration technology, from ore exploration to environmental conservation.

Furthermore, QES ensures optimal sample preparation to achieve a highly accurate and precise results, through the provision of portable grinders, pulverizers, and pelletizers.

This meticulous attention to detail guarantees the best possible results in both EDXRF and LIBS analyses, empowering mining professionals with accurate data,

critical for decision-making and will facilitate a transition from full reliance on laboratory results to a more independent and immediate assessment of exploration data.

Beyond mere instrumentation, QES and SciAps also provide suite of special features designed to enhance efficiency and safety. Dual-camera functionality enables seamless sample analysis and recording, while remote switch-ON capability in handheld EDXRF devices

ensures unparalleled safety standards by mitigating exposure to XRF radiation. Moreover, the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as the Geo Chem Pro App for LIBS that maps the elemental distribution within minerals, veins, and inclusions, pairing XRF with

GERDA automated tabletop samplers, partnership with detectORE App for low-level gold analysis and leveraging SciAps Cloud Services to automatically merge XRF and LIBS tests, epitomizes QES and SciAps’ commitment to driving innovation in the mining sector.

X-550, one of the smallest and the lightest XRF in the market

X-555, the ONLY 55 kV XRF in the market with REE capability

X-200, the most saleable Model in the Philippines right now

Z-903, the ONLY handheld LIBS in the market that can measure H-U

Z-901 Li, the ONLY handheld LIBS that can measure Li in ores fast and easy

Built on the Android Operating System , SciAps instruments offer an intuitive user experience akin to a smartphone, with app-based software ensuring consistent quality testing by every operator. This fusion of user-friendly design and advanced functionality underscores QES’s dedication to streamlining mining exploration

processes for the 21st century.

In conclusion, QES Technology Philippines, Inc. emerges as a trailblazer in the mining exploration landscape, spearheading a new era of efficiency, accuracy, and safety. With their comprehensive suite of solutions and unwavering commitment to innovation, QES

is poised to revolutionize the way mining operations are conducted in the Philippines, ensuring sustainable, efficient, and safe resource extraction for generations to come. These are evident from their recent installations in various government agencies and private sectors in the mining industry.

The Only Repair That is Guaranteed Until the Tire Wears Out — Higantis PTR

It may not be obvious at first, but tires are one of the top expenses of a mining company, along with fuel and equipment costs. When one tire of a mining truck used for moving earth and ore costs an estimated US$10,000, any prudent company must figure out how to maximize this investment.

That’s where companies like Higantis Corporation come in. Instead of constantly needing to replace and buy tires for different types of heavy equipment and vehicles, mining firms have turned to Higantis for all their Off-theRoad (OTR) tire needs – leading to significant cost savings and

worry-free maintenance at the mine site.

Higantis has over 30 years of experience in this field, dating from its forerunner, Leemasters International Systems, which pioneered OTR tire repairs and services to mining firms in the country.

Among Higantis’ notable clients are major players in the construction, industrial, mining, and quarry sectors.

As a one-stop-shop for all things tire-related, Higantis not only supplies brand-new OTR tires, but it also provides total tire management services for a mining company’s fleet - from providing

MGB Region

MGB Region 5 SciAps X-200 Mining Mode

PMSEA 2023 Baguio City

GERDA automated table sampler for assaying drill cores Flic

professional tire repair services at the mine site through its roster of tire technicians to advising firms on how to recycle their scrapped tires, there’s nothing Higantis can’t do when it comes to rubber tires.

As a pioneer in the industry, they provide their own manpower to the mine sites.

Moving giant tires out of a mine site can be tedious and expensive. Higantis helps its clients reduce costs by bringing the service to them on-site, including all the equipment and supplies needed. Clients just need to provide the suitable workspace, and Higantis can get to work.

Indeed, majority of Higantis’ workforce is stationed on-site with their clients. Most of them are locals of the mine area that Higantis have trained to become professional tire men, guaranteeing that a client will have the best tire experts ready for any emergency.

When it comes to Higantis’ PTR (Professional Tire Repair) services, this is not the typical vulcanizing shop operation that most are familiar with. Quality OTR tire repairs require patience because it is a long, meticulous process, and a small amount of error may compromise the repair.

Being diligent in correctly assessing the tire’s condition, understanding how the tire is constructed and (like a doctor) knowing what you’re operating on before you cut, drill, and scythe the rubber before conducting the repair is a true hallmark of a Higantis tire technician.

There’s more to it than the physical component. Higantis usually recruit candidates who have experience with tires, then train them on the theories and equipment to ensure a safe and quality repair. Proper training makes all the difference.

At Higantis, tire technicians are taught how to evaluate injured tires, and to truly determine if they can be effectively repaired, especially when the tires are over 50-percent worn out. There’s a cost to repairs, but it should always be lower than buying a brand-new tire and the value of the tire to be repaired. If Higantis cannot ensure

the customer that a repaired tire will hold up during operations, it will recommend getting a new tire.

Higantis has been on top of its game for over three decades now, not just due to the expertise of its “tire doctors” but also through its quality equipment and process that differentiate them from other service providers. Higantis was also the first to introduce the Monaflex Tyre Repair Systems locally.

They are the first in the country to guarantee their repairs until the tires are fully worn out. If anything happens to the repair, they will repair it again, free of charge.

The goal of every tire repair is to save at least 25 percent of the cost of the remaining value of the tire to be repaired. Higantis thus measures a tire’s value by the thickness of its remaining tread. That’s why it should be properly assessed before the repair – not only if it’s safe to repair but economical as well. The

cost also depends on the severity of the tire injury.

When it comes to brand new tires, Higantis has two of the most reliable names in the industry – Goodyear Off-the-Road and Maxam (Sailun group).

Higantis is not merely a supplier nor trader. As a total tire management service provider, they make sure their clients get the most cost-efficient tire for their equipment and operations, even providing performance reports on how each tire brand in-service is faring. They are transparent with their clients and this is the reason why they have lasted all these years – by earning the trust of the customer.

These and other reasons are why Higantis can claim to be the premier OTR tire solutions provider in the country today – a veritable giant in the field, like the tires on the off-highway trucks that dwarf people at mine sites across the country.

Solutions You Can Count On

Cdevelopment. Market insights. Unmatched experience.

These are just some of the things that give Valley Blades Limited—and our customers— the leading edge.

The Grader-Link Pro™ mining grader blade by Valley Blades delivers longer wear life compared to standard OEM blades. Uniquely designed in locking segments of 46lbs each for the regular straight blade or 41lbs each for the serrated blade, these forged and heat-treated blades are safe and easy for one operator or maintenance person to handle, right on site, reducing both downtime and maintenance required. The bottom line is increased safety and performance and decreased costs.

One case study showed the Grader-Link Pro™ to be the best cutting edge ever used by an American gold mine. After nearly 2,000 hours of use over 184 days, wear was minimal, consistently averaging ½” across the mouldboard and 1” at either end. Carbide inserts were still intact, and while the blade showed some minor chips, overall product performance was not impacted.

Home of the exclusive VALLITE heattreating process, Valley Blades is your go-to for blades, cutting edges, ground-engaging tools (G.E.T.), wear parts and accessories for construction and mining equipment.

VBL’s through-hardened blades are also

offer the best performance for scarifying hard surfaces. A variety of rotating and fixed (non-rotating) tips are available to tailor the blade to your application. The CARBITTM system is available in different sizes to suit all sizes of OEM machines.

Keeping up with global competition means providing customers with trusted solutions that work and last. The team at Valley Blades cares about what they do, and it shows up in the quality of the product.

VBL is exclusively distributed by Uptime Earthmoving Solutions, Inc. in the Philippines.

For product inquiries, you may reach us through the following:

Landline: +632 8 687 1000 loc 397

Mobile: Globe: 0915 069 2676

Smart: 0949 137 4108

Email: uptimeearthmovingsolutionsinc@ gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ uptimeearthmovingsolutioninc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/ company/uptimeearthmovingsolutioninc

Office: Unit D 10th Flr., CyberOne Bldg., 11 Eastwood Ave., Bagumbayan QC

For VBL product and company videos, you may visit https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=pt0DNXwvgNo&t=21s