MINING NEWS
How safety performance is measured in PH mine sites By Marcelle P. Villegas
P
hilippine Mine Safety and Environment Association presented the virtual edition of 67th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) last November 24-26, 2021 with the theme “Pusong Minero: Celebrating 67 years of responsible mining with the quiet heroes of the pandemic.” The event was also made possible in cooperation with the DENR-MGB. One of the highlights of this annual event is the awarding of the best mining companies. The winners of the 2021 Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award are the following: ~ Mineral Processing Category: Mindanao Mineral Processing & Refining Corporation ~ Quarry Operation Category: Republic Cement and Building Materials, Inc. – Bulacan ~ Surface Mining Operation Category: Berong Nickel Corporation PMSEA and DENR- MGB also recognize the Mine Safety - Best Practices and key speakers from the industry who have stories and milestones to share during the occasion. One of the guest speakers was Engr. Marcial H. Mateo (Chief, Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division, Mines and Geosciences Bureau). His presentation’s title is “Mine Safety and Health Management”. Laws on Mine Safety and Health Engr. Mateo’s topic is relevant not only to people within the industry but also to those who believe in anti-mining sentiments. Why? It is possible that some people dislike mining because they are unfamiliar with the complexities of owning and managing a mine site. Mining is not just getting minerals from the ground. There are laws in our country that regulate and mandates a lot of requirements from mining companies. We have laws about the protection of our environment, and laws that protect the rights and safety of workers as well. Engr. Mateo’s presentation starts with an enumeration of Philippines laws that cover mining companies, particularly Laws on Mine Safety and Health. From Mines and Geosciences Bureau, they have: ~ RA 7942 - PH Mining Act ~ DAO No. 2010-21 - IRR of RA 7942 ~ DAO No. 2000-98 - Mine Safety and Health Standards, 2000 ~ DAO No. 1997-30 - Small-scale Mine Safety Rules and Regulations ~ MC No. 2021-006 - Safety and Health,
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Environment and Social Development and Management (SHES) Manual ~ MC No. 2018-02 - Guidelines for Compliance Monitoring and Rating Scorecard of Mining Permits/ Contracts Mining companies also comply with laws from Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), namely: ~ PD 442 - Labor Code of the Philippines ~ RA 11058 - An Act Strengthening the Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards ~ RA 10757 - An Act reducing the retirement age of mine workers from 60 to 50 ~ OSH Standards as Amended, 1989 (Yellow Book) From Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), mining companies follow the: ~ PD 1185 - Fire code of the Philippines ~ RA 9561 - Laws on illegal possession, manufacture, dealing in, acquisition or disposition of explosives Lastly, Department of Health’s laws on health and safety addresses particular health concerns and diseases. Mining companies comply with these laws and guidelines as well. ~ PD No. 856 - Sanitation Code of the Philippines ~ RA 9165 - Drug free workplace ~ RA 11036 - Mental Health Service in the
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ISSUE 1 2022 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM
