Industry Updates from PMEA

written by: MARCELLE P. VILLEGAS

Last 6th of February 2023, the Philippine Mining and Exploration Association had their first Monthly Membership Meeting for the year.

PMEA President, Mr Joey Nelson Ayson’s report “PMEA Matters and Industry Updates” was about significant mining events and news from 2022. One of the noteworthy events last year was the 5th PMEA Baguio Forum (New Innovations in the Mineral Resource Industry) that took place last 15th of November 2023. The event was well attended with over 120 attendees.

Mr Ayson’s presentation also included some updates from DENR and MGB. This is in relation to the series of special orders in that were issued by DENR Secretary, Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, last January 23 – 25, 2023. As an effect of the special orders, positions in the Department were shuffled and this created new positions.

Here is a summary of the following staff movements:

• Dec. 31, 2022 – Asst. Dir. Johnny Calvez retired after 39 years with the MGB and Ted Sandoval has been appointed as OIC Asst. Director.

• Jan. 16, 2023 – RD 3 Jun Ensomo filed an Optional Retirement and Chief Geologist Noel Lacadin was designated as OIC MGB 3 Regional Director.

• Jan. 24, 2023 – MGB Director Wilfredo Moncano was reassigned to the Office of Usec Ernesto Adobo, Jr.

• Jan. 25, 2023 – ASec Gilbert Gonzales appointed as EMB Direc tor (Interim & Concurrent)

• ASec Marcial Amaro appointed as BMB Director (Interim & Concurrent)

• ASec Arleigh Adorable appointed as FMB Director (Interim & Con current)

• Jan. 27, 2023 – Edgardo Castillo designated OIC RD MGB 4A vice Dondi Sarmiento who has filed an Optional Retirement

• Carlos Primo C. David – USec for Integrated Environmental Science

• Atty Ignatius Loyola A. Rodriguez

• USec for Special Concerns and

Legislative Affair

• Agusto Dela Pena – USec for Organizational Transformation & Human Resources

• Marilou Erni – Chief of Staff and Supervising USec for Strategic Communications

• Jose Joaquin Y. Loyzaga – Head Executive Assistant

Of note, Carlos Primo C. David’s newly assigned position as Undersecretary for Integrated Environmental Science is one of the newly created positions . His role includes supervising the Geospatial Database Office, leading the discussions in policy formulation, and required changes in the regulatory functions of DENR bureaus and connected agencies. [1]

David is also assigned to promoted the use of science in the performance of all DENR bureaus and attached agencies, in policy formulation in the regulatory roles of DENR, and to liaise with the various National Government Agencies on science and technology matters.

DENR currently has a principal research and development unit called the “Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB).

Sec. Loyzaga assigned USec Marilou G. Erni as the USec for Strategic Communications where she is tasked to supervise the Strategic Communication and Initiative Service (SCIS) in addition to her current post as chief of staff of DENR.

Sec. Loyzaga named Karmela Beatriz L. Galura as the Director for Strategic Communications.

Usec. Augusto D. dela Peña was assigned as the Supervising Undersecretary of the Human Resource Development Service. This position was formerly assigned to Usec. Ernesto D. Adobo, Jr.

The newly appointed director for the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) is Gilbert Gonzales, while the Assistant Director of EMB is Esperanza A. Sajul. [1]

With regards to new DENR Administrative Orders, there are only two recent issuances, namely:

• DAO 2023-01 (Jan. 04, 2023) –Establishment of a National Envi ronment and Natural Resources Database under the Office of the Secretary

• DMO 2023-01 Jan. 13, 2023) –Additional Guidelines for Projects Applying for ECC which are with in or with Close Proximity to Pro tected Areas and/or RAMSAR

Sites On MGB Statistics, the Phil ippine metallic mineral production for 2022 are as follows:

• Jan – Mar 2022 : PhP 48.6B

• Jan – Jun 2022 : PhP 112.67B

• Jan – Sep 2022 : PhP 176 B

OPERATING METALLIC MINES

• Copper (w/ gold and silver) – 3

• Gold (w/ silver) – 12

• Chromite – 4

• Nickel – 34

• Iron – 4

PROCESSING PLANTS

• Copper Smelter – 1

• Gold – 4

• Nickel HPAL - 2

For Industry Updates, we have the following company news in summary:

1) OCEANA GOLD / OGPI

• Peter Sharpe: COO for Asia-Pacific (NZ and Philippines)

• David Bickerton: GMOperations Didipio

• 3Q 2022 Production –25.4 koz Au and 3.6kT Cu (EO 3Q 84.1 koz Au and 10.9kTCu)

• Over-all Safest Mining Operation for 2022

2) B2GOLD / MGP

• 4Q 2022 Production –48,687 oz (Full 2022: 212,728 oz)

3) SAGITTARIUS MINES INC.

• PhP 397M levied by Tampakan LGU is being contested in the Court of Tax Appeals

• Ongoing tree-cutting for access and land acquisition / resettlement

4) MT. LABO EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

• Currently resolving all issues, including re structuring brought about by the entry of TVIRD in the project

5) CELSIUS RESOURCES LIMITED

• Accepted in AIM

• SP Angel acted as Broker and Beaumont Cornish acted as the Nominated Adviser.

6) GREENSTONE RESOURCES (SIANA MINE)

• Mill started operations in December, processing old stockpile

• Mine development towards pit bottom is ongoing.

7) TVIRD AGATA

• Final shipment in April 2023

• FMR/DP w/ AgriFarm/ Tourism as Final Land Use

8) MEDUSA MINING / 1064 LIMITED

• 4Q 2022 Production –19,965 oz (Full 2022: 86,187 oz)

• Construction of the Tigerway Decline is 32.4% complete.

Additional reference: [1] Mayuga, Jonathan L. (26 Jan. 2023). “Loyzaga shuffles key DENR officials, creates new posts”. Business Mirror.

For DENR Updates: https:// www.denr.gov.ph/index.php/aboutus/denr-directory