PMSEA Assures Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Mining Companies
VOL. XVIII, NO. 6(Nov. 15-21)
BAGUIO CITY – Aside from highlighting the safety in the operations of mining companies, the Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference(ANMSEC) also gives importance to the climate change mitigation and disaster preparedness of the mining companies in the country.
Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) President Louie Sarmento said that among the topics highlighted in this year’s annual mining confab is strengthening of the climate change mitigation and the disaster preparedness of each of the mining companies.
“We are making sure that the mining companies have activities to prevent the adverse effect of climate change and at the same time they are ready to respond whenever calamities strike in their areas particularly in their communities,” said Sarmiento during the kapihan forum for the 61st Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference at the Camp John Hay here last Wednesday.
Sarmiento said that thru the Department of Environment Natural Resources and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the different large scale mining firms are bound to conduct their key activities on climate change mitigation and environmental protection with the reforestation and rehabilitation of the their mining operations area.
He stressed that part of the regulations set by the government is making sure that their operations include the environmental activities such as reforestation and rehabilitation of areas being mined out.
According to Philippine Society of Mining Engineer President Felizardo Gacad, the mining companies have also engaged into various technologies and other best practices to lessen the adverse impact of mining operations to the environment.
These he said were showcased in the different lectures and presentations during the four-day conference in the city.
The competitions as part of the mining conference are also ways on how to make sure that the different mining companies are preparing for disaster preparedness such as the mine rescue and first aid competitions which is vital in rescue and recovery operations during disasters.
Gacad, who is the Mine Environment and Safety Division Chief of the MGB – Cordillera, said that a department order by the MGB also makes sure that these companies come up with their emergency response and preparedness program and at the same time they are required to do emergency drills in their own communities and areas of operations.
ANMSEC with the theme ‘61 years of Responsible Mining and Nation Building’ was held in this mountain resort from November 11-14.
Meanwhile, Gacad commended the different mining companies particularly those involved in the different rescue and recovery operations during calamities and disasters. Miners, particularly from Benguet, thru the PMSEA, had been helping in the different disaster stricken communities such as the earthquake in Bohol and the typhoon Yolanda affected communities in Tacloban and other areas in the Eastern Visayas last year./JDP/ RMC- PIA CAR