Benguet Small Scale Mining

Benguet to host 7th Small Scale Mining Congress

by Redjie MElvic Cawis

La Trinidad, Benguet (5 December) -- More than 3,000 small scale miners are expected to attend the 7th Small Scale Mining Congress on December 16 to 18 to be hosted by Benguet province.

With the theme "Small Scale Mining: A Positive Resource for Community Development", the Benguet Federation of Small Scale Miners, the provincial government of Benguet together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Cordillera (DENR-MGB) will educate further the miners of Benguet and the Cordillera region.

The congress aims is to provide a venue for small scale miners to further improve their present mining and milling methods and to strengthen working partnerships among stakeholders to attain common goals for responsible small scale mining operations, said Engr. Felizardo Gacad, Mine and Safety Division Chief of the MGB-CAR.

The congress will be concentrating on the issues and development of the small scale mining industry which is a low profile industry in the region particularly in the province of Benguet.

A seminar on safety health and environment will be held at the Palispis Hall at the Benguet Capitol on December 16 and 17 with speakers from the University of the Philippines - Diliman, DENR and the MGB.

DENR Secretary Lito Atienza will be the guest of honor and speaker on December 18 during the Small Scale Mining Field Demonstration and Competitions at the Wangal Sports Complex. The field demo and competitions will feature the small scale miners skill in hand drilling, hand mucking, tug of peace, sack of ore relay, and arm wrestling.

There are more than 20, 000 small scale miners in Benguet and around 60 association regionwide.

The small scale mining is a devolved function to the Local Government Units and the DENR thru the MGB extends assistance and supervision.
The Small Scale Mining Congress is an initiative of the MGB-CAR seven years ago. (PIA-CAR)

PIA Press Release
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