EO 130 IRR ready for DENR chief signing

The final draft implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Executive Order (EO) 130 is now awaiting the signature of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, according to Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s (MGB) top official.  This is more than two months since President Rodrigo Duterte signed EO 130, which amended the Aquino Administration’s EO 79 and lifted the […]




New MGB-13 chief assumes post

In a simple turnover ceremony held recently at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga Regional Office in Butuan City, DENR Undersecretary for Enforcement, Mining and Muslim Affairs Jim O. Sampulna officiated the turnover of leadership for the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Office 13 between outgoing Regional Director Glenn Marcelo C. Noble and incoming OIC-Regional Director Larry M. Heradez.



Forum on mining audit results set

The Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), co-chaired by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, will soon conduct a series of forums with mining companies and the general public about the results of the mining reviews it conducted over the last few years.


PH mining research gets boost from UK grants

ON April 14, President Duterte lifted the ban on new mining permits or mining production sharing agreements imposed by his predecessor in 2012, paving the way for an increase in mining investment in the country but understandably causing a great deal of consternation among environmental advocates.


Value of PH metal output up by 14% in Q1

The value of the country’s metallic mineral production for the first quarter rose by 14.11 percent to P28.91 billion from P25.34 billion in the same period last year, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau reported (MGB). The sustained bullish run of metal prices continued to boost mining firms’ revenues despite disruptions brought about by the pandemic, […]


MGB pushes for lifting of open-pit mining ban

MANILA, Philippines — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is hoping for the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining as it can help boost the country’s economic recovery. In a text message to The STAR, MGB director Wilfredo Moncano said that open-pit mining is a globally accepted method of mining, with over 1,000 open […]


PH metals’ output valued higher in Q1 at nearly P29-B

Although the majority of the mineral commodities registered a decline in output, the value of the Philippines’ total mineral production during the first three months of 2021 managed to rise by 14.11 percent to P28.91 billion from P25.34 billion during the same period last year.  This was shown in the latest metals’ output data from […]