Geologists attended the Annual Geological Convention (GEOCON 2019) held at the Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Manila on 2019. December 4 to 5.  GEOCON 2019 had for its theme, “Geoscience for a resilient and sustainable Philippines”.

The Geological Convention is an annual gathering of geologists in the Philippines organized by the Geological Society of the Philippines. Technical papers of research and recent innovations were presented. There were three sessions with different topics, namely, Tectonics and Geodynamics, Multidisciplinary Approaches, and Stratigraphy and Paleontology.  Among the presentations was “The October 2019 Cotabato earthquake sequence: Parameters and Impacts” presented by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The MGB-X delegation (from left to right) Brenz Ryan B. Bautista, Geologist II; Osin A. Sinsuat, Jr., Chief Geologist; Daphne Niccole G. Galero, Supervising Geologist, with the Best Technical Paper and Best Presenter trophies; RD Efren B. Carido; Rogin Aron B. Montalan, Senior Geologist.

2019. November 19 was a night to remember for the MGB-X delegation led by Regional Director Efren B. Carido when its technical paper, “Karst Subsidence Hazard Assessment in the Municipality of Opol in the Province of Misamis Oriental”, bested other technical papers from the MGB Central Office and other MGB Regional Offices to win the Best Technical Paper award at the 2019 MGB Annual Technical Forum held at the Holiday Inn Baguio City Centre on 2019. November 18-19. First-time presenter, Ms. Daphne Niccole G. Galero, Supervising Geologist, also won the Best Presenter award.

Mr. Allen C. Cameros of MGB-XI won the Best Policy Paper award for his paper, entitled, “Measuring Customer Satisfaction Project FACE (Feedback and Assessment on Customer Experience): MGB XI’s Electronic Customer Satisfaction Survey.

MGB-X personnel performing initial emergency actions on a dummy during the rescuer skills evaluation under the supervision of CDRRMD-Oro Rescue.

Training on Disaster Preparedness, First Aid, and Basic Life Support was spearheaded by the MGB-X GAD Focal Point System in cooperation with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department of Cagayan de Oro held at the MGB-X Conference Room and premises from October 2 to 4, 2019.  Five rescuers from CDRRMD-Oro Rescue trained the participants on the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to help sustain life in an emergency and minimize the consequences of respiratory and cardiac crises until more advanced medical help arrives. Thirteen MGB-X personnel managed to complete the entirety of the three-day event.

The first two days of the learning event focused on the theory, concepts and presentation of the proper basic life support (BLS) techniques and procedures that include emergency action principles, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED), rescue breathing, and management of foreign body airway obstructions. On the second day, hands-on demonstrations of previously taught skill sets were held. Participants were evaluated based on their ability to initiate BLS and deliver high quality CPR on adult and infant dummies. Continue reading »

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) held a training workshop on the finalization of its 6-year Gender and Development (GAD) Agenda and preparation of the GAD Plan and Budget for CY 2020. The week-long training was held in Villa Lorenza Resort, Pililia, Rizal from September 16 to 20, 2019.

The training workshop was spearheaded by the MGB Central Office in coordination with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), with the participants coming from the 14 regional offices of the MGB. MGB-X Supervising Geologist Lea Therese N. Bondad participated in the training workshop, along with Ms. Mary Jossel H. Dispo, RGPFS TWG-Chair.

Among the main activities of the training workshop is the preparation of the GAD Plan and Budget for CY 2020, wherein several programs of the Bureau are enrolled in the attribution cost of the agency’s 5% GAD budget. One of which is the Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA) Program, wherein inputs from technical personnel of the Geosciences Division are important in achieving not just scientific but also gender-responsive outputs.

(Left-Right) MGB-X MSESDD Chief, Engr. Felina as witness; Engr. Daniel S. Belderol, MGB-X Officer-In-Charge; Mr. Alex V. Pamatong, representative of A.V. Pamatong Trading and Construction, Inc.; and Mr. Manuta served also as witness in the document signing.

MGB Region X renewed the Mineral Processing Permit (MPP) denominated as MPP No. 2013-02-X (First Renewal) of A.V. Pamatong Trading and Construction, Inc. represented by Mr. Alex V. Pamatong for its Sand and Gravel and other Aggregate Materials Crushing Plant Project with a rated capacity of 50 MT/hr (based on its ECC) located at Sitio Puntod, Barangay Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City on August 19, 2019.

A.V. Pamatong Trading and Construction, Inc. is bounded by the conditions of the permit pursuant to  Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2010-21, stating that the permit holder shall manage its operations in a technically, environmentally and socially responsible manner to achieve a safe, non-polluting, and sustainable project, among others.

MGB-X, Officer-In-Charge, Engr. Belderol (seated 2nd from left) signing the Mineral Processing Permit (MPP) issued to Mindanao Rock represented by Mr. Eric Lim (seated 3rd from left).

Mindanao Rock represented by Mr. Lim filed an application for Mineral Processing Permit denominated as MPPA-2018-16-X for Sand and Gravel and other Aggregate Materials Crushing Plant Project located at Barangay Pantaon, Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental with crusher plant capacity of 50 tons/hr as per ECC No. ECC-R10-0912-0078 issued by EMB-10.

After satisfactorily complying the mandatory requirements pursuant to Section 110 of DAO No. 2010-21 and MGB Memorandum dated October 9, 2017 re: Checklists of Requirements, the Mineral Processing Permit was granted to Mindanao Rock on August 16, 2019 denominated as MPP No. 2019-10-X.

As part of this Office’s aim in the streamlining of locally issued Quarry and Sand and Gravel Permits and continuing empowerment of LGUs devolve function,the Capability Building for Local Government Units on the Review and Evaluation of the Requirements for the Issuance of Commercial Sand and Gravel (CSAG) Permit was conducted last August 19, 2019 at Grand Caprice Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City. This activity was also inclined in the Office’s commitment on providing technical assistance to LGUs and continuing objective on advocating improved, systematic, efficient and effective processing and issuance of the said locally issued permit. It was participated by the technical personnel of LGUs involve in implementing Mining laws, rules and regulations specifically the ENROs/BENRO/CLENRO/CEMO.

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As Republic Act 10121 prescribes, all government offices are mandated to conduct a quarterly earthquake drill and exercise. Hence, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. X executed the required activities for its 2nd Quarter earthquake drill and exercise last August 8, 2019.

With the primary aim of preparing for the occurrence of an earthquake, the drill provides a timely exercise and for each personnel to be acquainted on appropriate response when an actual earthquake will occur. Continue reading »