Bontoc, Mtn. Prov.– The mining sites and possible processing and tailings dam site in the Minahang Bayan area in Barangay Fidelisan, Sagada is being eyed as a pilot site for the Global Environment Facility – Global Opportunities for Long-Term Development (GEF-GOLD) Mongolia – Philippine Project: A “Contribution Toward the Elimination of Mercury in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector: From Miners to Refiners.”
During this morning’s coordination meeting and courtesy visit of a team from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-CAR) and the Artisan Gold Council (AGC), the executing agency of the project, Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. was informed that the project aims to address key issues linked to continued mercury use and to provide sustainable development opportunities for the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) communities.
According to Louie Bedes, AGC team leader and technical expert, the GEF-GOLD Mongolia is a five-year project in the Philippines that is being implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the United Nations Environment Program, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-MGB. He said that it is specifically focused on reducing the use of mercury in the ASGM sector through facilitating access to finance for the introduction of more efficient and mercury-free technologies. He added that other components of the project include formalization of the sector as well as knowledge management and information dissemination.
Meanwhile, in her letter to Governor Lacwasan and Northern Sagada Barangay Small Scale Miners Association President Alfredo Sumebang, MGB-CAR OIC Regional Director Fay W. Apil, informed that the GEF-GOLD project will be implemented in pilot sites where there are active Minahang Bayan Areas. She informed that the project’s criteria for site selection were reviewed and updated and the MGB and AGC agreed that the conduct of site assessment is necessary in order to validate the project sites.
In relation to this, Engr. Alfredo Genetiano, MGB-CAR mine management division chief said that the project team will be conducting a comprehensive baseline study of the sites. According to him, the team coordinated with the Sagada Municipal Local Government Unit and other concerned agencies for the field visit and site assessment.
Moreover, Governor Lacwasan tasked the Environment and Natural Resources Office of the provincial government to provide the available and necessary information and data needed to comprehensively asses the site.
It can be recalled that the Northern Sagada Small-scale Miners Association Inc., the first Minahang Bayan in Mountain Province, was declared by the local Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) during last year’s fourth quarter meeting after satisfactorily complying the conditions of the issued clearance.
As of press time, the team from the MGB and AGC together with the PMRB are now conducting proper coordination for a meeting with the Northern Sagada Barangay Small Scale Miners Association.**Erwin S. Batnag, MP-PIO
