Half a decade ago, Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA), the country’s forerunner in the promotion of responsible mining created a platform for students taking up programs in the field of geology, mining, metallurgical engineering and other related sciences to experience the industry early in their student life.
That platform was made possible by the convergence of student leaders from Adamson University, Mapúa University, and the University of the Philippines. These universities would later be joined by Saint Louis University – Baguio. We started as PMSEA Student Congress, then National Minerals Industry Student Association (NAMINA), then what is now the Philippine Youth Association for Responsible Mining and Natural Resources (YAMAN PH).
Through this platform, came into fruition the YAMAN PH Congress, always in conjunction with the Annual Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) of PMSEA in Baguio City every third week of November. Students from across the country are invited to take part in this week-long activity.
The highest participation with around 800 students was recorded in 2016. Majority of which came from Visayas and Mindanao. As of today, the organization has also planted more than 2,000 trees in Baguio City, and Pangasinan through Northern Cement Corporation. Through PMSEA and its generous partners and sponsors, the students are given the opportunity to experience responsible mining in Baguio City where it is believed to be the cradle of responsible mining in the country.
With their vision as a youth organization, they aspire to lead the positive transformation of society’s understanding of responsible mining and conserving natural resources by influencing the youth to create and be socially proactive stewards of the environment for the projection, promotion, and protection of the country’s minerals industry and natural resources.
Through these short years, what PMSEA and YAMAN PH had created is a transformative space for learning and training ground for the future of one of the country’s needed industries.
