MAEM International Inc., the Mindanao Association of Mining Engineers, held its 32nd Annual Mining Symposium and Exhibits on April 29 and 30 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang, Davao City, drawing 281 registered participants and featuring 45 exhibit booths with 100 exhibitors.
Malaysian Consul General Muhammad Ikhawan Ariff Muhammad Yusof, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside Vice-Consul Nuraisyahida Mohd Shabudin, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region XI Regional Director Beverly Brebante, Philippine Society of Mining Engineers National President Francisco J. Arañes Jr., MAEM President Alfredo T. Relampagos and MAEM officers and directors.
The event opened with a cultural dance performance by the Sahaya Dance Collective.
In his opening remarks, Relampagos introduced the symposium theme, “Resilient Mining Footprint,” and called on the industry to consider long-term impact alongside resource extraction.
The program also included a message from Arañes and a keynote address by Mindanao Development Authority Chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno.
On the second day, Siegfried Flaviano delivered the keynote message on behalf of South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr.
The symposium also included a tribute to the late Engr. Alex Baligod, who died in November 2025. Organizers held a moment of silence and presented a commemorative video in recognition of his contributions to the organization and the mining industry.
Technical sessions on the first afternoon and second day focused on the symposium theme’s core areas, including economic growth, environmental care, community partnership, and technology in mining.
Presentations covered mineral supply chains, porphyry copper exploration, global reporting standards, resource-to-reserve conversion, underground stability systems, and constraint-based mine planning.
Other discussions tackled blast quality, geosynthetics, SLAM mapping, IoT-enabled rockfall risk management, landslide susceptibility modeling, remote-controlled excavation, UAV-based drafting, digital mine solutions, watershed modeling, and sustainable mine closure.
Speakers and presenters included:
1. Quo Vadis Mining: Securing sustainable mineral supply chains through resource nationalism and global cooperation - Asec. Michael V. Cabalda, Assistant Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (represented by MGB-XI RD Beverly Mae M. Brebante)
2. Revisiting a Historical Mine: New Insights from the Amacan Porphyry Copper Deposit - Geol. Juan Alex Vianne D. Amoroso, Asia-Alliance Mining Resources Corporation
3. PMRC 2020: Strengthening the Foundation of Mindanao’s Mining Industry through Global Reporting Standards - Geol. Darwin Edmund L. Riguer, Apex Mining Company, Inc.
4. Converting Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves - Engr. Constancio A. Paye, Jr., Alliance of Responsible Miners in Region XI (ARMOR XI)
5. Injection Resin Systems for Challenging Ground Conditions: Enhancing Safety and Stability in Underground Excavations - Mr. Robert Penczek, SANDVIK
6. Optimizing Short-Term Mine Planning: A Constraint-Based Scheduling Approach - Engr. Daryl P. Suarez, Paramina International Inc.
7. Improving Bench Floor Conditions Through ORICA’S Blast Quality Service - Engr. Donald B. Rivo, ORICA Philippines, Inc.
8. Advancing Mining Infrastructure with Geosynthetics: Performance, Protection, and Sustainability - Engr. Sairille Faye F. del Rosario, Arizona Geosynthetics, Inc.
9. Advanced SLAM Technology: Revolutionizing High-Precision Mapping from Underground Mines to Urban Infrastructure - Engr. Luis Alberto Elneser Gonzales, Tersus GNSS
10. Building a Resilient Mining Footprint with IoT-Enabled Rockfall Risk Management: Integrating Geohazard-monitoring with Drapery and Dynamic Barriers for Safer and Smarter Mine Operations - Engr. Jeric Ivan Aguilar, Maccaferri Philippines, Inc.
11. Morphometric Analysis with Geospatial and Geotechnical Technologies for Tiered Landslide Susceptibility Modeling: A Case Study of Apex Mining Operations - Geol. Louie Jay T. Tubio, Apex Mining Company, Inc.
12. Brokk Underground: Transforming Mechanical Excavation in Tight Mining Spaces - Mr. Haren Subra, Brokk Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (Singapore)
13. Aerial Drafting via YOLO11n and YOLO11n-Seg - Engr. Mark John S. Pag-alaman, University of Southeastern Philippines
14.Estimation and Modeling of Total Suspended Solids of Davao River: Basis for Sustainable Resource Management - Engr. Norvein Calibo, University of Southeastern Philippines
15. Mine Closure: Ensuring the Promise of Mining Sustainability - Engr. Robert Francisco, Hinatuan Mining Corporation
16.Deswik as an Integrated Solution for Block Caving Projects, and a Brief Overview of Open Pit Applications - Engr. Alvaro Pena, DESWIK
17. Closing the loop in Mine Geology: Integrated workflows for faster, more reliable decisions - Geol. Ryan Kelly, Datamine The technical sessions ended with a synthesis by Engr. Felizardo A. Gacad Jr., followed by closing remarks from Engr. Danilo Rodriguez.
The program also included the oath-taking of new MAEM members led by Relampagos and the oath-taking of new PMRCC chairperson Engr. Armando Malicse, administered by outgoing chairperson Engr. Enrico Nera.
Ahead of the symposium, participants joined pre-event activities on April 28, including an inter-company sports tournament in basketball, badminton, and pickleball, which drew 158 participants. A MAEM FunGolf activity was also held as part of the networking program.
The two-day event also included evening socials with live entertainment, food, and beverages, while a Samal island-hopping activity capped the week’s program.
