By Noel B. Lazaro and Reeno E. Febrero There are moments in geopolitics when the choreography matters less than the quiet exchanges behind it. In late October in Busan, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping staged one of those scenes: a handshake, a photo-op, and a declaration that the rare-ea...

Silangan Mindanao Mining Co., Inc. (SMMCI) has marked a major step forward after its Five-Year Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) received official approval from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region XIII. The deliberation was held at the MGB Region XIII Training Center. Engr. Francis Glenn N. Suante, chief of the Mine Safety, Env...

A delegation of 22 personnel from the Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Quezon, led by Mayor Anabelle Binwag, visited the Runruno Gold Project on January 19 for a mine tour aimed at deepening understanding of the site’s operations and responsible mining practices. The visit provided participants with first-hand exposure to the operations of FCF...

Mining Asia (https://www.miningasiaconvention.com), Southeast Asia’s largest and longest-standing mining conference and exhibition, showcasing the region’s dynamic mining sector to an international audience of investors, industry leaders, and key mining stakeholders, is returning to Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre from June 23–24, ...

Celsius Resources Limited says the Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog Copper-Gold Project is technically robust and financially compelling Celsius Resources Limited has announced the results of a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for its Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog (MCB) Copper-Gold Project in the Philippines, confirming what the company described as a technically a...

Silangan Mindanao Mining Co., Inc. (SMMCI) welcomed science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students from Caraga Regional Science High School and Surigao City National High School for a one-day educational mine site tour at the Silangan Project, marking the company’s first official site visit of 2026. The visit was part of an academic i...

Shell Philippines has awarded certificates of Carbon Credits Retirement to two operating projects of TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD), recognizing their responsible mining practices and climate leadership. The Balabag project in Zamboanga del Sur and the Siana project in Surigao del Norte were honored under Shell’s Carbon Compensation Pro...

Hallmark Mining Corporation (HMC) has set aside at least P20 million each year to support Indigenous Peoples (IP) through its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP), providing legally mandated royalties and benefits that include scholarships, basic services, water systems, and road maintenance. The mining firm said its initiatives also cover ...

Celsius Resources Limited has appointed Grant Samuel Capital Advisory Pty Limited to assist in finalizing financing for its Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog (MCB) Copper-Gold Project, held under Philippine affiliate Makilala Mining Co., Inc. (MMCI). The company said it has received “strong interest in financing the MCB Project from numerous well-qualified inter...

​​​​​President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on January 8, 2026 led the inauguration of the PhP2.3-billion Camalaniugan Bridge, a project expected to boost economic activity in northern Cagayan. “I think this will serve as a model for many of the other bridge projects that we will be seeing around the country,” Marcos said during the ceremony. The 2.16-ki...

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday personally inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of the Piggatan Bridge, underscoring the government’s commitment to restoring the critical transportation link along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Piggatan, Alcala. President Marcos was joined by Cagayan Governor Edgar Aglipay, Alcala Mayor Christina Ignac...

JOGMEC conducts mine pollution control training in Japan TOKYO — The Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) hosted a nine-day Mine Pollution Control Training for Philippine mining regulators from Oct. 16 to 24, 2025, as part of ongoing cooperation with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). The programme was conducted in connect...

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has officially opened the nomination period for the 2026 Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA), marking the full implementation of the revised guidelines and procedures outlined in MGB Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2025-002, signed on February 18, 2025. The 2026 PMIEA will be implemented in acco...

Walk past any construction site in the Philippines and you’ll likely see a familiar sight — piles of plywood stacked near a freshly poured foundation, warped and water-stained from repeated use. For decades, plywood has been the go-to material for local formwork, even as builders quietly acknowledge its flaws: it’s heavy, wasteful and short-lived, especia...

At TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD), rehabilitating the environment is not just a matter of compliance — it is a long-term commitment deeply rooted in the organization’s respect for nature’s healing processes. Guided by the principles of natural plant succession, the company’s approach to revegetation mirrors the natural growth of forests...

By Paramina Earth Technologies Inc. / Thea Samantha C. Go, EM   Building on GEOVIA's Digital Foundation As discussed in Part 1 of the previous issue, Philippine mines can overcome operational challenges through GEOVIA's specialized tools. Surpac brings new precision to resource estimation in complex ore bodies, replacing manual methods with relia...

Major capital expenditure is often investors’ main concern when deciding whether to start a mining operation. Numerous financial considerations arise, including infrastructure needs such as road construction, fixed plant requirements, the number of haul trucks, or the installation of rail links to port. These upfront costs can be significant and are of...

Instead of storing mine waste in complex and vulnerable tailings dams, mining companies in the Philippines can convert waste into valuable minerals, chemicals, and construction materials — mostly utilizing existing infrastructure — while making a profit, according to global professional services company GHD. Speaking ahead of the 71st Annual National M...

By Jake Tan, Product Manager, Fluke South East Asia Pte Ltd   In the mining industry, every decision about safety carries weight. Beyond the visible risks of heavy machinery and unstable ground, electrical hazards remain one of the most underestimated threats. A small anomaly — such as an unusual reading, a flicker in performance, or a faint sign...

In Dinapigue, Isabela, the story of mining is taking a creative turn. Where others see discarded glass and plastics, Dinapigue Mining Corporation (DMC) sees the building blocks of sustainability. Inside its Material Recovery Facility (MRF), bottles and wrappers that would have likely ended up as waste are crushed, shredded, and given a second life as e...

As the Philippines moves toward smarter and more sustainable transport systems, one company is positioning itself at the heart of that transformation: Geotab, a global leader in connected transportation solutions. With the launch of Geotab Ace in Southeast Asia, the company introduces an AI-powered digital assistant that brings fleet management to a ne...

The mining and quarrying industry exposes machinery and equipment to some of the most destructive forces, including abrasion, corrosion, wear, impact, and chemical attack. Belzona’s high-performance and innovative solutions are engineered for the repair and protection of assets across multiple industries. These solutions have a proven record of minimiz...

As one of the world's most mineralised nations, with an estimated USD 1 trillion in untapped reserves, mining operations across the Philippines face a consistent challenge — effective water management. Whether deep underground or in expansive open-pit operations, managing water efficiently can make the difference between operational success and costly ...

Once a mined-out area, Umahan sa Minahan in Sitio Taga 2 now stands as a model of successful post-mining land rehabilitation. Covering 1.2 hectares, the site was transformed by Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC) in 2012 into productive farmland to showcase sustainable land use after mining. What began as a small vegetable and fruit tree plot has sinc...