THE Department of Science and Technology and the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines signed recently a Memorandum of Agreement to develop technology-driven solutions for “responsible mining.”
The DoST inked the deal through the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research Development at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Bonifacio Global City in Makati.
PCIEERD is one of the attached agencies of the DOST, while COMP is a private organization of 80 mining and quarrying firms.
PCIEERD officials Carlos Primero David and Raul Sabularse signed the MOA with COMP executives Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez and Nelia C. Halcon.
“Hopefully, this will be another long-term successful partnership between COMP and the government,” said Romualdez as he expressed willingness to share mining technologies with the government.
The mining industry has been at loggerheads recently with Gina Lopez, secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, who has revoked several mining licenses in the country.
Romualdez revealed his group has been mulling the partnership with DOST, particularly PCIEERD, to follow the example of other countries where minerals have been developed for their economic benefit.
As the Philippines is known to be rich in mineral resources, Romualdez said the country should also have the same private-public sector partnership.
“We are here to strengthen the government’s capacity by partnering with PCIEERD particularly, under the DOST, to push this,” he said.