Gov’t mining arm lauds MGB’s ‘big brother-small brother’ initiative

MANILA, Philippines — Government mining arm, Philippine Mining Development Corporation (PMDC), has underscored the importance of cooperation between large-scale mining operators and small-scale miners in fostering responsible mining and creating opportunities.

PMDC president and CEO Atty. Job Adrian Ambrosio said that the corporation adopts the “Big Brother-Small Brother” initiative in partnership as a support to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for its programs that promote formalization of small-scale mining, responsible mineral development, improved mine safety, and environmental compliance.

“The MGB has recognized that cooperation between large-scale mining companies and small-scale miners can provide a practical pathway toward formalization. PMDC supports this direction and intends to adopt the Big Brother–Small Brother approach in appropriate PMDC mining areas,” Ambrosio said in a recent press release.

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The PMDC noted that the model allows established mining operators to assist small-scale miners to promote legal and properly regulated mining operations. Such assistance includes technical guidance, environmental management, regulatory compliance, and access to legal mining markets.

The corporation added that the approach also exhibits responsible mining amid unregulated mining activities that endanger many miners under hazardous conditions. With this, Amborsio said that the enforcement of the initiative must encourage small-scale miners to engage in safer mining practices.

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“Responsible mining must create opportunity, not exclusion. By working with the MGB and our mining communities, we can help transform informal mining into a safer, legal, environmentally responsible, and sustainable industry that provides long-term livelihoods for Filipino miners,” Ambrosio noted.

The corporation also said that it will closely cooperate with the MGB, local government units, indigenous communities, and small-scale mining companies to assess how the said model should be properly implemented in PMDC projects and mineral areas. /cb

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