LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) is setting its sight on two mineral-rich towns in the province to replicate the ‘big brother, small brother’ concept or the co-existence between the large-scale mining companies and small-scale miners to sustain the robust growth of the mining industry amidst the pressing challenges currently hounding the lucrative industry.
PMSEA president Dr. Walter Brown claimed that the ‘big brother, small brother’ concept has been successfully implemented in the Maco Gold Mine of APEX that positively resulted to industrial peace, as well as the unity of politicians in supporting the advocacy of responsible mining being advanced by the organization.
“We were able to prove that large-scale mining companies can actually co-exist with the presence of small-scale miners achieved through constant and transparent dialogues with the concerned sectors. We hope that we will be able to replicate our success in Mindanao in both Itogon and Mankayan towns in Benguet,” Brown stressed.
Under the proven ‘big brother, small brother’ concept, large-scale mining companies provide the appropriate technical assistance to the small-scale miners within their tenement area for them to be able to comply with safety standards and the environmentally-friendly processing of their ore aside from being slowly mainstreamed in the work force of the companies once they will be qualified for the available works.
Further, Brown explained that even the relationship of the company with local officials, the concerned government agencies and the indigenous peoples, were enhanced that resulted to industrial peace where the previous rebel-infested areas in the Compostela Valley became peaceful and economic activities started to thrive in the said place.
According to him, local officials, interested leaders of small-scale miners from the different mineral-rich communities, and other concerned sectors wanting to personally see for themselves the success of the ‘big brother, small brother’ concept are very much welcome to visit the company’s Maco Gold Mine for them to see how the company was able to transform the small-scale miners into their allies for growth and development.
Brown stated that small-scale miners will be allowed to work in veins of their tenement area which could not be reached by units of heavy equipment after being provided with the necessary safety trainings, thus, whatever produce being generated by the small-scale miners will be purchased by the company pursuant to the contents of an agreement between the two parties for their mutual protection.
He said that APEX wants to share to other interested mining companies and communities the proven best practice in Compostela Valley because the company wants the country’s mining industry to thrive to help in spurring the projected economic growth not only in rural but also in urban areas around the archipelago.
Brown claimed that PMSEA was convinced to embrace the ‘big brother, small brother’ concept because it is viewed as one of the best practices for responsible mining which is the primary advocacy of the organization composed of mining companies, contractors and suppliers operating in the country.
By HENT
