Image: Participants from Batch 1 at the MGB RO VII Training Hall, Mahogany St., Greenplains Subdivision, Banilad, Mandaue City, Cebu. May 26–28, 2026. (Photo: MGB RO VII)
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau 7 (MGB 7), through its Mine Safety, Environment, and Social Development Division (MSESDD), has successfully launched the Intensive QGIS Technical Workshop for Geospatial Reporting and Compliance—a three-batch program designed to build technical proficiency among mining company personnel in using QGIS, the open-source geospatial mapping platform officially adopted by MGB for its regional Geospatial Database.
The initiative responds directly to a DENR directive requiring the deployment, updating, and maintenance of a standardized MGB Geospatial Database across all regions. Mining companies operating under Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSAs) are now required to submit precise, digital shapefiles—covering tree plantations, disturbed land, and key infrastructure in formats that meet DENR and MGB standards. The workshop equips technical teams to meet these obligations reliably and consistently.
One of the key challenges identified among mining companies in the region has been the consistent submission of up-to-date, compliant tree-plantation shapefiles, often hampered by the high cost of proprietary GIS software and a shortage of specialized technical capacity. MGB 7 is promoting QGIS as a practical, cost-effective, open-source alternative to address this gap.
With tightening environmental regulations and growing public scrutiny, the workshop is designed to ensure that mining companies can deliver high-quality, standards-compliant geospatial data, boosting transparency and setting a new benchmark for responsible mining practice in Central Visayas.
The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Jhon Carlo Aporbo, GIS Specialist of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Capiz Provincial Capitol, Roxas City, invited by MGB 7 as Resource Speaker and Facilitator for all three batches.
The first batch was completed on May 28, 2026, at the MGB 7 Training Hall in Banilad, Mandaue City.
Two more batches run through June, with around 8 to 10 participants per batch drawn from large-scale mining permit holders across Central Visayas.
Participants received hands-on training across five core modules: data integration (uploading GPS, mobile, and drone survey data into QGIS); spatial mapping (creating polygons and point features from field data); attribute management (encoding data in line with MGB standards); output generation (producing professional maps and shapefile exports); and compliance protocols (ensuring outputs meet DENR/MGB formatting and submission requirements).
Together, these modules arm participants with both the technical skills and regulatory knowledge needed to produce submission-ready geospatial outputs, reducing compliance bottlenecks and strengthening the quality of environmental reporting across the region’s mining sector.
Upon completing all five modules, participants receive an official Certificate of Completion from MGB 7. (MGB7/Heart Rizarri)
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