Mines and Geosciences Bureau – Central Visayas facilitated a mine and plant tour in Carmen Copper Corp. in Toledo City.

At least 80 participants from the national government agencies, staff and personnel of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) and line bureaus join the education tour at the plant site.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7) regional director Loreto Alburo said, the activity is done to avoid speculations on mining and to show the participants that laws and principles of responsible mining are well-defined and clear.

Alburo added the MGB recognizes the critical role of stakeholders as partners and collaborators and with their vigilance against destroying the country’s environment and natural resources.

“It is our belief that there is a need to clearly state and clarify what responsible mining is all about as we feel the need to communicate particularly the corporate social responsibility (CSR) component through the social development and management program (SDMP) and other environmental protection initiatives of the company,” Alburo explained.

The company started copper mining operations in 1955 that utilized both surface and underground mining methods to extract copper ore from four open pits and two underground mines.

MGB regularly conducts a mine and plant tour in all the operating mines and quarries in Central Visayas for transparency in the monitoring and evaluation of the mining firms.