Surigao hosts 5th mining confab

Surigao City hosted the fifth Caraga Mining Symposium and Safety Competition that aimed to strengthen public awareness of the positive contributions of the mining industry in the establishment of sustainable and resilient communities.

Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers encouraged the mining sector to not only be proactive but to also institute a more improved planning and development strategy that includes the locals in the mining communities in all development processes.

“It is also essential for the mining companies and other mining players to efficiently implement the so-called “Social Development Management Program” (SDMP) as a way of giving back its share from the mining and, subsequently, help improve the well-being of the people,” Barbers was quoted as saying in a report.

Local government officials, people from the academe, non-government organizations, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and other mining companies, agencies, and associations attended the symposium.

Motorcade, exhibits and booths, contests, press conferences, and fire drill, rescue, and transfer relay were some of the activities conducted during the two-day event.