Women are steadily breaking barriers in the male-dominated mining industry, transitioning from administrative roles to highly technical positions traditionally held by men.
In a Philippine News Agency report, Benguet Corporation (BC) legal officer Froilan Lawilao noted a significant shift in the industry over the past decade. Initially, women in mining firms were confined to office-based roles, but today, they are actively engaged as geologists, metallurgists, and mining engineers.
“Through the years, our company has evolved. More women are being hired and they perform highly technical functions such as geologists, metallurgists, mining engineers. Before, there were no women doing those jobs,” Lawilao said at the Minera Forum 2025, hosted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
Lawilao added that most of BC’s managers and supervisors are now women, including its president, Lina Fernandez, who was appointed in 2021 and rose through the ranks based on merit.
The presence of women in the industry is also reflected in MGB-Cordillera’s leadership. The bureau’s immediate past regional director was the first female to hold the position and was also the first woman geologist in the office.
Data from MGB-Cordillera shows that out of 7,587 employees in the region’s mining sector, 786 are now women—a significant rise from a decade ago when female participation was minimal.
The leadership style of women in the industry has also been highlighted for its meticulousness and compassionate approach. Lawilao described Fernandez’s management as firm yet nurturing, akin to a mother ensuring efficiency without unnecessary expenditures.
The shift is also evident in the career trajectories of younger female professionals. Chemical engineer Steffi Flor Erpilo, Research and Development Supervisor at Philex Mining Corporation, emphasized that women in mining do not see themselves as different from their male counterparts. “We work as employees who need to accomplish our tasks properly,” she said.
Justine Libo-on, Senior Metallurgist at Itogon Suyoc Resources Incorporated (ISRI), stressed the importance of minimizing risks in handling chemicals, underscoring the crucial roles women now play in technical operations.
Marywil Espinosa, a mining engineer at Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation, sees increasing female representation as an opportunity for growth. She aspires to climb the career ladder in an industry where women’s skills and leadership are now being recognized.
The growing presence of women in mining marks a significant step toward gender diversity in the field. Their expanding roles reflect a shift in industry norms, proving that technical expertise knows no gender boundaries.
