On August 29 to September 1, 2022, the Bio+Mine – The Philippine research team visited Tublay, Benguet to sign a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with local authorities to formalise the understanding between parties. The MOU outlines the obligations and commitments of all involved in the project.
Prior to MOU signing, the team has applied for permits, provided the required documents, and accomplished the mandated activities to secure the MOUs. The MOU signing was initiated with a meeting with Miss Sandra Bias, the Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) of the City Environmental and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) to request for a date for a Special Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Meeting. The project was also presented to discuss the main objectives, and the Special PAMB Meeting request was given approval.
The key signatories include: the Department of Environment Resources – Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-CAR), which was signed with Dr. Arnel Beltran, the project leader, as witness ; Mines and Geosciences Bureau – Cordillera Administrative Region (MGB-CAR), which was signed with Engr. Santiago Bugnosen of the Mine Environment Monitoring Section (MEMS) as witness; the Tublay Municipal Office, which was signed by Mayor Armando Lauro and Hon. Sison Balawen, the Barangay Ambassador, with Sir Sabado Becka, the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR), and Sir Abner Lawangen, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) officer as witnesses.
The signing of MOUs provides the Bio+Mine team access to the Sto. Niño site for research activities aimed at developing a site-specific system for the rehabilitation of a legacy mine.
