THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Davao Region is pushing for the amendment of the Mining Engineering Law to make it more focused on the mining industry.
Edilberto Arreza, MGB-Davao director, said there is a need to revise Republic Act 274 or Mining Engineering Law of the Philippines to purely focus it to mining.
"Currently, the mining engineering law is still composed of other disciplines, like geology and metallurgy. It became obsolete because it was never been amended since it has been enacted into law in 1965," Arreza said.
The consolidated draft will be presented during the 21st Annual Mining Symposium at the Waterfront Hotel Davao on June 11-13.
The draft is set to be presented and ratified on the last day of the symposium by members of The Mindanao Association of Mining Engineers (Maem) and the Philippine Society of Mining Engineers.
"We actually presented it to the Upper and lower House but was returned to us because not all professionals (mining engineers) are consulted, so we already submitted the draft to all chapters like in Davao and Caraga regions and it will be presented during the mining symposium for consultation," he added.
The consultation for the revision of the said law has started since 2014.
The director said that once the consolidated draft will be approved, it will be presented again before the congress.
The 21st Annual Mining Symposium will also conduct activities like tree planting, exhibits and press conference to strengthen its campaign on responsible mining.