Mines Bureau spearheads capacity building for Info Officers, Economists

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Central Office through its Mineral Economics, Information, and Publications Division (MEIPD) spearheaded a capacity building for MGB personnel responsible for statistical data analysis, website maintenance, and information dissemination on 1-5 October 2018 at Microtel Techno Hub Hotel, Quezon City.

The first day of the capacity building focused the discussion on the Guidelines for Compliance Monitoring and Rating/Scorecard of Mining Permits/Contracts lectured by Engr. Rodolfo Velasco Jr., Chief Science Research Specialist. A discussion on the Guidelines for additional Environmental Measures for Operating Surface Metallic Mines was also given by Atty. Josephine Sescon, Officer-in Charge of the MGB Legal Services Division.

Meanwhile, Engr. Larry Heradez, OIC of Mining Tenements Management Division of MGB Central lectured the Guidelines in the Conduct, Apprehension, Seizure, Confiscation, and Disposition of Illegally-Sourced Minerals/Minerals Products and By-Products, Tools, Conveyances, and Equipment Used.

On the second day, Media Specialist Miko Morales gave a lecture on theories on behavioural change and guidelines for developing Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials. 

After the lecture, a critique of existing IEC materials of MGB regional offices was conducted.

The next day gave emphasis on crisis management and basics of media relations. The recent landslide in Itogon, Benguet and Naga, Cebu City were used as case studies for the crisis management particularly on dealing with the media.

Basics of newswriting, feature writing, and speech writing were also discussed during the third day of the capacity building. A writeshop on press release writing, feature article writing, and speech writing were conducted after the series of lectures.

Importance of website and website writing was also discussed during the last day of the training.

The capacity building was participated in by Information Officers and Economists of MGB Central Office and its regional offices.