DENR to review mineral resources map

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza Jr. has hinted of a possible review of the country’s mineral resources map as he expressed plans to consider the laying of a more detailed and updated map to accurately present the minerals potential of the country.

At the sidelines of the five-day 44th Annual Session of the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP) held in Cebu City, Atienza cited the technology being used by Korea that enables them to draw up thorough minerals potential maps.

“It would be very good and useful to have complete maps of our (minerals) deposit in different layers (of soil),” the DENR chief pointed out.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) assistant Director Edwin Domingo, who serves as the country’s deputy permanent representative to the CCOP, said coming up with a more detailed and updated map on the country’s mineral resources means a review of the existing mineral resources map, which could already be less accurate.

Domingo noted that since the earth moves constantly every day, it could be expected that characteristics of soil in certain areas could have already changed.

Thus, he stressed, the drawing of maps, whether to identify geo-hazard sites or minerals-rich areas in the country, should be a continuing process.

“It may be possible that areas we have previously identified as not rich in mineral reserves could now be abounding certain minerals.  That could happen considering that the earth constantly moves and geography of areas could change,” Domingo explained.

The Philippines hosted this year’s international geosciences meet, which highlights the role of geosciences in sustainable development.

The CCOP, which was established in 1966, tackles programs that focus on minerals, energy, groundwater, environment, coastal zone management, geo-hazards, and disaster management.

It offers financial and technical support from both member-countries, and cooperating-countries and organizations.

“The current major thrust of the CCOP on geo-resources and geo-environment are attuned to the primary concerns of the Philippine government on the sustainable development of our natural resources particularly on energy, mineral, groundwater, and the vital need to protect our environment from both natural and human-induced hazards,” Atienza said. 

Member-countries of the CCOP include Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Its cooperating-countries are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.

The CCOP has 15 cooperating organizations led by its founder, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).