I was requested, as chairman of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP), to lead the business delegation in the Philippine Mining Mission to Western Australia towards the end of March.
The mission was led by the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu PSM. (PSM in Australia stands for Public Service Medal and is a civil decoration awarded to public servants for outstanding service).
Ambassador HK Yu is a senior career officer with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Immediately prior to her current ambassadorial post, which she assumed in July 2022, she was the deputy head of mission and minister at the Australian Embassy in Japan.
Heading the mission from the Philippine government were Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Undersecretary Juan Miguel “Mitch” Cuna of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources.
Former Secretary of Foreign Affairs (the first woman Foreign Affairs secretary in Asia) and former Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Delia Albert, also joined the mission together with 12 other Philippine business delegates.
Ambassador Albert is also one of the founders of DIWATA-Women in Resource Development, Inc., a non-government organization advocating the responsible development of the Philippines’ wealth in resources, principally, extractive industries such as mining, oil and gas, quarrying, and other mineral resources from the earth for processing.
The objective of the mining mission to Western Australia was to raise awareness among Philippine companies about Australia’s mining, equipment and technology services and showcased a successful rehabilitated mine.
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission, which organized the mission with valuable support from the Australian embassy in Manila, was equally keen for Australian companies to be more aware of opportunities in Philippine mining.
The mission schedule included a Philippine Airlines gala event; a reception hosted by our Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega; a policy briefing by the Western Australia Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, and the Western Australia Environmental Protection Authority; round table discussions with mining, equipment, technology and services companies; B2B meetings; and a visit to a rehabilitated mine, the Superpit, in Kalgoorlie, which was facilitated by the Western Australia School of Mines in Curtin University.
This visit to Western Australia marked an important milestone in strengthening the ties between the Philippine and Australian mining industries and highlighted the commitment to driving growth and innovation in the mining sector.
Not only that. This mining mission coincided with the inaugural non-stop flight of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to Perth, the capital and largest city of Western Australia.
The new PAL direct flights, a thrice weekly scheduled service operating into the Western Australian capital every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, allows travelers to fly between Perth and Manila in just seven hours. This saves travelers four to six hours in travel time compared to flying via other airline routes that require a stopover and flight connections in a third country.
The pioneer flight, designated PR 223, was flown under the command of PAL president and COO Captain Stanley K. Ng, assisted by a crew of three pilots and six flight attendants.
Incidentally, Perth is the hometown of Ambassador HK Yu.
Hats off to PAL chairman Lucio Tan and to PAL president and COO Capt. Stanley Ng for this inaugural flight and for adding Perth to PAL’s Australian destinations of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, a boost to tourism and commerce between the Philippines and Australia.
Mining missions such as this would not have been possible if not for the support of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for reviving and revitalizing mineral resources development.
As Finance Secretary Ben Diokno once said, “The mining industry holds the greatest potential to be a key driver in our recovery and long-term growth, especially now that the world metal prices are high.”
We saw the potential in Australia, and they saw it in us, too. May this be the start of better cooperation, sharing of best practices between the two countries, with the highest international standards in mind.