The Caraga State University sent delegations to participate and compete during the First Caraga Mining Symposium and Safety Competition last August in Surigao City.

Two groups with assigned faculty as chaperone departed for Surigao City in a rented van and arrived at Surigao City National High School just in time for the Safety Competition. The whole day event included Fire Brigade and First Aid Competition wherein teams of various mining companies vied for the different awards (i.e. best execution, best time in rescue and transfer relay, busted hose replacement and up-the-ladder relay, and fire extinguishment among others). Afterwards, Mine Rescue Exhibition was executed by the highly-trained team from Philsaga Mining Corp.

On August 20, 2011, the Technical Symposium at Tavern Hotel began at exactly 8:30 AM. The guests were welcomed and ushered in by members of the Chamber of Mines Caraga and personnel from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-XIII. Gracing the events were legislators and top political officials of the Region, Indigenous People Group leaders, officials from the mining industries and representatives from the academe.

The City Mayor of Surigao City, Hon. Ernesto T. Matugas gave the welcome address and Engr. Jose B. Anievas officially opened the event. The Sympoisium was divided into three major parts namely; the legislative agenda and initiatives in support to the industry, the stand and impact of mining to the indigenous people in impact areas and the current status of the mining industry in the region.

Hon. Francisco T. Matugas of the 1st District of Surigao del Norte highlighted HB 4802 which will promote downstream value adding processes and ban direct export of ores. This, according to studies will boost the national economy. He also added that in order to realize this, the government has to address the problem on energy shortage by looking into other energy sources and the possibility of the mining companies putting up their own power plants. This concern was later disccused by Mr. Edmar Derla from the Department of Energy. After that Hon. Guillermo A. Roarate, Jr. of the 2nd District of Surigao del Norte discussed on his paln to pass a bill that will ensure the equal distribution of the 1% of the gross income of the Mining Companies among the IPs in the impact areas. Completing the roster of political figures to speak was Gov. Sol F. Matugas who spoke on her economic agenda relative to the Mining Industry. She emphasized her vision of alleviating the prevalent poverty among her constituents through the industry.

An official statement of the Philippine Chamber of Mines to rebut the "Save Palawan Movement"was delivered by Mr. Gerard H. Brimo, President of the Nickel Asia Corporation, which countered the erroneous statement of the said Movement. Following Mr. Brimo, representatives from the National Commision of Indigenous People presented issues that concern the IPs and the Mining Industry as well as its impact to these communities.

The final part of the Symposium focused on the practices observed by Mining Companies that is in keeping with responsible mining. The environmental officer of MRL Gold Phils., Inc. presented their company's Environmental Management Practices for the exploration phase. Mr. Gregory Edwards, the Managing Director of Greenstone resources Corporation discussed on Responsible Mining. The symposium ended with the awarding of the Safety Competition Winners. Hon. Dulmar M. Raagas, President of the Chamber of Mines Caraga gave the closing remark. Socializations followed after at the same venue which ended at around 11 pm. Our group then left for Butuan City immediately after.

Based on observations made during the travel, the following are strongly recommended:

1. To incessantly support similar activities as a way of promoting the BS Mining Engineering program and other degree programs offered by the university. This is found essential owed to the booming mining industry in the region but with scarcity of mining professionals and other related mine practitioners;

2. To strengthen the newly-established linkage with the Chamber of Mines of Caraga Region. Inc (CMCRI) and several mining companies. In this way, we can possibly augment part-time lecturers thru the commitment of mine practitioners with passion in teaching;

3. To send faculty members and students to undertakings which demonstrate optimum exposure of the latest trends in the mining sector;

4. To develop new instructional materials in the form of videos of the actual proceedings (Safety competition and Symposium) and to give inputs to the students of the real-life activities in mining;

5. To follow-up concerned individual for the acquisition of a free software (mine planning and design) for educational/instructional purposes.