From left to right: Mr. Sony Sambo, Engr. Ramcie Brilliante, Engr. Edgar Oporto, Mr. Ramon Roña, Mr. Roger De Dios, Engr. Eric E.A. Raymundo, Ms. Lisa Marie Paguntalan, Mr. Jong Fernandez
With the Environmental Secretary Regina Paz Lopez being very rigorous on getting mining industries to follow the DENR mandated standards as mandated by A.O No. 2015-07, the mining companies have been on their toes and working to get their certifications on time. As a response to the intensified awareness of the environmental impacts that mining industries contribute to, AGF Consulting Group- Philippines, one of the top ISO consultancy firms in the country, in collaboration with the Philippine Society of Mining Engineers (PSEM) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) , held the 1st Visayas Forum on ISO 14001:2015 with the theme “Learning Environmental System: Key to Business Sustainability” last October 22, 2016. The forum was organized to help spread awareness to mining industries about the benefits of ISO 14001:2015 of the Environmental Management Standard created by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The forum did not only cater to mining industries but also the construction industries, cement manufacturers and many others.
Spearheaded by AGF Consulting Group’s Technical Industry Consultant, Mr. John Lester Chico, whose initiative materialized a program that would gather various mining industries and participants both from the public and private sector to meet in one venue and discuss about the importance of ISO 14001:2015. Successfully, the event was attended by institutions by both government and the private sectors on equal numbers. Among the many notable attendees were Solid Earth Development Corporation, PHILEX GOLD PHILIPPINES, INC., VTP Mining and Construction Inc., GM and Sons Inc, Geo-Transport and Construction Inc., Skaff Group of Companies, HDLCIM Mining and Development Corp. , South Western Cement Corp., Toledo Aggregates, Apo Land and Quarry, Silica Resources Corporation, ANSECA Development Corporation, JAJ Aggregates and Premco Coral Stone Corporation.
The forum showcased speakers like Mr. Ramon G. Roña, President of PSEM who gave the Opening Remarks for the event, Mr. Roger Dedios, Regional Director- CARAGA Region for MGB that discussed about Administrative Order No. 2015-07 and the adherence to its mandate of ISO 14001 Certification and Engr. Ramcie Brillante, Senior Science Research Speacialist also from MGB, who discussed about “Audit Parameters Used in Metallic Mines”. Ms. Lisa Marie J. Paguntalan, Executive Director of the Philippine Biodiversity Foundation, Inc. also gave a presentation on how mining companies help protect and conserve the Philippines’ biodiversity. The discussions in the forum all made sense of the importance of an Environmental Management System and why the Philippine government considers it as another way of saying “responsible mining”.
One of AGF Consulting Group- Philippines consultancy specializations includes the ISO 14001. As a matter of fact, it has worked with various mining and construction industries that are implementing the Environment Management System, with the guidance and direction of the company’s consultants. Two key speakers, both from AGF Consulting Group, namely Mr. Jong Fernandez, Founder and CEO of AGF Consulting Group and Mr. Sony Sambo, Process Consultant and EMS Specialist of the same company, also gave out discussions on ISO 14001:2015 and Aspect-Impact Identification and Assessment as required by ISO 14001:2015 respectively.
AGF Consulting Group- Philippines believes in the protection of our environmental resources as well as encouraging better environmental performance of stakeholders. This is the main objective of the company and it sees its expertise as an opportunity to improve processes all over the country, that is why it has taken steps like whitepaper releases and creating this learning initiative in order to be able to contribute to the efforts in shaping our country’s Environmental Management System. The environmental system management (EMS) not only aims to improve companies and organizations, but it also looks into protecting those affected by the direct destruction of our natural resources. ISO 14001:2015 makes sure that environmental issues are monitored and controlled in a “holistic manner” that involves the communities and the people directly affected. It aims to have proactive initiatives to protect the environment from degradation through sustainable resource use, climate change mitigation and improving environmental performance. Currently, AGF Consulting Group- Philippines offers consultancy services for ISO 14001:2015.
Sunstar published an article on its online website regarding the forum entitled, AGF Consulting Group – Philippines holds 1st Visayas Forum on ISO 14001:2015. Read the article.
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