Mapua MGM Alumni

Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Director Horacio C. Ramos being sworn in as ad interim Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources by Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita yesterday (February 10, 2010).

MGB Director Horacio C. Ramos was appointed by Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as ad interim Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources this February 2010. Secretary Ramos sees himself as a transition Secretary.
Secretary Ramos is a mining engineer by profession and is one of the very few mining economists in the country, a skill he learned at the Mapua Institute of Technology and honed at the University of New South Wales in Australia .
Secretary Ramos is a career DENR employee/executive and has four decades of experience in government service, rising from the ranks at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to its highest field operations position, DENR Regional Executive Director in Regions 1 and CAR. In CAR, he helped established the Baguio Regreening Movement which recently recognized him as one of its Founding Fathers.
He was appointed as National Director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in March 1996 or 13 years and 10 months, making him one of the longest occupants of the position. He assumed the MGB Directorship in what can be considered as a period of immense challenge for the MGB, defined by that infamous tailings spill incident, increasing opposition to the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and to mining as a whole.
Secretary Ramos shepherded the MGB and the mining industry in those difficult and trying years. He is one of the acknowledged architects of the current Revitalization Program for the Philippine Minerals Industry pursuant to Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s policy pronouncement on mining in 2003. Secretary Ramos was also tasked to complete another of Her Excellency’s priority programs, the National Geohazard Mapping Program by June 2010.
As MGB Director, he was relentless in his pursuit of one goal – that mining has a role in the country’s national development for as long as it is guided by one goal, i.e., sustainable development. Sustainable development that is anchored on the integration of the three pillar of sustainable development – environmental, social and economic concerns. This is reflected in the MGB’s rallying cry: Mining shall be pro-people and pro-environment in creating wealth and improved quality of life. The principles of responsible and sustainable mineral resources development has also been institutionalized in the current implementing rules and regulations of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 which mandates life-of-mine environmental and social responsibilities and equitable sharing of benefits.

The fever caused by our “888” reunion last year has never cooled down. Many are hoping and asking for a follow-up event. For this reason, we are pleased to inform you that the excitement will again spark on November 13, 2009 at the CAP A, Camp John Hay, Baguio City, "Let's ROCK the Night Away! ", just beside the PMSEA Symposium venue. Registration starts as early as 5pm.

We are looking forward to make this another unforgettable gathering of friends and colleagues as we rock the night with music, dance and the unsurpassed humor-filled celebrity hosting of Ariel and Maverick (talents of GMA-7).

	Attire:		Please come as you are (but preferably with a touch of cardinal and gold)
	Registration:		(your acknowledgement receipt/ scanned deposit slip will serve as your entrance ticket)
			Php500 - gov't sector Php1000 - private sector and guests
	Note:		We encourage you to pay in cash or check before the event at the Mines and Geosciences Bureau starting September 11, 2009 and look for Ms. Marianne Fernandez or Ms. Angie Sajona.
			Or you may deposit it to any of following account names: (Please send your scanned deposit slip to either angiebs2009@yahoo.com or mvfernandez_23@yahoo.com)
			Account name: Marianne Fernandez Bank: Land bank of the Philippines Branch: North Avenue SA# 0711-0704-35 Account name: Angelica Sajona Bank: Banco De Oro Branch: Visayas Avenue SA# 1070191238

“FOREVER PROUD TO BE A MAPUAN”