Key stakeholders from across the country gathered on July 3 at Seda Manila Bay for the Inception Workshop of the Development of the National Action Plan on the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector in the Philippines (NAP ASGM PH) Project.
This event marks the official launch of the development of the NAP ASGM Philippines Project—a crucial step toward reducing and ultimately eliminating mercury use in the ASGM sector, in accordance with the country’s obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
The Philippines ratified the Minamata Convention in July 2020, committing to reducing mercury emissions and releases in key sectors, including ASGM—a significant source of mercury use in the country. Under Article 7 of the Convention, countries with substantial ASGM activity are required to develop a National Action Plan outlining strategies to address the environmental, health, and socio-economic impacts of mercury use.
The NAP ASGM PH Project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in partnership with Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and executed by the Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) Philippines.
DENR Undersecretary Atty. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh opened the workshop with a welcome message, emphasizing the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration: “With the support of all stakeholders, this project will help us craft an evidence-based National Action Plan that meets our commitments under the Minamata Convention. Together, we can build a safer, mercury-free future for small-scale mining communities.”
A message of support followed from UNEP Task Manager Rocio Fernandez. The workshop featured presentations from government experts and AGC representatives on mercury-related challenges, the status of ASGM in the Philippines, and key components of the NAP ASGM PH Project.
“What we build here will define how the Philippines addresses mercury risks in small-scale mining through science, community-based strategies, strong coordination and communication, and inclusive engagement,” said Abigail Ocate, National Project Manager of AGC Philippines.
The project will involve a nationwide assessment of the ASGM sector, extensive stakeholder consultations, and the development of targeted strategies that address environmental, health, gender, and socio-economic considerations, in line with Annex C of the Minamata Convention.
Key activities of the workshop included:
- Presentations on the context of mercury use in the ASGM sector in the country, covering an overview of the Minamata Convention and mercury-related issues, and a global overview of Minamata National Action Plans (NAPs), including the role of the global component.
- Introduction of the project’s objectives, implementation timeline, and budget;
- Presentation of the proposed National Coordination Mechanism (NCM) to ensure inter-agency collaboration;
- Stakeholder mapping and discussions on capacity-building needs and defined roles in NAP implementation; and
- Initial presentations of the project’s Communications Strategy and Gender Strategy.
The event concluded with a call to action from AGC Executive Director Roger Tissot, emphasizing the importance of collective commitment: “The success of the NAP will depend on shared ownership, grounded in science, guided by policy, and powered by communities. Let us walk this path together toward a mercury-free future.”
The inception workshop brought together over 50 participants representing a wide range of government agencies, civil society groups, academic institutions, mining cooperatives, and international partners. Key national agencies in attendance included the DENR-MGB, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), DSWD, BOC, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, among others.
Also present were representatives from the PH-EITI, Pure Earth, and mining associations such as Nabunturan Integrated Miners Development Cooperative, Pemilihan Small-Scale Miners Association, and other regional small-scale mining groups. Academic institutions including UP Diliman, UPLB, and the UP Center for Women and Gender Studies. (PR)
