Governor Daisy Avance Fuentes led the inauguration of the Minahang Bayan Center located at the gymnasium of the municipality of T’boli last February 6.
Minahang Bayan Center is a project of the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) that aims to establish a one-stop shop that will cater to the needs of small-scale mining (SSM) operators of the said town.
It has project cost of more than P960,000.00 taken from PDRRMO funds.
“The creation of this one-stop shop will hasten the transactions of SSM operators particularly the processing of required permits,” OIC Flaviano disclosed.
In her message, Governor Fuentes said she envisioned the Minahang Bayan Center to be a training center for jewelry-making to further enhance the gold and silver industry of the province.
She plans to collaborate with the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Science and Technology to realize the project.
Together with the Governor during the inauguration were Vice-Governor Cecile Diel and some Board Members, municipal and barangay officials, SSM operators and other stakeholders.
Vice-Governor Diel reiterated during her message that the province is not “anti-mining,” and only opposes “un-friendly” mining practices such as “open-pit mining.”
After the short program, an officiating priest blessed the building followed by a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the Governor.
Mines and Geo-Sciences Division OIC Nencita Acain said two personnel of PEMO will man the Center effective February 9.
