DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                 2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                               Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-145-05                                                                                                                                                                             11 March 2005

RP DELEGATION ATTENDS CANADA MINING CONVENTION; AGREEMENTS SIGNED FOR COOPERATION
AND EXCHANGES ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

11 March 2005 – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto Canada reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the official Philippine Delegation to the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Mining Convention held this week at the Metropolitan Toronto Convention Center and Intercontinental Toronto Center Hotel had a successful round of business and official meetings and have already signed two agreements.

Consul General Alejandro B. Mosquera said that Chamber of Mines of the Philippines’ President Benjamin Philip Romualdez signed with Bob Schafer, President of the Mining and Metallurgical Association of America, a cooperation agreement between the Philippine chamber and the American association.

Under the agreement, both associations will cooperate and assist each other in technological, educational and information exchanges, including the areas of environmental and social responsibilities and sustainable development.

Earlier on 7 March 2005, the Philippine Chamber of Mines signed a similar cooperation agreement with the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) incorporating PDAC’s document on environmental excellence in exploration (E3) in the information exchange.

Consul General Mosquera added that the delegation has also had roundtable talks with officers of the Canadian Imperial Banking Corp (CIBC), together with the private sector accompanying the delegation. They also met with the Ontario Province Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Honorable Rick Bartolucci, Parliamentary Assistant Bill Mauro and Assistant Deputy Minister John Gammon, as well as with the Ontario Province Minister of Natural Resources David Ramsay.

The Philippine Delegation impressed on the Ontario Province officials the interest of the Philippine mining sector in learning the Canadian model of harmonizing the issues of mining and social, environmental responsibilities as well as sustainable development.

Both parties expressed interest on cooperation and follow-up exchanges on these issues. The Canadian officials expressed keen interest in participating at the forthcoming October 2005 Philippine mining conference. END
 

/jay