(Iloilo City) –The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) issued a memorandum to its regional offices for the implementation of a Unified Information, Education and Communication Plan (NUIECP), early this year. Mining contracts and permit holders allocate a specific percentage of the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) fund for the IEC component.
Mandated by the mining law, mining contractors and permit holders allocate 1.5% of their operating cost to implement the SDMP. The SDMP fund is then allocated for the development of the host and neighboring community (75% of the 1.5%), development of mining technology and geosciences (10% of the 1.5%), and the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) program (15% of the 1.5.%).
MGB noted that the permit holders has allocated a fund for implementation of the NUIECP before the pandemic broke out this year. To make good use of the IEC fund, MGB regional offices nationwide is coordinating with mining contractors and permit holders in their areas to conduct a study that aims to assess how a mining project has contributed to the improvement of the quality of life of mining host and neighboring communities over the years. The study will focus on the aspects of health, education, livelihood/household income, and infrastructure. MGB expects the study to be conducted in 2021.
What is SDMP?
