The Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association will host the 53rd Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference on November 15-17 in Baguio City.

A number of activities will be held in conjunction with the event, including a mining symposium and mine tours of Philex Mining Corporation and Benguet Corporation.

The Philippines new Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary Angelo T. Reyes will be the keynote spaker at the annual awards night which will be held on Friday, November 17.

Already some Australian mine suppliers have indicated their interest to attend this event in Bagio City and introduce their products and company to the growing Philippine mining industry.

An economic report on the Philippines released this month by Ambrian Partners states that recent developments in the Philippines have provided reason for guarded optimism about the mining industry. Philippine economic growth, though slow-paced, is on the rise. The mining environment is favourable given benign prices and the government's supportive policy. The resources of the Philippines provide huge potential, and policy has become much better defined.

In Philippine mining, there is neither anything to nationalise nor anywhere to demand an increase in revenues from. This is simply because there is hardly any industry to speak of. In essence, given the resource rich potential of the country no matter who's president, any administration must encourage the revival of the industry for financial and economic purposes.

In real terms, the gross value added of the mining sector has historically been less than 2% of GDP. It has fallen from 20% of exports in 1980 to approximately 2%. It is unsurprising that the sector accounts for just 0.4% (or less than 125,000 people) of total employment.

The Philippines is a constitutional republic with three coequal branches of government: executive, legislative and judiciary. It follows a presidential system of government, with checks and balances coming from the legislature, which has a Senate and a Congress.

President Gloria Arroyo was elected in 2004 for a six-year term, while pro-Arroyo candidates won both houses, holding out the promise of a period of institutional reform and relative political stability.

Government policy is pro-mining. It follows the 'triple bottom line' of sustainable development: economic development, environmental protection and social equity. However, the recent history of mining legislation in the Philippines is less than straightforward. The law governing mining is Republic Act No. 7942: 'The Philippine Mining Act of 1995' has been the subject of much contention over the last decade. Ambrian Partners report says the government needs to offer attractive and profitable terms to foreign investors in order for them to commit investments into the country.

The Philippine economic report says there are some potential concerns that must be addressed. The main ones are: a recent record of whimsical politics and political instability; legislative and fiscal instability and the apparent ability to challenge at will almost any aspect of the law; and the influence of religion — whether it be the influence of the Roman Catholic Church or the terrorism of Muslim separatist groups.

Any companies or individuals wanting to attend the Philippine Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference can contact the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association secretariat by fax 02-926-0944/926-5545 and 920-9120 or email us at pmsea06@yahoo.com or mesd@mgb.gov.ph by November 11.

Accommodation is available at the Manor Hotel at a discounted rate. Phone: 6876710 or mobile: 09209140729.

More information about the Ambrian Partners report is available from Ambrian Partners Limited Telephone +44 (0)20 7776 7400 or email: firstname.lastname@ambrian.com