Voices
20 January 2025
Countries:
It's been established for a long time in Filipinos’ connotations that mining, including artisanal and small-scale mining (ASGM), means destroying the ecosystem to fulfill the pockets of greed. There's no wonder why as whenever the sector becomes a headline in mainstream media, it's certainly about irresponsible mining operations or its environmental impacts. George Gerbner's Cultivation Theory in communication explains it all why these angles of media portrayals could shape the audience's perceptions and be their so-called realities. However, we can't blame the media for disseminating such factual events. It is indeed true that there is destruction and the like in the sector but that is not the whole frame of the story. The media is just doing their responsibility to inform the public about such issues concerning the sector, but they can also contribute in changing the negative narratives about mining. They have the power to champion the ASGM from the public's point of view.
With the aim to change those narratives, the Artisanal Gold Council Philippines through planetGOLD Philippines project launched the second-leg of the brown-bag session "Media Kapihan: Tungo sa Responsableng Maliitang Minahan" on 13 and 15 November 2024 in Quezon City, Metro Manila and Baguio City, Benguet and 16 January 2025 in Naga City, Camarines Sur.
The Media Kapihan invited different media organizations based in Metro Manila, Benguet, and Naga to discuss and exchange ideas about the ASGM and how it can be championed to the masses. It aims to collaborate with the media to shift the negative connotations and come up with actions that could benefit the sector.
Dawn Po Quimque, planetGOLD Philippines National Communication Officer, commenced the event explaining the objectives of the event and encouraging the media practitioners to feel free expressing their thoughts and ideas. Ms. Po Quimque also highlighted the goals of the organization and the project in building a more responsible ASGM.
"I just want to clarify, we are not pro-mining. We are not anti-mining. We are for responsible and more equitable ASGM."
The Kapihan continues with Elizabeth Ngo, planetGOLD Philippines Executive Assistant, introducing the project overview such as its goals to reduce the utilization of mercury, to formalize the sector, and to create access between the small-scale miners and market.
The discussion then turned to key issues about the sector and how the project benefits small-scale miners. It centered on topics such as environmental aspects, finance and economy, gender related issues, technologies and innovations, and media's vital roles.
Key Insights from the Session:
Formalization
The planetGOLD team discussed the importance of formalizing the sector and its challenges before achieving it. The discussion also includes the current system for ASGM such as the registering mining operations, securing permits, and adhering to environmental and safety regulations. Moreover, the discussion also highlights the project’s effort to help the miners to formalize their job such as Knowledge Management Platform, creation of MGB Core Trainers, and Capacity Development Trainings for Government Agencies/Units.
Access to Finance and Markets
This discussion highlighted the current barriers and challenges that small-scale miners faced in accessing the market and how the project helped them to improve the situation including developing Supplier Agreement between mining associations and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The discussion also emphasized the project’s initiative to make Cebuana Lhuiller as official gold-buying station. Lastly, the planetGOLD project team also shared the CRAFT Code.
Technology and Innovations
The Media Kapihan also discussed topics about innovations for better practices of gold mining without any use of mercury or the Mercury-Free Processing System. The discussion highlighted the facility to be donated to partner mining associations. These facilities make the gold mining process easier yet without any use of mercury.
Gender Related Issues
The event also focused on the topic about gender sensitivity and roles especially in women’s contribution in the ASGM sector. The discussion also emphasized the challenges faced by women in mining and how they show resiliency against those stereotypes. Mina Minera, a storybook made by planetGOLD Philippines team, was also shared during the discussion.
Recognizing the Media’s Vital Role
The discussion was also filled with an exchange of insights about championing the ASGM to the public. Media practitioners shared ideas such as creating a criteria to distinguish destructive mining and responsible mining, strengthening initiatives of the government, transparency with the information and data in ASGM, revisiting issues related to the sector, and highlighting success stories.
Before the event ended, media practitioners shared their insights about the discussions and suggested ways to champion the ASGM to the public. They also recognized that there are positive sides of stories about mining that must be publicized. Journalists also showed interest in visiting the actual field to witness the accurate realities of the sector.
George Gerbner was right that the media could shape one's realities and perceptions. If the media could mobilize the public for certain issues about irresponsible mining, they can also make them advocate for the sector, specially in ASGM. Through a balanced portrayal of the sector in the media landscape, we could create a reality of immense support for further development of ASGM. To achieve our dreams for ASGM, a collaboration of the people, miners, and the government is a must— and the media has a big role in filling the gaps between them as stories connect all of us.
The planetGOLD Philippines hopes that the Media Kapihan would serve as a big step for breaking the misconceptions about ASGM. With the engagement of esteemed media organizations in Metro Manila and Benguet, we are hoping that they could be a channel to amplify the stories of the small-scale miners and help us to champion the sector to the masses. We hope that someday, through the continuous efforts of all involved in the Media Kapihan, the first word that will come to the mind of the people when they hear “small-scale gold mining” would not be “destructive”, rather a “hope”— a hope for the miners, children, the country, and for all of us.
A total of 25 media organizations participated and exchanged their ideas on the two sessions in Metro Manila, Benguet, and Naga.
The Artisanal Gold Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the socio-economic conditions of artisanal and small-scale gold mining communities. Through capacity building, environmental stewardship, and community engagement, the AGC promotes responsible mining practices that benefit both people and the planet. AGC is the executing agency of the GEF-funded and UN-implemented planetGOLD Philippines Project.
The planetGOLD Philippines is a five-year project funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Office and the United Nations Environment Program. In the Philippines, the Project is executed by the Artisanal Gold Council (a non-governmental organization) in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau. The Project is designed to address key issues linked to the continued mercury use in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector and to provide sustainable development opportunities for the communities involved.
For more updates about the activities of planetGOLD Philippines:
Knowledge Areas: