News & Voices

In line with pushing for the formalization of the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector in the Philippines, planetGOLD Philippines holds the Mountain Province leg of the policy workshop "Making Mercury History in the Philippine Small-scale Gold Mining Sector: Stories from the Minahang Bayan of Brgy. Fidelisan, Sagada" on 22-24 February 2023

Learn about the Women's Month stories of the #SHEroes of planetGOLD Philippines

To celebrate the contributions of ASGM Champions across different sectors, “Behind the Gold Rush: A Photo Exhibition featuring People Advocating for the Advancement of ASGM in the Philippines” was launched in Paracale, Camarines Norte on January 25-February 2, 2023 and Sagada, Mt. Province on February 2-5, 2023.

The planetGOLD programme aims to end the toxic trail of small-scale gold mining. Representatives work with governments, the private sector and mining communities across the world to eliminate mercury from artisanal mining and promote safer work environments.

Learn about the ceremonial signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the planetGOLD Philippines and its partner mining association. The MOA represents the commitment of AGC Philippines and the SMBC to work together in ensuring compliance with government policies on environmentally and socially responsible mining operations, supporting the transition of Paracale miners in producing mercury-free gold through better technologies and capacity development activities, in promoting gender-equitable practices, and in sharing stories and lessons to other small-scale mining areas in the country.

Learn how planetGOLD Philippines supports the empowerment of the poorest and most marginalized sectors through effective capacity development at the individual, organizational, and institutional levels in order to advance a more transformative and sustainable society.

The planetGOLD Philippines project convened government agencies for a workshop entitled, “Making Mercury History in the Philippine Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector: Stories from the planetGOLD Philippines Project” on 23 to 25 November 2022 in Quezon City, Manila. This activity is the first in a series of workshops which aim to provide an avenue for agencies to discuss issues surrounding the ASGM sector, and to collaborate on solutions and policy recommendations.

To highlight artisanal and small-scale miners' journey to mercury-free, planetGOLD is launching Dispatches From The Field, a short video series featuring some of the unique stories coming out of the countries where we work. Each month over the coming year, we’ll dive into some of the obstacles and barriers that miners have faced, while spotlighting champions that are breaking through these challenges to advance responsible mining and make meaningful change on the ground.

In the Philippines, the world’s 27th largest gold producer with 80% coming from ASGM, opportunities for women working in mines are diverse. They can support their families and pay for their children’s education. But they also face considerable challenges. Women often don't have access to their own tools and receive no support for child care, which can prevent them from working. Women are subject to gender discrimination when they are prevented from doing certain mining jobs seen as exclusive to men.

Gold is such an intrinsic part of Paracale, a municipality in the Philippines, that the town's rich mining history is reflected in its name, which is derived from the words para cale, meaning "canal digger." Read on to learn more about how planetGOLD Philippines is working with mining communities and local governments to help miners access pathways to formalization and pave the way for clean gold.

In support of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, our partner the Artisanal Gold Council as the executing agency of the planetGOLD projects in Mongolia and the Philippines highlights initiatives in these countries and three other related country projects in the Asia-Pacific region actively addressing occupational health and safety hazards in the ASGM sector.

Women make up 10-30% of the workforce at ASGM sites in the Philippines, according to mining association leaders and other local stakeholders. The planetGOLD Philippines project looks at the roles women play, their income opportunities, exposure to mercury, and initiatives to promote gender equality in the sector.