Delegates of the 2024 planetGOLD ASGM Global Forum took a group photo to conclude the three-day forum in the Philippines
BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES – On 3-5 June 2024, the planetGOLD Project hosted the highly anticipated 2024 Global Forum on Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in Batangas, Philippines. This significant event–organized by the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded planetGOLD programme through the planetGOLD Philippines–served as a crucial platform for miners, government officials, international agencies, policy and technical experts, and members of the private sector to exchange knowledge, ideas, and lessons learned. Happening every two years, the forum aimed to address the complexities of ASGM and foster sustainable practices within the sector.
Anil Sookdeo, Chemicals and Waste Coordinator of the Global Environment Facility, delivers an opening message.
The forum is a key flagship event of the planetGOLD programme, and it’s meant to bring all the partners and stakeholders together to exchange primarily knowledge and best practices; but also worst practices so that we learn from each other and that we don’t repeat error and mistakes that were done in the previous projects.”
- Anil Sookdeo, Chemicals and Waste Coordinator of the Global Environment Facility
(left-right): AGC PH National Project Manager Abigail Ocate, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Atty. Danilo Uykieng, and UN Environment Programme Task Manager Rocío Fernández engage in a discussion during the 2024 ASGM Global Forum.
Previously held in an online setting, this year’s Global Forum is the first with the face-to-face set-up. The planetGOLD Philippines National Project Manager Abigail Ocate shared how the country’s assistance in hosting the Global Forum is a symbol of commitment of the Philippines towards a safer, cleaner, and more responsible mining in the country. “Hosting the largest global forum for the ASGM sector gives the Philippines a great opportunity to showcase our strong commitment to responsible mining practices. Through this forum, we can highlight our efforts in addressing important issues in the ASGM industry, such as the adoption of mercury-free technologies, improving financial accessibility, promoting formalization, and changing public perception of ASGM.”
The forum commenced with a warm welcome from esteemed dignitaries, including Joselin Marcus E. Fragada, Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Undersecretary for Field Operations-Mindanao. In his remarks, he highlighted the current initiatives of the national government of the Philippines in promoting mercury-free responsible mining in the country through the help of the planetGOLD Philippines. “We do understand the dangers of using mercury and other products [or chemicals]. That’s why here in the Philippines, we no longer allow [the use of] mercury. We are for responsible mining. The safeguards and measures that we are trying to place around small-scale mining areas are still being established in terms of protecting and regulating the environment. Initiatives like the planetGOLD programme offer a path toward responsible ASGM development. Through the program, we all aim to improve the lives and livelihoods of artisanal and small-scale miners while protecting the environment”
DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations-Mindanao Joselin Marcus E. Fragada officially opened the 2024 planetGOLD Global Forum on ASGM by sharing a brief context of ASGM in the Philippines and the initiatives of the national government for the development of the ASGM sector.
He was followed by Monika Stankiewicz, Executive Secretary of the Minamata Convention on Mercury; Anil Sookdeo, Chemicals & Waste Focal Area Coordinator/Senior Environmental Specialist of the Global Environment Facility; and Ludovic Bernaudat, planetGOLD Programme Manager and Head of the Knowledge and Risk Unit, Chemicals and Health Branch of the UN Environment Programme whose addresses underscored the importance of collective efforts in promoting responsible mining practices.
The morning session featured a "Miner Fireside Chat on Finance and Formal Supply Chains," a dynamic discourse exploring the multifaceted landscape of financial accessibility and formal supply chains in the ASGM sector. This session was followed by the "Solutions Lab: Financing Models in planetGOLD Countries," which delved into three different financing models implemented across various planetGOLD countries, highlighting the successes and challenges of each approach.
The planetGOLD Philippines National Gender and Investments Specialist Meggy Katigbak discusses the project’s financial inclusion mechanism called “supplier agreement” during the Solutions Lab: Financing Models in planetGOLD Countries session.
The planetGOLD Philippines National Gender and Investments Specialist Meggy Katigbak joined the panel and discussed the project’s financial inclusion mechanism which was designed together with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or Central Bank of the Philippines. During her presentation, she explained the initial supplier agreement models by the planetGOLD Philippines which was designed in consideration of the challenges faced by small-scale miners in the country in terms of selling gold to BSP. “The supplier agreement is a document which aims to solidify the gold buying and selling relationship between our partner mining associations and BSP by simplifying and lessening the time to apply as an accredited gold seller to the BSP. With the small-scale miners from the ASGM sector being a marginalized community, we believe that this design is a development.”
The afternoon was marked by parallel sessions catering to different interests and expertise. Parallel Session A: "ASGM Capitalization – Financiers' Perspectives" shed light on sector strategies and effective risk mitigation activities from the perspective of ASGM financiers. Artisanal Gold Council Executive Director Rene Roget Tissot facilitated the session. Moreover, one of the speakers is Erizelle Linaban who is from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines). In one of her responses, she shared that the BSP is currently looking at the ASM toolkit and the term “progressive improvement” which was launched by the London Bullion Market Association. “Very recently, the London Bullion Market Association introduced the ASM toolkit and the term ‘Progressive Improvement’ wherein criteria are not necessarily directly required or needs to be complied with outright by the ASM or by the small-scale miners, but rather an improvement or development plan towards eventual compliance to certain criterias should be established and should be acknowledged by us in BSP as evaluators.”
[TOP] AGC Executive Director Rene Roger Tissot facilitates the session on ASGM Capitalization. [BOTTOM] Erizelle Linaban from the Central Bank of the Philippines discusses how they collaborate with planetGOLD Philippines on the supply chain model of the ASGM sector in the country.
Simultaneously, Parallel Session B: "Women Rising – Innovative Solutions For Women By Women to Increase Incomes in Artisanal Mining Communities" showcased how women in planetGOLD implementing countries have been creatively adapting to their circumstances to ensure more stable livelihoods from the sector. The planetGOLD Philippines National Gender and Investment Specialist Meggy Katigbak joined the session and highlighted the results of the project’s gender study that focuses on the challenges faced by women in the ASGM sector. “Women in the ASGM sector and other informal sectors are first and foremost invisible. Second, they are undervalued, and third, they are unsupported. It comes with the incorrect notion that mining is only for men and that mining is only about gold extraction; when in fact, ASGM is a huge operation that comes with several activities such as panning, cleaning, and even cooking where women are present. It just so happens that gold extraction activity is inaccessible for women.”
A screenshot from the livestream recording of Parallel Session B: Women Rising, highlighting planetGOLD Philippines National Gender and Investment Specialist Meggy Katigbak during the panel discussion.
The day concluded with a session titled "Addressing Criminality and Human Rights Issues in ASGM Flows," focusing on discussing cases, experiences, and trends related to criminal networks in the gold mining sector, with an emphasis on enforcement challenges and potential solutions.
Monika Stankiewicz closed the first day by reflecting on the day's discussions and announcing the results of the photo contest, which captured the spirit and reality of ASGM communities. The photo contest guidelines emphasize that entries should highlight efforts to reduce or eliminate mercury in ASGM and promote a responsible, professional sector. “The idea behind this photo contest is to cultivate one’s imagination on depicting the people, places, and things that are involved in and impacted by ASGM, and the hope that we all become mindful of what is at stake and who stands to benefit from the strategies discussed to make mercury history in the ASGM sector,” Stankiewicz said during the awarding ceremony.
Dawn Po Quimque (second from the right) receives her certificate and poses for a photo as a finalist in the 2024 ASGM Global Forum Photo Contest.
The photos displayed during the exhibition on the Global Forum were selected after an initial round of online voting, while the final round of voting took place during the lunch break of the forum’s first day. Among the top 5 finalists is the National Communications Officer of planetGOLD Philippines, Dawn Po Quimque.
AGC PH poses at the planetGOLD Philippines Booth
Meanwhile at planetGOLD Philippines booth, participants had access to a range of educational materials, including a children's storybook and a documentary that provided insights into ASGM communities in the Philippines. Additionally, the booth showcased an interactive game that not only encouraged participation and offered prizes but also effectively highlighted the project's initiatives.
The second day of the forum began with the "Miner Fireside Chat on Formalization and Technology," where miners associated with the planetGOLD programme shared insights on overcoming obstacles in technology adoption and the formalization process. Gil Indino, President of the National Coalition of Small-Scale Miners in the Philippines, talked about his experience as a small-scale miner in the Philippines and how the government helps miners like him for the development of the sector. “The government should always listen; so they will know what the needs of the small-scale miners are. It is crucial that they make government services accessible to the small-scale miners so those from the sector can easily comply with the requirements needed for us to be legalized and formalized.”
Mr. Gil Indino expresses the concerns of artisanal and small-scale miners, especially in terms of formalizing the sector.
This session set the stage for the subsequent "Technology Fair: Approaches to Support Mercury-Free Gold Production," which focused on technical challenges faced by planetGOLD country projects in achieving efficient mercury-free gold recovery and the innovative solutions implemented to overcome them.
[TOP] Artisanal Gold Council Global Operations Manager Douglas Kao shares the MFPS facilities in Mongolia and Philippines during the Technology Fair: Approaches to Support Mercury-Free Gold Production session. He was followed by [BOTTOM] Northern Sagada Barangay Small-Scale Mining Association, Inc. President Joseph Patil-Ao who shared a testimony about the development of the ASGM community through the planetGOLD Philippines project in Sagada.
Douglas Kao, Global Operations Manager of the Artisanal Gold Council, shared experiences and learnings from planetGOLD Philippines and Mongolia in developing mercury-free facilities and processes. He was joined by Joseph Jr. S. Patil-ao, President of the Northern Sagada Barangay Small-Scale Mining Association, Inc. (NSBSSMAI), who shared stories about their mercury-free practices in Sagada, Mountain Province. “I would like to thank the planetGOLD Philippines project for providing us with the MFPS. One of the challenges we face in our community is the restriction of using chemicals such as cyanide in our mining activities. Therefore, our tailings were not used up to its full potential. We hope that through the equipment, facilities, and assistance they gave us, we will have better gold recovery in our mining community.”
The afternoon sessions included "Models for Cooperation Between Large Scale Mining and ASGM" and "Minamata National Action Plans: Strategies to Protect Vulnerable People," conducted simultaneously. Gloria Langbayan, Tourism Officer and former Gender and Development (GAD) Focal of Sagada Local Government Unit, shared insights into the lived experiences of women, children, and indigenous peoples in ASGM communities. “Artisanal and small-scale mining has played a crucial role in our province, especially in the lives of our indigenous peoples. Our local government is mandating our offices to mainstream gender in all our programs and activities. Therefore, we make sure that our programs are inclusive to the women, children, and indigenous peoples in Sagada who we believe are the stewards of our environment.”
Sagada Tourism Officer and Former Gender and Development Focal Person Gloria Langbayan shares the context of indigenous peoples, women, and children in ASGM communities in Sagada, Mountain Province, Philippines.
Parallel sessions in the afternoon addressed critical topics such as "Taxation and ASGM," which explored strategies to overcome challenges related to taxation and regulatory frameworks, and "Addressing Biodiversity Impacts of ASGM," which examined the ecological consequences of ASGM and potential solutions for mitigating its adverse effects on biodiversity.
The day's discussions culminated in a session titled "Turning the Tide of Opinion on Responsible ASGM," aimed at addressing the need for collective efforts to "complicate the narrative" around ASGM and promote a more balanced perspective on the sector. Panelists, including Dawn Po Quimque, National Communications Officer of planetGOLD Philippines, highlighted the importance of communication and advocacy in changing perceptions.
The planetGOLD Philippines National Communications Officer Dawn Po Quimque shares the learnings of the project in communicating and changing the public perception on ASGM in the Philippines.
Susan Keane, planetGOLD Global Coordinator, closed the second day with remarks and provided instructions for the workshops planned for the following day.
The third day of the 2024 Global Forum was dedicated to interactive workshops. Delegates were organized into pre-assigned groups based on common language and engaged in three hypothetical scenario exercises. Each group was tasked with suggesting approaches and interventions to address challenges related to issues such as access to finance, international standards, technology transfer, women's engagement, and more. The results of each group's discussion were reported back to the larger forum, fostering a collaborative and solutions-oriented atmosphere.
Anil Sookdeo, Chemicals & Waste Focal Area Coordinator/Senior Environmental Specialist of the Global Environment Facility, officially closed the forum by sharing reflections on the discussions that had taken place and highlighting key opportunities identified. His forward-looking remarks provided a roadmap for the activities and initiatives that lie ahead for the planetGOLD programme.
Later that day, regional networking meetings facilitated meaningful dialogue on region-specific ASGM challenges and fostered collaborative approaches to advance responsible mining practices. These meetings served as a platform for delegates to connect, share experiences, and explore potential partnerships.
Looking Forward: The Future of Responsible Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining
The 2024 planetGOLD Global Forum on ASGM was more than just a conference; it was a catalyst for change, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders committed to making a positive impact in the ASGM sector. The forum's success lay in its ability to foster collaboration, exchange knowledge, and inspire action among its participants.
The planetGOLD Philippines team takes a group photo with Filipino delegates representing the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Central Bank of the Philippines, Cebuana Lhuiller, National Coalition of Small-scale Miners in the Philippines, Sagada Local Government Unit, and NSBSSMAI.
As the ASGM sector continues to evolve, the connections and collaborations formed at the forum will play a crucial role in driving sustainable and responsible mining practices. The insights and strategies shared during the event will guide the global ASGM community as it works towards a more sustainable and equitable future.
As we look ahead to the future, the lessons learned and the partnerships formed at the forum will be instrumental in shaping the future of the ASGM sector. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that the benefits of gold mining are shared by all.
The planetGOLD Philippines Project is funded by the Global Environment Facility, implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and executed by the Artisanal Gold Council.
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