Government to finance mining education

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it would finance the university education of selected students who enroll in geoscience courses in order to boost the ranks of geologists and mining experts.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said he had directed the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to increase its scholarship grants in these courses to attract future geologists who could help the geohazard mapping and assessment program of the government.

Paje said the scholarship was for incoming college freshmen, particularly those who graduated at the top of their class.

“The past years saw a steady decline in geologists and mining and metallurgical engineers in the MGB for two reasons—their recruitment by the private sector or their going abroad which offers bigger salaries, and a halt in DENR’s recruitments because of the rationalization program,” Paje said.

The MGB has 88 geologists—a small number for a geologically active country like the Philippines that constantly struggles with landslides, earthquakes and volcano eruptions. The bureau has posted 120 vacant positions for the job.

Twelve students have been granted scholarships by the MGB and are enrolled in geology, mining engineering and metallurgical engineering at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Adamson University, Mapua, Cebu Institute of Technology and University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City.

An MGB scholarship covers tuition, a monthly stipend of P3,000 and a book allowance.

Applicants may inquire from the bureau’s scholarship committee at the MGB central office, North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. Kristine L. Alave