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MGB passes QMS, EMS audits

By Perfecto Raymundo, Jr.

January 30, 2023, 3:28 pm

MANILA – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has passed the Surveillance Audit for its International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015, Quality Management System (QMS), and Recertification Audit for its ISO 14001:2015, Environmental Management System (EMS).

The MGB is an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

In a website post on Monday, it said the audits were conducted by SGS Philippines, Inc. on Dec. 7, 2022 for the QMS and Dec. 19-21, 2022 for the EMS.

After almost two years of conducting audits virtually via Microsoft Teams, this year’s Surveillance and Recertification Audits were conducted onsite.

The audits aim to determine conformity of the QMS and EMS with the following criteria:

-- ability to ensure the applicable statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements are met;

-- effectiveness to ensure the client can reasonably expect to achieve specified objectives; and

-- ability to identify as applicable areas for potential improvement.

The frontline services subjected to the QMS Surveillance Audit include processing and approval of exploration permit applications including its renewal; processing and approval of environmental protection and enhancement program and final mine rehabilitation and/or decommissioning plan; and metallurgical and geological laboratory testing services for mineral industries.

The audit also covered the following newly enrolled processes:

-- Payment of Mine Waste and Mill Tailings Fee;

-- Chemical Laboratory Services;

-- Authority to Hire Foreign Nationals; and

-- Conduct of Mineral Resource Validation/Evaluation of Final Exploration Report.

The EMS Recertification Audit covered the laboratories, offices and support facilities/services including contractors operating within the MGB main office in Quezon City. (PNA) 

 

 

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