BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - The Mines and Geo – science and Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR – MGB) affirmed that women are gaining ground in the male-dominated mining industry workforce in the Cordillera Region.

MGB – CAR Regional Director Fay Apil, in a recent Kapihan forum, reported that although mining is still a male dominated industry, more women are now   being employed in the Cordillera mining companies. 

Apil said their data shows at least 523 women are working in the mining industry in the region in 2023, many of them golding managerial, supervisory and technical/engineering positions. They are employed at Philex Mining Corporation (PMC), Lepanto Mining Consolidated Inc. (LMCI), Itogon Suyoc Resources Inc. (ISRI) Crescent Mining and Development Corporation (CMDC) and the operational small-scale mining in the region.

Apil outlined that with the technological advances and mechanization in the mining sector, as well as more women gaining education and skills in the field of engineering and mining - related courses, it provides better opportunity for women to enter the industry.

Engr. Alaine Mildred Villegas of the LMCI shared that the growing number of women and even LGBTQ++ personnel in the company and support of the management to them. Villegas is the superintendent of the metallurgy operations of the mining company.

ISRI Chief Mine Engineer Lyza Dim Apioten recognized that that with the help of technology and innovations, works in the mine are becoming less physical, which gives women equal opportunity to work on operations. Apioten heads a four–female team that do the mine planning for ISRI.

“ISRI is my first job, through the years of working at the company I witnessed how the transition from manual to mechanized equipment gave chance to women to adopt to the working condition of a mining company,” Chief Electrical Engineer Abigail Pis-oy added.

For PMC, Finance Division Manager Roselyn Dahilan affirmed the company’s continuing commitment on gender and development (GAD) and the growing female personnel in the company not only in management positions but across the rank. There are professionals, engineers, geologists and even female welders, she said. ed.

Other panelists in the forum were CMDC Community Facilitator Arsenia Addon, and Philex Mine Host Community – Camp 3 Tuba Benguet Punong Barangay Dalmaia Dino who also shared testaments of women empowerment within the company and in the host communities. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)