Benguet Corp gets ISO certification

BENGUET Corporation’s ( BC) Benguet Gold Operations ( BGO) in the Benguet province has recently been awarded the ISO 14001:2015 certification on Environment Management and became the first gold mining operations in the country to be certified under the 2015 version.

The ISO 14001:2015 is an internationally agreed standard that specifies the requirements for an environmental management system that an organization can use to enhance its environmental performance. ISO states that this standard is used by the organization seeking to manage its environmental responsibilities in a sys- tematic manner that contributes to the environmental pillar of sustainability.

The TÜVRheinland ® , headquartered in Cologne, Germany is a leader in international certification in the Philippines working as an independent body in evaluating management systems, granted the EMS certification to BGO.

TÜVRheinland ® worked closely with Benguet Corporation’s ISO Certification Overall Project Head and VP for Human Resources, Administration and Corporate Governance Compliance Officer Chuchi Cole-del Prado in fostering a culture of excellence among BGO’s key ISO implementers.

“The BGO team worked as one in pursuit of this certification. This is a testament to the dedication and resolve of the whole organization to be at the forefront of what responsible mining is all about. We have a very competent team with HR Manager, Eloisa Segarra as ISO SiteLead, who worked with BGO’s Resident Manager Antonino Buenavista and their ISO Core Team Lead/ Geologist Godfrey Atienza”, del Prado said.

This certification now makes BGO compliant with the latest administrative order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)(DENR DAO 2015-07) mandating all existing mining firms to secure the ISO Certi- fication on environmental management systems on or before May 2016.

The Gold Operation’s organization has always prided themselves as keepers of the natural ecosystem in Benguet with the people who were born and raised on these lands have an affinity that transcends the mining activities which nature has generously allowed them to do.

The certification is a confirmation of the safeguards of the company’s existing operations that aim to ensure and adheres to the tenets of responsible mining and should help dispel claims from misinformed sectors that mining activities are the sole cause of destruction to the environment. PR