MINES and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Acting Director Wilfredo G. Moncano became the bureau’s sole head Monday after Concurrent MGB Director Mario Luis J. Jacinto went on extended leave for health reasons.
“My health condition due to complications from diabetes requires me to go on extended medical leave. With the permission of (Environment department) Secretary (Roy A.) Cimatu, I requested that Director Moncano now take over as MGB Director,” Mr. Jacinto said in a mobile message on Wednesday.
Mr. Jacinto was designated concurrent director of the bureau by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in an order dated July 26, 2016. He remains Undersecretary for the department.
“I hope Dir. Moncano will be at the helm of the MGB for the long time to push for pro-active programs in the mining industry regulatory and development regime,” Mr. Jacinto added.
Mr. Moncano said the bureau under his watch will continue to remove red tape, in line with the administration’s direction.
“There’s a review now ongoing at the MGB for the possible streamlining of the processing [of permits]. If there are redundant steps in the application process then we might remove them to make the application process simpler,” Mr. Moncano said in a phone interview yesterday.
Mr. Moncano will retain his acting director designation until he is granted Career Executive Service Officer rank.
Mr. Moncano was appointed as acting director by the President in September 2016, replacing former MGB Director Leo L. Jasareno.
The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (CoMP) said it welcomed Mr. Moncano’s new status at the MGB.
“The industry will work well with the new director who understands mining, being a mining engineer and a lawyer,” the group said in a Wednesday statement.
The CoMP added that it is confident that a reversal of the orders issued by former Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez “have already been studied.”
Mr. Moncano said the bureau continues to review the orders but will not announce its position for now. — Janina C. Lim
