The National Community Relations Practitioners of the Philippine Mining and Mineral Industry (NCRPP), in partnership with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and CREDO–Caraga, Inc., successfully held its 1st National Community Relations Officers’ and Practitioners Congress (ComRel NatCon) on September 17–18, 2025 in Butuan City, Caraga Region.
The event brought together nearly 200 participants from mining companies, government agencies, and development partners across the country. With the theme “Bridging Perspectives, Building the Future: A Congress for Shared Progress,” the Congress highlighted the importance of inclusivity, engagement, and collaboration in advancing responsible mining and community development.
Key activities included the ratification of the NCRPP Constitution and By-laws, the adoption of its organizational structure, and workshops on the Association’s strategic directions. Plenary sessions covered sustainable development concepts, the Theory of Change, ICT4rM – which stand for ICT support for Responsible Mining (a digital innovation to track mining related activities/contributions), and the sharing of best practices in mining communities.
One of the event’s major highlights was the launching of the ComRel Academy, envisioned as a hub for professional development, training, and knowledge sharing among practitioners. A mine tour and benchmarking activity was also introduced to showcase actual applications of sustainable practices in the industry.
The Congress concluded with a strong call for unity and collaboration, as participants committed to strengthening their roles as partners of communities in shaping inclusive and sustainable progress.
The 1st ComRel NatCon stands as a milestone event for NCRPP, setting the foundation for a stronger, more professionalized community relations practice in the Philippine mining industry.
