PRESS RELEASE
June 11, 2021
BAN Toxics partners up with Caraga State University for research and promotion of sound chemicals and wastes management
June 11, 2021—In celebration of the World Day Against Child Labor on June 12, Environmental watchdog organization BAN Toxics collaborates with the Mineral Resources Management Research and Training Center of Caraga State University for a joint research venture focusing on the promotion of sound chemicals and wastes management, particularly, but not limited to, mining and its remediation.
In an online Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing event on June 11, 2021, BAN Toxics and Caraga State University formalized the partnership for the joint research venture. Reynaldo San Juan Jr., executive director of BAN Toxics, and Dr. Anthony Penaso, president of Caraga State University, were the signatories to the event.
In 2018, BAN Toxics, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), developed Compassionate Gold Business Model, an offshoot product of the CARING Gold Project to reduce child labor and improve working conditions in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities in the Philippines.
Compassionate Gold is the brand of gold obtained from the legally operated Philippine ASGM sector, produced without child labor, free from mercury and hazardous work, with care for the welfare of the people and mining communities; as well as the environment, no gender inequality, and does not contribute to armed conflict. It puts the welfare of the people, the future of children without child labor, and the planet at the center of artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
BAN Toxics and Compassionate Gold aims to support ASGM communities by improving social and environmental conditions through close coordination and cooperation with mining communities, local government agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.
“The organization will continue its mandate to protect the people and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and all other chemicals of concern. We will also continue to help withdraw as many child laborers from the ASGM sector as we can,” says Reynaldo San Juan, executive director of BAN Toxics.
“With the help of the Mineral Resources Management Research and Training Center of Caraga State University, we hope that this will strengthen our stance against chemicals of concern and hazardous wastes,” San Juan adds.
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Media Contact:
Melendre Heidyl Dela Torre, Communications Officer
melendre@bantoxics.org | 09175142956