President Duterte Appoints New MGB Chief

President Rodrigo Duterte has designated Mario Luis Jacinto as the new director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

Jacinto replaced Leo Jasareno, who had been the MGB director for the past five years.

The President also named Jacinto as Undersecretary at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and gave him authority over the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

Jacinto started as a geologist at the Bureau of Mines regional office for Mindanao in 1977, working his way up the ranks to become executive director of MGB in the Davao region until 1992.

After leaving the bureau, he worked with mining firms in various capacities as consultant, including stints with the Minexplo group, Delta Mining Corp., Aromac Minerals Corp., Placer Pacific (Philippines) Ltd.

In the past 15 years, Jacinto held different positions at City Hall in Davao City, including consultant on development and planning. (PNA) JMC/LGI