The Division is primarily responsible for the enforcement of the environmental, safety and social development/management  provisions of the Republic Act No. 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (DENR Administrative Order No. 96-40, as amended.)  This function includes the following:

• a. Management and administration of environmental, safety and health, and social development and management programs of large scale mining  operations, quarries and cement plants within the region;
• b.For small-scale mining, the division is also responsible for identification, delineation and evaluation of a particular locality for possible declaration as People’s Small-Scale Mining Area (PSSMA), and is likewise involved in the implementation of environmental protection, safety and health standards and community development in small scale mining areas;
• c.The Division further acts as Technical Working Group, coordinator and secretariat of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee, and its technical personnel serve as the heads of the Multipartite Monitoring Teams for various mining/quarrying/cement operators within the region

MINING ENVIRONMENT SECTION

• Processes and conducts evaluation of CEMCRR applications and prepares CEMCRR Certificates/Exemption;
• Conducts evaluation/monitoring of Environmental Work Programs;
• Conducts evaluation of Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP) of sand and gravel operations and quarry permits;
• Conducts evaluation of Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP) for large-scale mining operation;
• Facilitates establishment of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee MRFC;
• Effects establishment/operationalization of the Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT);
• Facilitates signing of Memorandum of Agreement on the Establishment of the Contingent Liability and Rehabilitation Fund (MOA-CLRF);
• Facilitates/Assists in the lodging of CLRF by various mining companies;
• Conducts evaluation/approval/monitoring of Annual  EPEP through the MMT’s headed by the MESD personnel;
• Acts as coordinator/secretariat in quarterly MRFC/MMT meetings;
• Conducts verification of submitted semi-annual report on Mine Waste and Tailings Produced/Utilized and Disposed;
• Conducts assessment/processing of Claims for Damages;
• Conducts environmental monitoring of mining/quarry/mineral processing operations with no approved  EPEP yet;
• Conducts assessment of areas/water quality of major river systems affected by operating and abandoned mines;
• Conducts investigation on issues and complaints on environment related matters;
• Conducts assessment of each mining operator’s accomplishment re: Adopt a Mountain, Adopt a Mining Forest Program;
• Conducts verification of the company’s accomplishment re: Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Awards (PMIEA);
• Review and endorse to EMB Regional Office comments on the IEE/EIS documents pertaining to mining and quarrying projects;
• Participates on project scoping /inspections, public hearings and EIA RevCom meetings;
• Conducts evaluation/issuance of certificate of approval re:  Social Development and Management Program (SDMP); and
• Conducts quarterly monitoring of annual SDMP based on the approved SDMP.

MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH SECTION

• Evaluates of Safety and Health Programs (SHP) of Mining  Companies;
• Endorses the evaluated SHP’s to MGB Central Office;
• Monitors Safety and Health Programs of Mining Companies;
• Conducts routinary safety and occupational health inspection of mining companies;
• Conducts preliminary assessment of safety records of mining companies in relation to the national PMSEA safest mining company awards and endorses the same  to MGB Central Office for final assessment;
• Processes applications for permits to safety engineer’s/inspector’s of mining companies and service contractors;
• Conducts annual inspection of explosives magazines of Purchaser’s license holders (mining companies and service contractors);
• Processes Applications for Purchaser’s License and Blasters foreman’s License of mining companies blasters and service contractors;
• Processes application to purchase and move explosive of mining companies and service contractors who have a service contract with legitimate mining companies/operators;
• Effects endorsement the processed applications (applications for explosives license and permit to purchase and move explosives) to the Chief PNP, GHQ Camp Crame, Quezon City;
• Submits routinary safety inspections (safety and occupational health, explosives magazines and mechanical/electrical) to MGB Central Office;
• Collates and endorses to MGB Central Office Quarterly Safety Performance Report and explosives consumption report on mining companies and service contractors;
• Conducts annual mechanical/electrical inspections of mining companies;
• Effects issuance of permit to operate mechanical installations of mining companies;
• Effects issuance of certificate of inspection of electrical installation of mining companies;
• Effects issuance of  permit to install mechanical/electrical installation to mining companies;
• Conducts Training on Mine Safety and First Aid;
• Participates as Safety Competition judges during the Annual Mine Safety and Environment Conference; and
• Investigates fatal mine

SMALL - SCALE MINING ENV’T SECTION

• Coordinates and attends meetings with PMRB/LGU’s;
• Identifies area suitable for people’s small scale mining areas;
• Delineates and assesses areas suitable for small scale mining areas;
• Conducts inventory of People Small Scale Mining areas;
• Prepares mineral distribution/location maps of PSSMA’s;
• Identifies areas for communal quarry;
• Delineates and assess areas for communal quarry;
• Conducts and submit to MGB Central Office simplified community assessment;
• Conducts safety health and environmental monitoring of small scale miners; and
• Conducts Training on Mine Safety and First Aid for Small Scale Mining Areas.