Romualdez named AFMA president

Chamber of Mines of the Philippines president Benjamin Philip Romualdez has been named president of the ASEAN Federation of Mining Associations (AFMA) for 2004 and 2005.

Romualdez accepted the post in a simple turnover ceremony during Mining Philippines 2004’ conference held at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel on Feb. 19-20.

Muhamad Nor Muhamad, executive director of the Malaysian Mining Association in behalf of the AFMA president executed the turnover rites.

The ASEAN Federation of Mining Associations was established in Manila on Feb. 15, 1985 to foster cooperation and mutual assistance among the members in Southeast Asia, to exchange information and to foster research and studies relevant to the development of the minerals industry of ASEAN.

Following the ASEAN senior officers meeting on minerals (ASOMM) in Indonesia last year, the private sector cooperation in minerals in ASEAN will meet in Vientiane, Laos where AFMA shall finalize the road map of the AFMA forum.

The next Asia Pacific mining and quarrying conference shall be hosted by the Philippines late this year.

Romualdez, in accepting the AFMA presidency, told the conference that he will pursue the development of the minerals industry in the Asia Pacific countries to bring about prosperity in the more depressed areas of the region, in order to mitigate poverty which will help in the fight against terrorism.