Engr. Abelardo Magpali has had a very prolific career in the mining industry, being a CEO of Benguet Nickel Inc., one of the biggest and oldest mining companies in the country. He practically made the rounds of all mining companies in the country and successfully managed resource extraction projects for open pit mines (nickel, copper and polymetallic minerals), including aggregates, crushing plant operations as well as limestone quarry operations for cement manufacturer. He was able to reopen the operations of an open pit goldmine which was submerged and abandoned for a long time. He developed drilling patterns and reduced the cost of mining operations.
Engr. Magpali believes in the tenet of “responsible mining.” His last work stint was with Macventures Mining Corporation in 2016 where his team successfully implemented community projects with the Manobo Tribe, an indigenous people (IP) living in Mindanao. This landmark project included livelihood assistance as well as delineation of burial sites, hunting and fishing grounds, and free electricity for the community.
Another of his notable contributions in the mining industry is his initiation of the Social Development and Management Program in his work as a resident manager for Cagdianao Mining Corporation (Nickel Asia Corporation) from 2013 to 2014. His team developed a holistic program which was fully funded by the company and monitored quarterly. He established units which dealt with community immersion. It also included workshops on community watershed rehabilitation; baseline data gathering to get operational and post effects of mines operation; the inclusion of technology transfer; funding of scholars; and researches on demo farm, solar electrification, use of biofertilizers and phytoremediation of mine sites. The project included the development of health services for the host and neighbouring community, educational support service at all levels including construction of a school building, development of livelihood programs, provision of basic public utilities and most remarkable is the protection and respect to the socio-cultural values of the IPs.
He believes that the host community must fully benefit from the mining operations and their environmental issues must be a prime concern of the mining operators.