Villaraza & Angangco Law Offices hosted on 05 March 2007 at its Makati office a networking seminar on the Philippine Mining Industry, which provided high-level corporate executives from companies based in Queensland, Australia a distinct opportunity to interact with government representatives and industry leaders to further explore possible business opportunities in mining and natural resources development in the Philippines, including potential joint ventures with Philippine companies.

Presented in partnership with the Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the seminar was a follow-on event to the Philippine Roadshow held in Australia in August 2005, which demonstrated the Philippine government's renewed commitment to actively promote Philippine industries.

The Queensland delegation was headed by Ms. Sallyanne Atkinson, the Queensland Government's Special Representative for South East Asia. The following Queensland companies participated in the seminar: IRES Remote Corporate Services; OFB Corporation (Global) Pty Ltd; Elasto Plastic Concrete; EPC International Synthetic Fibre Reinforcement; Atlantic Civil Products Pty Ltd; Ludowici South East Asia Ltd; Leighton Contractors; Ausenco Asia Pty Ltd; and Australian Trades Pty Ltd.

On the part of the Philippines, the following mining companies were represented: Benguet Corporation; Sagittarius Mines, Inc.; Natural Resources Mining Development Corporation; Philex Mining Corporation; and Surigao Integrated Resources Corporation.

To open the event, Atty. Patricia Bunye of Villaraza & Angangco presented an overview of the l egal framework of the Philippine minerals industry . Engr. Benjamin de Vera of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources spoke on the status of priority mining projects/other projects. Mr. Noel Rabaja and Atty. Romulo Danao, both of SGV & Co., thereafter gave a background on incentives available to the mining industry in the Philippines.

As a result of the seminar, Queensland companies are now looking forward to partnering with local mining companies in terms of providing an array of services and equipment to mining companies.