LA TRINIDAD, Benguet–The Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) of Benguet has finally approved the small scale mining contract for the first Minahang Bayan (MB) in the province and in the Cordillera region.
“This is a historic triumphant day” said Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB)-Cordillera Regional Director and PMRB Chairperson Faye Apil following the PMRB meeting at the Benguet Provincial Capitol on Tuesday, April 23.
Apil said that the PMRB Benguet passed a resolution for the approval of the mining contract between the Loacan Itogon Pocket Miners Association (LIPMA) and the government of the Philippines.
The MB site applied for is located within the patented mineral claims of Benguet Corporation Inc. which earlier made an endorsement. It was issued a certificate of non-overlap by the National Commission in Indigenous Peoples-Cordillera.
The Benguet PMRB in January this year declared an area in Loacan, Itogon as a minahang bayan applied for by the LIPMA. The PMRB made the declaration after the clearance coming from the office of the DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu.
The area applied for by the LIPMA covers 64.6486 hectares, however, only 15 hectares will be used for the mining area and centralized processing center of the LIPMA, Apil said.
In the coming weeks, the PMRB will award the contract to the mining association and mining operations will start.
Benguet Federation of Small Scale Miners President Engineer Lomino Kaniteng expressed gladness to the approval of the first small scale mining contract in the province.
“It is good that we were able to tackle and resolve conflicts and issues before awarding the mining contract and we are very happy for that since nothing has been awarded with a contract despite having so many applicants because of the very tedious requirements set by the government,” said Kaniteng.
Dr. Peter Cosalan, PMRB member representing the non-government organization, reminded that contractors and miners should ensure safe, environment-friendly and efficient extraction, processing and retrieval of gold and associated mineral deposits existing in the contract area.
Benguet Provincial Administrator Noel Ngolob, who represented Gov. Crescencio Pacalso, said the provincial government is optimistic that more minahang bayan will be approved and other small scale mining contracts will be awarded so that more people will have alternative livelihood.
Apil said at least eight more minahang bayan are pending for approval in Benguet and at least three in Apayao. **JDP/RMC- PIA CAR
