The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region 11 will no longer classify any part of Davao City as a mining site or reservation, according to its head Edilberto Arreza.
Speaking during at the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday, Arreza said it is an exercise in futility to push Davao City as mining investment area given the strong advocacy of the political leadership of the city against mining.
Arreza said a mining investment needs the concurrence of the local government in any activity pertaining to mining and surely any investor will have difficulty in getting the corresponding permits if the local government does not allow it.
“One of the requirements in the declaration of “Minahang Bayan” is an endorsement from the local government. It will be useless to look for a mining site in the city if it will not be endorsed by the mayor,” he said.
The MGB chief identified the existing “Minahang Bayan” in the region namely Biasong, Diat and Boringot in Pantukan, Compostela Valley; Tanding, Lumanggang and Panoraon in Maco, Compostela Valley; Inupuan and Saraban in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley; and Punta Linao, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental.
Arreza said their agency is also studying possible mining sites in Davao del Sur.
“The new mining policy is not designed to supersede local ordinances. It merely provides that local ordinances must be consistent with the national law,” he pointed out.
Arreza explained that Executive 0rder 79 was issued to address concerns like the small-scale mining, increased government share, environmental provisions on the mining law and the local ordinances against the national law.
He said that MGB is awating for the implementing rules and regulations which will be released 60 days following the signing of the EO by President Benigno Aquino III.
Arreza said the first to be implemented will be the provisions on the Minahang Bayan.
He said this provision states that all small-scale mining activity must be situated solely in Minahang Bayan.
“Operations within the Minahang Bayan can go on as long as operators have the corresponding small-scale mining contract with the government,” Arreza said. [PNA]
