RDC backs Guimaras' exclusion from country's mining areas
The Regional Development Council (RDC) recently approved a resolution supporting the provincial government of Guimaras in its plea to exclude the island-province from the list of mining areas in the country.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional director Lormelyn Claudio yesterday confirmed that the RDC affirmed the stand of the provincial government denying the entry of large-scale mining and exploration operations in the province.
The approval of mineral production sharing agreements (MPSA) and exploration applications are done in the DENR national office. The regional office only takes charge in the conduct of environmental impact assessment in the area applied for by the mining firms, said Claudio.
The RDC is the highest governing policy body in the region that lays out development plan for the provinces. They (national office) will consider the sentiments of the RDC, said Claudio.
The Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (Migedc) was also furnished with copies of the RDC resolution. The province of Guimaras, Iloilo City and several municipalities namely Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Oton, Leganes and San Miguel comprise the Migedc.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) issues the exploration permit for the interested parties. The exploration permit is done to check the abundance in the applied site, said Claudio.
According to Guimaras Governor Felipe Nava, 65 percent of the province's total land area has been a target site of proposed mining and exploration application and applicants are not locally based.
At present, four companies applied for MPSA and exploration permits applications (EXPA) in order to unearth the mineral deposits in the province. Two of the applications were granted by the national government.
EXPA is an initial mode of entry in mineral exploration allowing a Qualified Person to undertake exploration activities for mineral resources in certain areas open to mining in the Philippines.
While, MPSA is an approved Application for Production Sharing Agreement (APSA). In a granted MPSA the Government shares in the production of the contractor, whether in kind or in value, as owner of the minerals. In return, the contractor provides the necessary financing, technology, management and personnel for the mining project.
The applicants are the Fil-Asian Strategic Resources & Properties Corp.; Dorilag Cement Corporation; Global Philippines Mining & Development Corporation and Next Generation Mining Development Corporation.
The Fil-Asian Strategic Resources & Properties Corp applied for an area of 2,483.32 hectares in Nueva Valencia. The application covers 20 percent of the total area of the town. The application is already approved.
The MPSA for the Dorilag Cement Corporation was already approved in the towns of Jordan and Buenavista. The total land area approved for limestone is 1,794.60 hectares. Of the total areas approved, 1,304.60 hectares is in Jordan and the remaining 490 hectares is in Buenavista.
The EXPA for Global Philippines Mining and Development Corporation is still on process. They have applied to explore 15,759 hectares to check the available mineral deposits such as iron, copper, gold among others. The applied areas cover the towns of Jordan, San Lorenzo, Sibunag and Nueva Valencia.
The Next Generation Mining and Development Corporation applied for an area of 16,420 hectares to explore mineral deposits such as gold, iron and copper in the towns of Jordan, Buenavista, Sibunag and San Lorenzo. The application is still on process.
Nava said the mining and exploration applications in the province is contrary to their development program. It will affect the province's environmental management program as they are pushing for an eco-agri-tourism province.