Firm opposes 'Minahang Bayan' applications

BAGUIO. Two miners check on the quality of gold ores in one of the big mining sites in Benguet. Benguet Corporation, one of the oldest mining firms in the country, has filed its opposition to the application of Minahang Bayan in some of its patented claims. (Photo by Roderick Osis)
BAGUIO. Two miners check on the quality of gold ores in one of the big mining sites in Benguet. Benguet Corporation, one of the oldest mining firms in the country, has filed its opposition to the application of Minahang Bayan in some of its patented claims. (Photo by Roderick Osis)

BENGUET Corporation (BC) has filed its opposition to the “Minahang Bayan” applications filed by the Benguet Federation of Small-Scale Miners (BFSSM) considering more than 90 percent of the applied area falls within the company’s patented claims and tenement.

BC presented a five-page protest submitted to the Benguet Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (BPMRB) seeking the outright disapproval of the Minahang Bayan application of the group because it transgresses and is considered to be within private properties covered by patended mineral lands and valid patentable mineral lands under its name located at Luaccan, Antamok, Acupan, Virac, Tuding, Ucab, Gumatdang and Ampucao in Itogon, Benguet.

The mine firm emphasized the Minahang Bayan applications were filed without its consent and as shown in the publication made on June 10, 2018, initial survey investigation of the areas applied for showed that these transgress either the whole or portions of its mineral lands and patentable mineral lands more particularly those covered by Parcel, 1, Parcel 2, Parcel 3 and Parcel 8.

The protest added the area covered by Parcel 1 of the application consisting of 200 hectares is entirely within the patented and patentable mineral lands of the company and considering that the affected mining patents are owned by Philex Mining Corporation which under royalty agreement with BC, it will provide the PMRB with copies of the said documents.

Of the 1,100 hectares covered by Parcel 2 of the application, BC disclosed 745 hectares transgress into the patented and patentable mineral lands of the company while of the 1,600 hectares covered by Parcel 3 of the application, 967 hectares transgress into the company’s mineral lands.

Of the 440 hectares covered by Parcel 8 of the Minahang Bayan application, BC asserted 157 hectares also transgress into its patentable and patented mineral lands.

BC underscored that majority of the areas subject of the application covers almost 90 percent of the total patented and patentable mineral lands of the company located in the mining communities of the town wherein the company was able to acquire legal rights and interests over its mining properties and it will definitely be deprived of the said rights for the conduct of its mining business in a manner that it deems fit and proper with the approval of the minahang bayan application.

According to the protest, among the areas included in the assailed minahang bayan application have been earlier identified as part of the rehabilitation options of the company under its final mine rehabilitation and decommissioning plan for its mine operations in Antamok.

BC argued part of the company’s mineral lands affected by the applications are subject of existing contracts or agreements with the local government, Department of Education and the community such as the town’s temporary residual containment area for use of the locality, the usufruct for the Balatoc and Acupan Elementary Schools, the area donated as relocation area to the residents of Camangga-an, Virac, Itogon, among others.

On the other hand, BC pointed out areas in Acupan are being operated by the company in partnership with the community as contractors under its Acupan Contract Mining Project with existing permit from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and it has already identified and approved the declaration of 2 Minahang Bayan sites in portions of its Antamok mineral claims containing a total area of 86.2493 hectares and the same was declared in the company’s aim to give back to the community and indigenous peoples by providing them legitimate livelihood and regulate unregulated mining activities.

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