Mining summit set on October 28

THE Cordillera Regional Minerals Development Council (RMDC) has set a mining summit at the Pinesview Hotel on October 28.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje will be the guest of honor and speaker of the one day regional mining summit.

The summit aims to present the general situation of the mining industry in the Cordillera region and the potentials of the provinces in the industry.

It also aims at providing a venue for the discussion of issues and concerns on mining and formulates recommendations on how to address this situation. The summit is also an avenue to promote responsible mining.

Participants include different mining stakeholders in private and government sectors.

Local government chief executives specifically from mining communities and regional line agencies will also be joining the summit.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Director Samuel Paragas will present the situation and the potentials of mining industry in the Cordillera Region.

The mining industry indicators show the significant contribution of mining to the economy. At the national level, gross value production in 2008 was P88.9 billion equivalent to 1.2 percent of Gross Domestic Product.

In the region, the potential of the mining industry continues to hold promise with its estimated gold ore reserves of 42.8 million metric ton and copper ore reserves of 1.3 billion metric ton. Estimated minerals production in 2007 was 6,061 kilogram of gold, 5,206 kilogram of silver and 79, 254 DMT of copper.

On the other hand, Bureau of Local Government and Finance Regional Director Ricardo Cawed will present LGU revenues and benefits derived from mining in the different provinces.

National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) Regional Director Amador
Batay-an will discuss the Indigenous People Rights Act (IPRA) in relation with the mining industry.

Batay-an will explain the process of the Free Prior and Informed Consent which is a basic requirement in obtaining exploration and mining permits here in the region.

Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan, concurrent co-chairperson of the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board, will give a situationer report of the Small Scale Mining(SSM) industry in the province .

Small scale mining is one of the main industries of Benguet. At present, there are more than 8,000 small scale miners operating in the different municipalities and there are nine mining permits issued by the provincial government under the PMRB.

Many of these miners are registered under the Benguet Federation of Small Scale Miners, Inc. but many are still undocumented.

During the event, participants will also forge an agreement among concerned stakeholders and foster cooperation for the implementation of an action plan to implement decisions in the mining industry.(Redjie Cawis)