Geosciences bureau no longer looking for mining sites in Davao

THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Davao Region said Monday its office is no longer looking for areas in Davao City to be declared as people's mining site or "Minahan ng Bayan."

MGB regional director Edilberto Arreza, speaking during Monday's Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City, said this stemmed from the city's anti-mining stand.

"Hindi na kami naghanap kasi kailangan ng endorsement from the local government (We haven't tried to look for sites because it needs an endorsement from the local government)," he said.

Both Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte are firm in saying they opposed mining in the city.

The vice mayor even said whether there is President Benigno Aquino’s Executive Order (EO) No. 79, "institutionalizing and implementing reforms in the Philippine mining sector providing policies and guidelines to ensure environmental protection and responsible mining in the utilization of mineral resources," this will not hold any water in Davao City.

"Minahan ng Bayan," a common mining site for small-scale miners, is one of the provisions of the order.

"All small scale mining activities must be done within the minahan ng bayan," he said.

Arreza said EO 79 is not intended to supersede local ordinances and resolutions, but only makes them consistent with the national policy on mining.

Arreza added that some salient points of the EO 79 include addressing of issues of small scale mining, increase government share from mineral productions, and environmental provisions of the mining policy.

He said the executive order will take effect after 60 days of its issuance, and that an implementing rules and regulations (IRR) must be made within this period.

He said in areas where there are applications for mining explorations and operations can still be declared as "minahan ng bayan." But, those sites wherein applications for mining operations have been approved already, these can no longer be declared as people's mining site.

Areas declared as peoples' mining sites are Diat, Biasan, and Boringot in Pantukan, Compostela Valley; Dinagsaan, Banay-Banay in Davao Oriental; Maco in Compostela Valley; Gupitan and Talaingod in Davao del Norte.

Other declared "Minahan ng Bayan" areas include Inupuan and Saraban in Nabuntural, Compostela Valley.

"We need many people's mining sites as possible to accommodate small-scale miners," he added.