In a situationer of the minerals industry in the Cordillera presented during the Regional Minerals Development Council recently, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Director Neoman dela Cruz identified these as Project 3000 of the Itogon-Suyoc Resources, Teresa Gold Project, Far Southeast Gold Project, and Victoria--all of the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co., Acupan Contract Mining Project of the Benguet Corporation Contractors, and the Padcal Copper Expansion Project of Philex Mining Co.
Except for the Far Southeast Gold Project and Project 3000, the four are currently operating with gold and silver as the common minerals. Only the Padcal project has copper as its commodity.
Dela Cruz said most of the workable ore deposits in Northern Luzon are found in central Cordillera central include metallic minerals like gold, copper, silver, lead, iron and zinc. The non-metallic minerals include clay, limestone, sulfur, sand and gravel.
As mining is contributory to the economic growth of the region, the MGB is active in promoting big and small scale mining that adhere to the principles of sustainable development, environmental protection, and social equity, Dela Cruz said.
As of August 2007, there are three big scale and two small-scale metallic mine producers and eight non-metallic producers in the Cordillera. Nine mines are also listed as non-operating. For mining rights and applications, nine mineral production sharing agreement, two exploration permits, and four ISAG have been issued. Under process are 54 APSA, 43 EXPA, 10 AFTA and two ISAG.
In 2006, the mining industry generated some 14,000 jobs: 6,000 from metallic and 8,000 from the non-metallic sectors. The MGB report added that large scale mining production last year for gold was 4,954 kilograms valued at P4,715,579,417; silver at 5,206 kilograms valued at P194,775,623, and copper with 71,842 DMT valued at P5,910,271,661.
Reported gold production from small scale miners was only 1,935 grams valued at P1,75,875. Most small-scale miners are selling their gold to private buyers and this can hardly be recorded.
The MGB reported that for last year, excise tax paid amounted to more than P38 million, national and local imposed taxes reached P137 million, while occupational fees directly paid to municipalities was pegged at about P1 million.
The local government units, on the other hand, collected extraction fees valued at P1,644,248.
Dela Cruz assured that in the promotion of responsible mining, they ensure the implementation of environmental and social development programs of mining companies.
An Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP) details the methods and procedures the company would use in attaining its environmental and management objective over the life of the mine.
A Social Development and Management Program (SDMP), on the other hand, mandates mining companies to assist host and neighboring communities in terms of education, health, livelihood and IEC activities to ensure their sustainable development even at the end of mining life.
As of December 2006, Philex Mining Corporation spent nearly P2 billion while Lepanto reported a little over P404 million under their SDMP for various activities and projects for mine camps and host neighboring communities.
Three others, namely Mountain Rock Aggregates, ML Carantes Development & General Construction, and the BC-ACMP have spent P2,240,234; P1,814,645; and P45,098,042 for their SDMPs, respectively.
Dela Cruz also informed that under the EPEP, a total of P195,594,332.25 was the actual expenditures for AEPEP by Philex, Mountain Rock Aggregates, and ML Carantes Construction while P131,783,674.06 was the actual cost of IAEPEP of BC-ACMP, Lepanto, Itogon-Suyoc Resources Inc., and Benguet Corp-Benguet Antamok Gold Operation.
Meanwhile, Dela Cruz said the DENR-MGB will complete the geo-hazard mapping and assessment of municipalities region-wide to pinpoint geo-hazard prone areas in each barangay. This would help reduce the negative impact of natural geologic hazards on the residents.
MGB has reportedly asked the help of private mining companies in the conduct of geo-hazard mapping, especially in priority areas in the region.
Production of geo-hazard maps of all completed municipalities for distribution to various local government units and other stakeholders would hopefully be realized next year, Dela Cruz said.
