BENGUET Board Member and Committee Chair on Mining Apolinario Camsol hopes for the approval of the provincial minahang bayan.
Camsol said there is hope for the approval of the Itogon site as after Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez sees Antamok as the pilot area for minahang bayan.
“That is a very good start for the small scale miners. This is an advantage for the miners,” Camsol said.
The board member said the establishment of minahang bayan will solve clamor of over 25,000 small-scale miners in province as the provincial council is still finalizing the proposed Small Scale Mining Ordinance.
“It is still on-going, after publication, I am optimistic that it will be passed by the end of March.”
Lopez has previously announced all small scale miners operating outside a minahang bayan site to cease operations.
Engr. Lomino Kaniteng, president of the Benguet Small-Scale Mining Federation, said there had been several Minahang Bayan applications filed since 2004 but these has yet to be processed by government regulators.
Camsol said twelve areas in two towns of the province were announced to be potential Minahang Bayan sites.
“Ten potential Minahang Bayan sites are located in Itogon while two possible Minahang Bayan sites will be in Tuba,” said Camsol.