VILLAGE chiefs and clan leaders in the Loakan area expressed their opposition to mining anew.
Facing the local council during Monday’s regular session, leaders from the clans of Canuto, Paytocan, Pitlongay, Liwan, Siso and Otinguey with chiefs from Lucnab, Kias, Laoakan –Apugan, Atok Trail and Happy Hallow were united in opposing exploration Golden Era mining hopes to do in the area.
However, Engineer Ernesto Mangune from Golden Era Mining Corporation, despite the opposition implored to create a technical working group to thresh out fears of the community and try to reconcile laws which seem to be conflicting regarding their venture.
Mangune said the company is ready to follow the law and asked the government to help them follow the law but stressed they are confused on what law to follow.
“There are many conflicting rules and regulations. We want you to help us, and we are not doing anything and our permit will expire in a few months,” Mangune said.
On March 30, 2016 the Mines and Geosciences Bureau gave an exploration permit to the mining company with a condition they get consent from the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to conduct exploration.
NCIP representatives present said a field based investigation was done for Golden Era Mining to check if there are any ancestral claims in the area.
Claim holders in the area then issued an early rejection to the company.
Couniclor Art Allad-iw likewise posed his early opposition to the project in a resolution stating the areas in the permit have Certificate of Ancestral Domain Land Titles issued by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), banning any exploration without community consultation.
“There was no full blown consultation as required by Administrative Order No. 3 or the Revised Guidelines on the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and Related Processes issued by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and as such, no Certification Pre-condition (CP) was ever issued by the NCIP,” Allad-iw noted.
Allad-iw said for areas not covered by ancestral domain or land claims, there were no prior consultations done as required by the Local Government Code.
Golden Era Mining permit is set to expire in 2018 and covers over 448 hectares spanning Kias, Happy Hollow, Loakan Apugan and Atok Trail all in Baguio City and parts of Itogon, Benguet.
Mines and Geosciences chief Faye Apil was present during the meeting and detailed the history of New Era Mining which was formerly known as the Chico Mines operated in 1970’s.
In 2014, a deed of assignment was given the company to explore the now contested area.