THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Davao Region has endorsed 13 more mining applications, which seek to secure exploration permits, to its central office in Manila.
But Edilberto Arreza, MGB Davao Region director, said in Monday's edition of "Kapehan sa Dabaw" at SM City Davao that approval of these applications is still pending.
"We submitted another 13 applications for exploration permits coming from different companies. This will allow these firms to conduct exploration activities for eight years, but they need to renew the permits every two years," he said.
Arreza did not name these companies that are keen to conduct mineral exploration in Davao Region.
But a check with the MGB website showed that as of March 2015 in the Mining Tenements Statistics, 14 whose status is endorsed to the central office but dates as far back as February 2010.
The areas being applied for cover a total of 55,883.91 hectares. These are:
* Aromac Mineral Corp. for NganCompostela, Comval with an area of 243 hectares for gold, etc.
* Ramonsito B. Uy for CalapaganLupon, Davao Oriental with an area of 648 hectares for Gold, etc.
* Batoto Resources Corp. for Camanlangan, New Bataan Comval with an area of 678.29 hectares for Gold, etc.
* Joseph P. Saucejo for KingkingPantukan,Comval with an area of 428.27 hectares for Silica.
* Loyalty Mining & Dev't. Corp. for Governonr Gereroso, Davao Oriental with an area of 567 hectares formerly held by Davao Luzon Minerals Co. Ltd. for chromite.
* Southern Horizon Mining Corp. for CalapaganMati, Davao Oriental with an area of 8,061.35 hectares formerly held by Apex Mining Co. Inc. for gold etc.
* HolcimPhils. Inc./Davao Union Cement Corp. for Biao Tugbok, Davao City with an area of 488.31 hectares for Silica
* HolcimPhils. Inc./Davao Union Cement Corp. for Tambo and San Isidro Babak, Samal City with an area of 1,029.69 hectares for Limestone.
* Southern Horizon Mining Corp. for Ayan and Boringot Pantukan, Comval with an area of 8,100 hectares for Gold, etc.
* Oro East Mining Co. Inc. for Pantukan, Comval with an area of 8,100 hectares for Gold, etc.
* Eastern Horizon Mining Co., Inc. for Guadan and ManurigaoMaragusan, Comval with an area of 8,100.00 hectares for Gold, etc.
* Zetoza Mineral Res. Corp. for Pantukan, Comval and Lupon, Davao Oriental with an area of 1,134 hectares for Copper, Gold etc.
* Jake Mining Corporation for Madagasang Maragusan, Comval with an area of 8,100 hectares for Gold, etc.
* Mina del Oriente Inc. for Nganang Nabok Compostela, Comval with an area of 10,206 hectares formerly held by Apex Mining Co. Inc. for Gold etc..
Arreza said once approved, these companies will be allowed to conduct exploration for at least two years, contrary to the six-month period as provided for in MGB's guidelines. (ASP)