Ore processing in Benguet extended

SMALL scale miners in Benguet province are given until the end of the year to process their remaining gold-ore.

Fay Apil, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Cordillera director and the current chairman of the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board together with co-chair and Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso and small-scale mining federation president Lomino Kaniteng Friday, December 7 signed and approved the resolution “Extending the Temporary Small-Scale Mining Processors Permit (TSSMPP) for the small scale mining associations to process their remaining ore stockpiles.”

“After the November 30, deadline, the board received from the different associations requests for the extension of the issued TSSMPP in order to process their remaining ore stockpiles. The board finds the said requests for extension valid,” the PMRB resolution reads.

The PMRB added the extension until December 31 will still be subjected to the same terms and conditions to be monitored and validated by the technical working group and concerned implementing government agencies.

The board added there will be no more extension after the given period and advised all concerned associations and operators to stop their processing operations at the end of the extended period.

It can be recalled that this was not the first time the board granted the plight of the SSM associations, previously a meeting held October 29.

The board allowed small scale miners to process their ore stockpiles limited to milling and sluicing until November 30.

At least 51 associations acquired permit from the board, with 34 coming from Itogon, nine in Mankayan, two in Bakun, one in Bokod, and five in Tuba.

TSSMPP include the hauling of extracted ores to the processing plant and limited to ball mill, and sluicing activities.

The PMRB was tasked by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu to address the appeal of the small-scale miners in Benguet.

The PMRB at any time can evoke the permit if they fail to comply with any of the terms of the conditions stated within the temporary processing permit.