THE PROVINCIAL Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB) of Benguet approved several guidelines in the processing and awarding of license, contract and temporary permits for small–scale mining.
In the Special PMRB meeting on January 25, in response to clamor of small–scale miners passed a resolution providing rules in the processing and awarding of small–scale mining contract (SSMC) for contractors within the declared Minahang Bayan covering a period of two years.
Some 64.64 hectares was earlier declared as a Minahang Bayan in Itogon, Benguet.
The board set the criteria in the awarding of the contract of which the area applied for must not be less than 1.25 hectares and not more than 20 hectares per contract.
Mandatory requirements include a payment of P10,000 for non-metallic minerals and P20,000 for gold, silver, and chromite. Small–scale miner’s also needed to pay a registration fee of P500.
The two year contract remains valid and renewable subject to verification by the PMRB.
A guideline in securing SSM license (SSML) and registration to the board is also set to establish a parameter detailing the procedures and requirements in securing a SSML, a mandatory requirement in the application for SSM contract.
In addition, another guideline establishes the policies and procedures in the processing and awarding of Temporary SSM Permit (TSSMP) covering a period of six months to qualified small–scale miners or Associations within the declared Minahang Bayan area.
Qualifications include SSM operation must be existing before August 1, 1987, the area applied for Minahang Bayan and the applicant should be registered with PRMB-Benguet, resident and member of the Indigenous Peoples in the area.
Copies of the guidelines and resolutions were further transmitted to Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu and Mines Geosciences Bureau director of Mines Wilfredo Moncano.