THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Davao said no mining application have been approved nor processed recently.
“No mining application has been approved nor processed recently as the moratorium on mining application is still in effect by virtue of EO 79 vis-à-vis DENR Memorandum Order No. 2016-01, or the “Audit of all Operating Mines and Moratorium on new Mining Projects,” MGB 11 Regional Director lawyer Jasper Alberto H. Lascano said.
To date, tenement records show that MGB-Davao has only 17 approved and existing Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA), one Exploration Permit, and one Industrial Sand and Gravel Permit (ISAG).
Among these approved and existing claims, MGB Davao region has only three operating and processing mining projects namely: Holcim Mining and Development Corp., APEX Mining Co., Inc and Guidance Management Corp. The rest are still under exploration stage.
As of present, MGB Davao has pending mining applications as follows: 36 MPSA, 119 EP, one Financial Technical Assistance Agreement or FTAA, and four ISAG.
Lascano clarified that these applications are not yet approved nor denied. The non-processing, according to Lascano is in compliance with Executive Order 79, a policy ensuring environmental protection and increase in revenues promoting economic and social development at the national and regional level. (PR)