CORDILLERA Administrative Region's first small-scale mining contract was finally signed in Itogon, Benguet on May 2.
The contract was signed by Loakan Itogon Pocket Miners Association (LIPMA) president Eduardo Kingay, Mines Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Director Fay Apil.
Local officials and small-scale miners witnessed the ceremony.
Apil, who is also the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB) chairperson, stressed the significance of the contract since it is the first of its kind in the region. She also addressed the challenge to the group to "strictly adhere to the conditions of the contract and prove that small scale miners can produce responsible mining."
In order to legally mine, Apil added LIPMA has to get an environment compliance certificate and then they have to work on the mineral processing permit to be obtained from the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board of Benguet (PMRB).
On April 23, the board passed a resolution awarding the small-scale mining contract to LIPMA.
In January, a declaration of a “minahang bayan” area was made by the PRMB after a clearance from Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu.
The applied “minahang bayan” area by LIPMA covers 64.6 hectares but only 15 hectares will be utilized for the mining and the centralized processing area.
The mining area is located within the patented mineral claims of Benguet Corporation Inc. which earlier made an endorsement followed by a certificate of non-overlap provided by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in the Cordillera region.
Daniel Pay-an, director and spokesperson of LIPMA, said the contract is effective for two years and renewable every two years.
LIPMA foresees more than 1,000 members will mine the area. Following the contract signing, he said the group expressed its gratitude and plans to conduct meetings and pursue to apply the ECC at the Environment Management Bureau.