CONSULTATIONS are now ongoing for the creation of a Minahang Bayan in Benguet Province.
Benguet Federation of Small-Scale Miners (BFSSM) president Lomino Kaniteng told SunStar Baguio there are ongoing talks around the province, particularly in different barangays for the proposed Minahang Bayan.
The consultations came after the small scale mining (SSM) group was alarmed with the recent pronouncement of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez to immediately stop all small-scale mining outside the prescribed Minahang Bayan areas.
Initially, the group agreed to name eight municipalities in the province as Minahang Bayan areas and will present their plan in the next meeting with the DENR.
Kaniteng said since the announcement, there has been no formal notice from the DENR to date to stop their operations.
The federation president said since 2004, there have been Minahang Bayan applications but not one has been approved.
Kaniteng said all areas in the province are owned by large scale mining companies which leave SSM advocates no more areas to legally operate.
There are now at least 25,000 SSM operations in Benguet with 66 associations established, all trying to make a living out the mountains of the highlands.
Small scale miners are still waiting for mining regulations after Executive Order 79 or the institutionalizing and implementing reforms in the Philippine mining sector was signed into law by former President Benigno Aquino.