Urgent approval of Minahang Bayan in Benguet pushed

FOLLOWING the national order to put an immediate stop to all mining operations outside prescribed areas, the Benguet Federation of Small-Scale Miners (BFSSM) are calling for a speedy approval for the applications of Minahang Bayan in the province.

BFSSM president Engr. Lomino Kaniteng has pleaded to Benguet officials to back up their request to the concerned agencies for the declaration of a Minahang Bayan.

Kaniteng said the order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez should consider those SSM associations who have already filed their application succeeding the implementation of the 1991 People's Small-scale Mining Act.

“The application for Minahang Bayan should be simplified for the SSMs to operate legally. If the Sangguniang Panlalawigan along with the Office the Governor can back-up in making a resolution, the problem can be addressed,” Kaniteng said.

At present, applications for the Minahang Bayan in the province is shelved although the request has already been submitted to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

Kaniteng added a Technical Working Group has been formed back in 2014 to profile local SSMs in Benguet and make a study in creating a Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB).

The PMRB will also take charge of submitting a Land Use Plan which will manage the areas declared as Minahang Bayan.

In a recent forum, MGB-CAR director Fay Apil said the applications for Minahang Bayan in Benguet are still being studied in the DENR Central Office.

Apil said the the delay of the approval is caused by the deficiencies in the documents filed by SSMs.

This include the certification issued by big mining companies which consent SSMs to operate in previously explored areas, including Free, Prior and Informed Consent which according to MGB only covers for the big mining corporations.

Kaniteng’s however said the feasibility study on the viability of a Minahang Bayan in the province should already be out.

“The presence of small-scale miners alone shows that it is technically feasible. There is no need for further exploration,” he added.