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Friday, March 29, 2024

Benguet Corp. OKs Minahang Bayan

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ITOGON—Benguet Corp. announced that it supports the establishment of a Minahang Bayan within its mineral claims to sustain and regulate small-scale mining.

However, lawyer Froilan Roger Lawilao, BC administration head, said there was a need for the concerned local governments, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and small-scale mining associations to hasten the lifting of the moratorium imposed within the whole Antamok area, and for small-scale miners to organize themselves into a legitimate organization for negotiation purposes.

“We have always supported legitimate means of regulating small-scale mining in Antamok. One of these is the establishment of a Minahang Bayan in our mine site, but the moratorium must be lifted before we start negotiating with the legitimate group of small-scale miners in the locality,” Lawilao stressed.

Former Environment secretary Joselito Atienza in 2009 ordered a moratorium on mining in Antamok.

Lawilao encouraged small-scale mining associations to organize themselves and bargain with the company for the establishment of the Minahang Bayan once the moratorium is lifted.

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Small miners had claimed that the refusal of large mining firms to issue the necessary consent and the absence of the appropriate free and prior informed consent of indigenous peoples were the major obstacles to the putting up of Minahang Bayan sites in the province pursuant to Executive Order 79 issued by the previous administration.

Lawilao said BC recognizes the important contribution of small miners to the overall economy of the municipality and Benguet province. Thus, they initially offered the sharing scheme to small mining groups but the latter were not united in accepting their offer.

He said the adoption of a Minahang Bayan in the locality after all issues and concerns have been addressed will legitimize and regulate the operations of small miners’ groups. A Minahang Bayan will put an end to improper disposal of wastes, Lawilao added.

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez has given small-scale mining groups nationwide a timetable for putting up Minahang Bayan in their mining areas.

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