BAGUIO CITY—The Mines and Geosciences Bureau is studying 33 applications for Minahang Bayan or small-scale mining areas in several mineral-rich areas in the Cordillera Autonomous Region before endorsing them to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for approval.
Engineer Fay W. Apil, MGB-CAR regional director, said the applications have been sent to Environment Secretary Regina Lopez for clearance.
Apil said the Minahang Bayan applications came from Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao and Abra, which have identified mineral-rich areas.
“The applicants will undergo the prescribed processes for the declaration of their desired areas as Minahang Bayan sites after the office of the Environment Secretary shall have granted them the green light to proceed with the processing of their pending applications,” Apil stressed.
Under the guidelines of Executive Order No. 79, applicants for Minahang Bayan areas are required to go through the free and prior informed consent process under the guidelines of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.
Owing to the tedious requirements under the existing guidelines, rules and regulations for addressing the concerns of sustainable livelihood for small-scale miners, and the preservation and protection of the state of environment, it was better for the Minahang Bayan applicants to go through the process now, Apil said.
Aside from having to secure the consent of the affected indigenous peoples and indigenous cultural communities in their domain, Minahang Bayan applicants are also required to secure the consent of private individuals who own the lands that will be affected by their small-scale mining operations.
Minahang Bayan applications must go through Lopez’s office twice, the first one for seeking clearance for the mining application and the second one for the applications to be submitted to the Secretary for approval, Apil said.
This happens after the applicants shall have complied with all the pertinent requirements that will guarantee the operation of the Minahang Bayan sites in the different provinces.
Establishing Minahang Bayan areas in various parts of the country will help in regulating the illegal operations of small-scale miners in the different mineral-rich areas, said Apil.
It would also help in scaling up the efforts of government to preserve and protect the environment and generate more income of the State from the exploitation, use and development of its natural resources within the domain of IPs and ICCs nationwide.
