BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Cordillera (MGB-CAR) targets the approval of additional small-scale mining (SSM) contracts this year.
 
Engr. Brent Pagteilan of MGB-CAR reported during the Gold Trading Sub-committee meeting on Monday, October 23, that there are 12 pending SSM contract applications for declared  Minahang Bayan.
 
Five of the applications from Benguet were returned for compliance with the mandatory and processing requirements. Six applications  are from Apayao and one from the province of Abra.

Pagteilan said they expect the approval of the contract application of Ag-agit SSM and Multi-purpose Cooperative in Licuan-Baay, Abra, which is already complying with the mandatory and processing requirements.

Memorandum of agreements were already signed with the Bulawan Land Owners SSM Association in Butao, Calanasan, Apayao  and the YCalanasan Minahang Bayan Association in Eva Garden, also Calanasan. 

A field-based investigation was already done with the other four applications in Apayao, and whoever finishes the process first will be given the contract this year, Pagteilan said.

For this  year, there were only two SSM contracts that were approved   in the region. These are for  the  Northern Sagada Barangay SSM Association Small-Scale Mining Association Inc. in Fidelisan, Sagada,  in Mountain Province that was approved on July 11, 2023, and the Loacan Itogon Pocket Miners Association in Loacan, Itogon, Benguet, that was approved on September 21, 2023.

MGB explained that   even with the declaration of Minahang Bayan, small scale miners need to secure SSM contract  before they can operate.

Meanwhile, there are nine pending minahang bayan applications, one in Apayao, six in Benguet, one in Kalinga, and one in Mountain Province.
 
Pagteilan said some applications were returned for compliance with the additional requirements under Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2022-03.
 
"As compared to the old DAO, [the new DAO requires] the list of elders and leaders from the NCIP. Another one is the consultation conducted by the Board with the concerned leaders and elders of the IPs," he explained. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)