Minahang Bayan in Benguet still pending

APPLICATIONS of the Benguet Federation of Small Scale Miners in Benguet is still pending at Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) Regional Director Fay Apil is hopeful in the approval of the application of Minahang Bayan for Benguet.

“Sad to say as much as we would really like to have declared a Minahang Bayan but then there are requirements that are difficult to comply, In the central office they are coming up with a revised procedure on the application of the Minahang Bayan para hindi masyadong mabigat sa applicants,” Apil said.

In the Cordillera applicants have difficulties to comply with requirements of which according to MGB, National Commission of Indigenous People said if its mineral extraction there has to be a full blown Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

Apil said “Within this year siguro, early next year we hope we can declare Minahang Bayan areas.”

Joseph Cervantes Provincial Environmental and Natural Resources Officer and part of the Philippine Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) said there were 12 applications submitted but only 11 were ordered for validation.

Cervantes added it may not only be FPIC process that is difficult to comply, “as per my observation it is not only FPIC process that is difficult, almost all.”

Cervantes added the PMRB are also planning to coordinate with NCIP to come up with easier processing declaration of Minahang Bayan.

In the country most Minahang Bayan are in the Mindanao area where there are five of which have already been declared.

The Minahang Bayan was established in 2015, following the revision of the implementing rules and regulations of the People's Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991.