MGB preparing to identify more mineral reservations

THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said it is in the process of gathering information to identify more sites as mineral reservations, adding to the nine currently designated areas.

Last month, the bureau issued Memorandum Circular 2017-01 which covers the selection of target areas and metals or mineral commodities and preparation of work plans for the implementation of the program.

“We want to make sure that we have enough information on potential areas. It’s a way of looking into different areas with potential to be declared as mineral reservations,” MGB concurrent Director Mario Luis J. Jacinto

The order will also serve to enhance the agency’s direction “so the decision-making on how to develop it in relation to existing mining operation or a standalone mine will be easier.”

“We should have very good information starting next year. Hopefully in the next two to three years, we can have better information and more rational selection,” Mr. Jacinto, who is also an Environment undersecretary.

The order, sent by the Environment department to BusinessWorld on Tuesday, indicated that the bureau is exploring abandoned and inactive mine sites, including those under the management of the Philippine Mining and Development Corp.

Those areas adjacent or contiguous to existing mineral reservations may serve as extensions and other areas with high to very high geological prospectivity and mineral deposits based on previous geological exploration will also be looked into.

Section 5 of the Mining Act of 1995 states that mineral reservations are declared “[when] the national interest so requires, such as when there is a need to preserve strategic raw materials for industries critical to national development, or certain minerals for scientific, cultural or ecological value.”

The order prioritizes the selection of “strategic and high value minerals or metals,” “industrial and manufacturing minerals.”

On iron black sand deposits, the bureau will also prioritize those in coastal areas. It will also look into potential limestone and cement raw material-producing areas “required for the present-day manufacture of cement, rock aggregates and sand and gravel deposits with recoverable iron magnetite and other associated metals.”

At present, the country has only nine mineral reservation areas.

These are the Ilocos Norte Feldspar mineral reservation in Region 1, the Zambales Chromite and Biak-naBato mineral reservations in Region 3, the Siruma White Clay mineral reservation in Region 5, the Samar Bauxite mineral reservation in Region 8, the Zamboanga mineral reservation in Region 9, the Mt. Diwalwal Gold mineral reservation in Region 11, the Surigao mineral reservation in Region 13, as well as all offshore areas within the Philippines’ territorial limits. —