BAGUIO CITY – Some seventeen applications for the establishment of Minahang Bayan (MB) sites in the different parts of the region were able to hurdle the initial stages of review undertaken by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) central office and the applicants were already notified of their uncovered deficiencies for their applications to proceed to the next stage.
Engr. Alfredo Genetiano, officer-in-charge of the MGB-CAR’s mine management division, said the 17 MB applications were part of the 59 applications that were endorsed by the regional office to its central office for the initial review of the documentary requirements as to their compliance with existing laws, rules and regulations.
“We already communicated the deficiencies to the concerned applicants and we gave them sufficient time to allow their applications to proceed to the next stage of the tedious processing of Minahang Bayan sites in the different parts of the region,” Genetiano stressed.
The MGB-CAR official disclosed of the 17 MB applications that hurdled the initial review process, 9 applications are located in Apayao, 4 are in Benguet, 3 are based in the conflict-stricken Abra and 1 is situated in Kalinga.
Among the deficiencies uncovered by the MGB central office on the pending applications include documents that will prove that previous applications over the applied area have already been abandoned, the existence of documents that will prove that there are no overlapping claims over the applied areas and pertinent studies showing the suitability of the area for the establishment of the desired Minahang Bayan sites in the said areas.
Genetiano claimed there is still a long way to go for the applications to be converted into Minahang Bayan sites because of the need of the applicants to pass through the rigid free and prior informed consent (FPIC) process wherein they will have to secure the consent of indigenous peoples within their applied areas prior to the issuance of the pertinent resolutions to support the issuance of the mandatory area clearance over the identified applied sites.
According to him, to ensure the continuous operation of small-scale mining associations in the different parts of Benguet pending the approval of the submitted MB applications, the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) granted some 12 small-scale mining associations in the different parts of the province their temporary permits to operate until such time that the MB applications shall have been approved.
Genetiano admitted the applications for the establishment of Minahang Bayan sites in any part of the region are almost similar to the requirements in the operation of large-scale mining companies that is why applicants have a difficult time hurdling the tedious processes prescribed for the purpose as they are still required to secure the consent of patent holders once their applications fall within patented claims.
The MGB-CAR is currently awaiting the action of its central office over the 38 other remaining MB applications that were submitted and are now subject to the initial review process.
By HENT
