BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-CAR revealed there are some thirty-three applications for Minahang Bayan sites being studied by the central office of the environment department prior before their compliance to the requirements of the Minahang Bayan law.
Engr. Fay W. Apil, MGB-CAR regional director, said all the 33 Minahang Bayan applications were forwarded to Environment Secretary Regina Lopez for the issuance of the necessary clearance to proceed with their respective applications in the processing of the requirements that will result to the issuance of permits and the identification of the potential Minahang Bayan sites.
The MGB-CAR official reported 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 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 enshrined under Executive Order No. 79, applicants for Minahang Bayan areas are required to undergo the required free and prior informed consent (FPIC) process pursuant to the guidelines of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
Apil claimed the processing of applications for Minahang Bayan areas will take long because of the tedious requirements enshrined under existing guidelines, rules and regulations to address the concerns for the provision of sustainable livelihood for small-scale miners and the preservation and protection of the state of environment.
Aside from having to secure the consent of the affected indigenous peoples (IPs) in their domain, applicants are also required to secure the consent of private individuals having ownership of the lands that will be affected by their small-scale mining operations.
Apil claimed Minahang Bayan applications must go to the office of the Environment Secretary twice, the first one is when seeking clearance for the mining application and the second is when the said applications will be submitted to the Secretary for approval after the applicants complied with all the pertinent requirements.
The establishment of Minahang Bayan areas in various parts of the country will help in regulating the illegal operations of small-scale miners in mineral-rich areas and help in scaling up the efforts of government to preserve and protect the environment and contribute in generating added income for the State from the exploitation, utilization and development of its natural resources within the domain of IPs nationwide.
By HENT