ITOGON, Benguet – The municipal government imposed 6-point conditionalities in the endorsement of the special mine permit application of Itogon Suyoc Resources, Inc. (ISRI) for the rehabilitation of old tunnels, underground and surface development, ore block validation work and ore extraction in mining blocks outside of its patented claims.
Under Resolution No. 61, series of 2024, the municipal council stated that after a thorough deliberation, it was unanimously agreed that the municipal government endorse ISRI’s special mine permit application with conditions.
Among the conditions contained in the said endorsement include the fat that an independent multipartite monitoring team (MMT) shall be created to monitor and inspect, and to make the necessary reports and recommendations over the ISRI’s operation within the special mine permit area; ISRI will give priority to small-scale miners associations within barangay Ampucao, Poblacion, Virac and other barangays within the municipality in joining the big brother, small brother program of the mining company; ISRI will actively negotiate with valid claimants within the special mine permit area; ISRI will make the necessary repairs should the operations of the said company affect the source of the L-1300 swimming pools; ISRI will furnish the local government through the Office of the Mayor and Sangguniang Bayan office with the environmental work program or environment and protection enhancement program for monitoring purposes and ISRI must comply with all the requirements as may be provided by law.
The resolution pointed out that the non-compliance of any of the said conditions and requirements shall be a basis for the revocation of the said endorsement.
Earlier, ISRI requested for a resolution from the municipal council endorsing its application for a special mine permit.
However, the council conducted an en banc meeting on January 31, 2024 with the ISRI management and representatives from the Cordillera office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-CAR) to present the scope of the special mine permit.
During the said meeting, it was manifested by the MGB-CAR representatives that the council resolution is one of the requirements needed by the agency to process the special mine permit being applied by the mining company.
MGB-CAR representatives manifested that the requirements of processing an application for a special mine permit has no chronological order in submitting the same before the regulatory agency.
The resolution specified that the special mine permit being applied by the company will be good for one year only subject to renewal that will pass through the same process.
The council transmitted the approved resolution to ISRI management, MGB-CAR, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Benguet provincial board, barangays, Ampucao, Poblacion and Virac for information, guidance, ready reference and further needed action.
ISRI is one of the large-scale mining companies operating within the mineral-rich town over the past several decades and has contributed in generating jobs, economic activities and sources of livelihood for the people in the host and neighboring communities.
In a related development, ISRI’s special mine permit application was also endorsed by barangays Ampucao, Birac and Poblacion, and the Benguet Provincial Board. By Dexter A. See