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Daraga, Albay - Important issues
and concerns were the subject of discussion recently between the
Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Bicol (MGB-V) and the Small
Scale Mining Permittees (SSMP) and applicants within the Siruma
White Clay Mineral Reservation (SWCMR) in Siruma, Camarines Sur
held at the Provincial Office of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (PENRO-DENR) in Naga City.
MGB-V Regional Director
Reynulfo A. Juan said the meeting was conducted for the purpose
of clarifying some issues, concerns and suggestions of some
applicants within the SWCMR for his office’s immediate
attention and consideration by higher authorities.
He said the permittees and
applicants raised the following issues and concerns: the
coverage of the Environmental Compliance Certificate or ECC,
zoning clearance issued by the Local Government Unit, the
inclusion of the Environmental Management Bureau or EMB and the
National Commission on Indigenous People or NCIP to the
One-Stop-Shop, application of the provisions of Presidential
Decree 1899 in the processing of SSMP application, NCIP
clearance, utilization of Tandoc pier and the authority of the
Regional Director in the issuance of SSM permits.
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“From the point of view
of these permittees and applicants, they contended that the ECC
is effective only for 2 years and it will be expensive on their
part if renewal is made; that the zoning clearance issued by the
LGU should be stricken out as a requirement since the area they
applied for falls within a mineral reservation; that the
one-stop-shop should include, aside from the MGB, the EMB and
the NCIP in order to speed up processing of SSMP application;
that the processing of SSMP must be within the scope of the
provisions of Presidential Decree 1899 or the Small Scale Mining
Law since it is difficult to secure the requirements under
Department Administrative Order
numbered 96-40 or the implementing rules and regulations
of the Mining Law of 1995; that only 1 NCIP clearance be
required for the entire mineral reservation; to copy furnish the
higher authorities of the resolution pertaining to the
utilization of Tandoc pier for their ready information and
reference and to download the authority of the Regional Director
in the issuance of SSM permits in order to lessen their
expenses” Juan explained.
Juan clarified that all
these issues, concerns and suggestions will be referred to the
higher authorities for their immediate consideration.(LDValdez October 21,2004) |
