Mining permit processing resumes;

Mining permit processing resumes; environment plans crucial

First posted 02:47am (Mla time)
Oct 04, 2006

By Christine A. Gaylican
Inquirer

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has resumed processing of mineral exploration and production permits that have been pending for the past nine months, Inquirer sources in the department said.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes has asked applicants to make individual project presentations at his office, the sources said.

This procedure will bring the applicants closer to getting permits, they said.
The companies that have made presentations are MRL Gold Philippines Inc., Egerton Gold Philippines Inc., Buena Suerte Mining Corp., and Manila Mining Corp.

A ranking DENR official said Reyes had also asked applicants to submit their environment programs and social preparations for the communities at the target mine sites, and documents pertaining to their technical and financial resources.

MRL Gold Philippines expects to get its exploration permit sometime soon, company president James Anthony Climie said.

Climie said MRL Gold Philippines had submitted a petition to the DENR to explore parts of a property in Malimono town in the southern area of Surigao for gold and copper.

The Malimono site measures 508.12 hectares.

Buena Suerte Mining Corp., an affiliate of Australia ’s Oxiana Ltd., has signified interest in surveying 4,192 hectares of the towns of Liloan, San Francisco and San Ricardo in Southern Leyte province for possible copper and gold resources.

Ten medium-scale mining companies have applied for a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) to extract nickel, chromites, limestone and cobalt.

The MPSA is a contract that will allow the national government to share in the production of a mining company. Under it, the company will provide the financing, technology, management and personnel for the mining project.

Approval of MPSA applications is subject to qualifications and requirements set by the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.