The Bureau of Mines and Geosciences on Tuesday said it intends to
lift the ban on new mining permits in March 2013, and is looking at a
100 percent increase in fees.
However, based on a
directive by the Minerals Industry Development Council, the bureau must
wait for the National Mapping and Resource Information Agency (NAMRIA)
to come up with a revised system that indicates areas that are off
limits to mining activities.
NAMRIA has four
months, from the promulgation of the implementing rules and regulations
of Executive Order 79 or the new Mining Act to come up with a revised
map.
“Until such time, the Tenement Division
will neither approve nor deny any pending application for permits,”
Levy G. Teodoro, Mines Bureau Tenement Division manager, told reporters
in an interview. “We will not accommodate new applications,” said
Teodoro added.
“We’re hoping we could impose a
100 percent increase in fees from mining permits. We already have an
idea on how to do this. This has to be approved by the Bureau first,"
For renewal exploration permits, the division currently charges a P60
per hectare minimum. On top of the permit, mining companies pay P70 per
hectare in occupational fees under a mineral production sharing
agreement or a financial and technical assistance agreement.
Teodoro said the higher fees would have to be approved by the national
government, noting that the goal is to put in place a financial regime
that is fair to both the Philippine government and the private sector.
“As of now, these are all subject to review but the increase is mandatory,” said Teodoro.
Under the IRR of EO 79 , the Mines Bureau may increase the fees in processing the applications of mining companies. — VS GMA News
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