THE members of the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) of Abra, in its recent meeting in Bangued on April 5, were reminded of its duty to oversee the issuance of permits for sand and gravel extraction in the province.
Fay Apil, OIC regional director of Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Cordillera Administrative Region (MGB-CAR) and concurrent chairperson of the board, reminded members of the board that sand and gravel extraction activities in the province need to be regulated and monitored.
Members of the board composed of a representative from the office of the Governor, who co-chairs the PMRB, representatives from the Provincial Board and the small-scale mining communities, together with personnel from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro), Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) of Lagangilang, and staff of the Vice-Governor’s Office were provided information on the laws pertinent to sand and gravel regulation.
Engineer Alfredo Genetiano, OIC chief of the Mine Management Division of MGB-CAR gave a brief lecture on the provisions of the law regarding sand and gravel extraction permits and reiterated the provisions of RA 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 regarding the Local Government Unit’s role on the approval of applications for sand and gravel, quarry, guano, gemstone gathering and gratuitous permits and for industrial sand and gravel permits not exceeding five hectares within their respective jurisdiction, subject to valid and existing mining rights.
The permits need to be applied at the Provincial Local Government Unit.
Application process involves submission of location map, work program, proof of technical competence, and proof of financial capability, environmental protection program and environmental compliance certificate requirements to the Provincial Governor’s Office.
After which, an area status and clearance/consent will be obtained from the concerned agency or landowner. The application will then be posted, evaluated by the PMRB and Governor’s Office and will be endorsed for the Governor’s approval.
MGB-CAR is actively campaigning against illegal mining and quarrying activities through its information dissemination efforts. This is also in response to letters calling the bureau’s attention to unregulated quarrying activities in the province. (PR)