BENGUET Corporation is backing the establishment of a Minahang Bayan in Itogon town.
"We had always been supportive of legitimate means as a solution to regulate small-scale mining activities in Antamok. One of which is the declaration of Minahang Bayan in our mine site but we have been prevented by the existing moratorium which must first be lifted in order for us to start negotiating with the legitimate group of small-scale miners in the locality," Beng. Corp administration department head Froilan Roger Lawilao said.
Lawilao added there is a need for the concerned local government units, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and small-scale mining associations to work out the lifting of the moratorium imposed within the whole Antamok area, and for small-scale miners to organize themselves into a legitimate organization for negotiation purposes.
In 2009, an order by the DENR imposed a moratorium on mining within the whole Antamok area.
Benguet Federation of Small-Scale Miners (BFSSM) president Lomino Kaniteng meanwhile said consultations are now ongoing for a Minahang Bayan in the province.
Kaniteng said talks are now moving in each small scale mining rich barangays to get stakeholders stand on the proposed Minahang Bayan.
Last month, small scale miners in the region were alarmed after pronouncements of DENR Secretary Gina Lopez on an immediate stop of all SSM outside prescribed Minahang Bayan areas.
Initially, the group has agreed to name eight municipalities in the province as Minahang Bayan areas and will present their plan in the next meeting with the DENR.
Lawilao meanwhile encouraged the various small-scale mining associations in the locality to organize themselves so they can have the bargaining power with the company for the establishment of the Minahang Bayan once the moratorium will be lifted to allow them to sustain their activities that serve as their source of livelihood.
The Benguet Corp. representative said the company recognizes the important contribution of small-scale mining to the overall economy of the municipality and Benguet province that is why they initially offered the sharing scheme to the interested small-scale mining groups pursuant to the existing system within the Acupan contract mining but the said associations were not united in accepting the said offer.
