DENR suspends issuance of mining permits

Starting on Monday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will stop accepting mining permit applications nationwide. DENR Secretary Ramon Paje on Friday directed all regional directors of the Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB) — an attached agency of the department — to not accept and process new mining applications. As the DENR "cleanses" itself from inactive and aging mining applications, "I also see it fit for the bureau to stop entertaining applications for mining permits, including industrial sand and gravel permit," he said in a statement. The department head issued the directive after he canceled over 500 mining permit applications earlier this month. Paje said at the time the department's regional offices were given two deadlines — on Feb. 20 and in December this year — to clear all pending mining applications and permits that have not been used. He also said the clearing of "aging" mining applications is in line with the department's anti-corruption program. "We have to decide... what to do with all of these mining applications pending in our regional offices. Otherwise, the public will continue to perceive us as inefficient and corrupt." MGB records show that there are 2,180 pending mining applications filed in various regional offices. Exploration contracts that have been expired for five years or more and mining contracts that have not implemented the three-year work program for two consecutive years will also be revoked, Paje also said. The DENR said the suspension of giving permits to miners forms part of the reforms in the sector. "We are now in the process of implementing our use-it-or-lose-it policy, where we will be canceling mining applications that were unable to comply with all the requirements set by the government, including mining tenements that have remained inactive and unproductive through the years," Paje said. The DENR chief reminded all field officers to strictly implement the "three letter-notice policy" in demanding for compliance with all the application requirements. According to Paje, the requirements in filing for mining applications include: — The acquisition of Free and Prior Informed Consent from indigenous peoples concerned; — The submission of proofs of consultation with the local council within two years from the date of acceptance of the mining application; and — The publication, posting, and radio announcement of mining application within one year from the date of acceptance of the application. — JE/OMG, GMA News