The Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Cordillera Administrative Region (MGB-CAR) and Loakan Itogon Pocket Miners Association (LIPMA) inked the small-scale mining contract granted to the miners’ group last May 2 in Itogon, Benguet.
LIPMA’s is the first small-mining contract in the Cordillera Region. This is made possible by the resolution awarding a contract to the miners group passed by the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB) of Benguet on April 23.
MGB-CAR Director Fay Apil and LIPMA President Eduardo Kingay represented their respective organizations in the contract signing which was witnessed by local officials and small-scale miners alike.
April, who is also the chairperson of PMRB, recognized the importance of the contract signing between MGB-CAR and LIPMA as this is the very first of its kind in the region.
She also reminded LIPMA to strictly observe the rules and conditions that the contract comes along with and to prove that small-scale miners can practice responsible mining.
Apil, however, clarified that in order for the LIPMA to miner legally, it would have to get an Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) and then work on the mineral processing permit that the PMRB issues.
Daniel Pay-an, director and spokesperson of LIPMA, said the group is planning to conduct meetings and pursue the ECC.
LIPMA said they expect more than 1,000 members will mine in the 15-hectare area out of 64.6 hectares of applied Minahang Bayan by the group.
