The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued a moratorium on accepting new applications for special exploration permits or government seabed quarry permits (GSQP).
Based on a BusinessWorld report, DENR Administrative Order (AO) 171-2022 was issued on May 2 following outgoing Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s orders to stop accepting applications for reclamation activities.
Under the AO, a moratorium is imposed on accepting new applications for special exploration permits and government quarry permits until another presidential directive is issued.
Seabed Quarrying, as defined by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), is the process of extracting, removing, and/or disposing of quarry resources found in offshore areas.
The PRA approves bids and awards for contracts on government reclamation projects while the DENR issues final permits for companies planning to undertake seabed quarrying and mining.
Mines and Geosciences Bureau Dir. Wilfredo Moncano said that it has officially accepted ten government quarry permit applications and they are waiting for their compliance with the Area Status and Clearance before proceeding to the next stage of evaluation.
Moncano added that there are four other GSQP applications filed before the moratorium that were not officially accepted.
In December 2021, the government lifted the four-year ban on open-pit mining as a way for the mining industry to contribute to the country’s economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic and Typhoon Odette.
The government also lifted the nine-year moratorium on new mineral production sharing agreements through Executive Order No. 130.
