Palawan Representative Jose C. Alvarez urged swift action in digitizing mining permits, citing the necessity to update the “very obsolete” mining law and reduce the backlog of over 1,000 applications.
In a report by Business World, Alvarez, leading the House Committee on Natural Resources meeting, proposed digitalizing processes to automate approvals.
The Mining Tenements Management Division clarified that appeals and motions for reconsideration contribute to the perceived 3,000-application backlog, despite having over 1,000 pending applications.
Furthermore, Party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta called for investigations of the backlogs. Concerns were also raised about the backlog potentially discouraging foreign and local investors.
Earlier, two Declaration of Mining Project Feasibility permits have been approved, allowing operations to commence, with nine exploration permits granted.
