Ipilan Nickel Corp. (INC), an affiliate of Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc., (FNI) is seeking assistance from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) for the immediate release of its business permit.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), FNI said that INC filed a complaint with the ARTA against Brooke’s Point municipal officials for the delay in renewing its business permit.
“The complaint questions the demands and delays in approving the company’s business permit renewal,” FNI said in its disclosure.
INC said that the complaints filed against mayor Cesario Benedito, Jr., and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources (MENRO) Remie Mostiero were due to excessive demands and intentional delays in the renewal of the company’s 2023 business permit.
INC said that it has been almost two months since it submitted the complete and necessary documents for the business permit renewal.
INC resident mine manager Alex Arabis said that they have submitted “much more than what the law requires to renew our business permit.” The company is requesting the help of ARTA director general secretary Ernesto Perez “to step in and order its immediate release.”
Earlier in January, the mayor issued Memorandum Order No. 2023-06, informing INC of its business permit’s expiration on December 31, 2022 – ordering the immediate stoppage of its mining operations.
Citing Section 167 of the Local Government Code and Section 3A.05 of Ordinance No. 2020-34 or the Revised Revenue Code of the Municipality of Brooke’s Point, stating that business permits are valid until renewal until January 20, annually.
The municipal council extended the deadline for the business renewal applications until January 31.
The Business Processing and Licensing Office also told INC to resubmit the same documents transmitted for last year’s business permit. These include a barangay clearance and a basis for computing tax and charges.
Other documents INC submitted include certificate of gross revenue for 2022, Barangay Maasin, Brooke’s Point Clearance dated January 6, 2023, MPSA No. 017- 93-IV, as amended, NCIP exemption letter dated March 31, 2006, ECC No. 1006- 0017 dated October 8, 201, SEP Clearance No. MODP-122110-001, Provisional MLA No. 045306-001, and EPEP and FMRDP Certificate of Approval No. 195-2021-20.
The company also paid around Php 10.74 million for ecosystem services as mandated.
However, Benito and Mostiero – in separate letters dated January 20 and 23 – asked for another set of documentary requirements, including latest endorsements from various offices and clearances wherein INC is exempt.
