Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

3915

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative DEOGRACIAS B. RAMOS, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines
is one of the few countries that is both a mega-diversity country and a
biodiversity hotspot and that there is but a ‘small window of opportunity in which
it is still possible to save this global hotspot from complete devastation and the
unique life forms found within from extinction’. This small window is. slowly
shutting down as the country’s forest cover gradually shrinks from 150,000
square kilometers in 1946 to just 8,000 square kilometers five (5) years ago.

It is rather unfortunate that our country has a bad mining experience because of
inefficient protection measures and natural hazards, The 1996 Marcopper
disaster in Boac, Marinduque and the 2006 Lafayette debacle in Rapu-Rapu
Island, Albay not only ruined the lives of tens of thousands of residents in those
areas but also caused incalculable damage to the environment.

The Second District of Sorsogon is not immune to the problem of receding
forest, and with mining near Bulusan Natural Park to rise In the offing; the
degradation of the forest and the damage to the ecosystem grows by the
minute.

Not long ago, mining was done in Brgy. Balocawe, Matnog for about two (2)
years despite vehement opposition from the LGU, NGOs and POs. After the area
was mined out, the enterprise did nothing to rehabilitate the area close to its
original condition despite the requirement of the law. It is now a wasteland, a
tangible proof of how little concern the miners have for nature.

Without a mining ban, the miners will be back for sure to ravage the pristine
forest in the District. The only way to stop this is to have a law against it.

For these reasons, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

RAMOS, JR.
Second District, Sorsogon


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

3915

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative DEOGRACIAS B. RAMOS, Jr.

AN ACT DECLARING THE SECOND DISTRICT OF SORSOGON A MINING
FREE ZONE AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
the Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - The Second District of Sorsogon is hereby
declared a mining free zone and all mining operations therein are hereby
prohibited.

SECTION 2. Coverage. - As used in this Act, mining shall refer to the extraction
of valuable minerals or other geological materials, excluding gravel and sand.
This shall include small scale and large scale mining activities involving
exploration, feasibility, development, utilization and processing.

SECTION 3. Penal Provision. - It shall be unlawful for any person to mine or
continue to mine or to engage in any mining operation in the Second District of
Sorsogon.

‘Any person found guilty violating the provisions of this Act shall be penalized
with imprisonment of at least three (3) years but not more than six (6) years
and a fine of at least Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P250,000.00) but not
more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00).

If the offender is a corporation, firm, partnership of association, the penalty shall
be imposed upon the officer or officers of the corporation, firm, partnership or
association responsible for the violation thereof.

If the offender is an alien, he shall be deported immediately without further
proceedings after service of sentence and payment of fine.

SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one (1) month after
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations
for its effective implementation.


SECTION 5. Transitory Provision. ~ Upon the approval of this Act, the Provincial
Government of Sorsogon, in coordination with the DENR, shall review the
contracts, agreements and permits entered into and/or issued to all existing
mining operations and determine those to be terminated and those to be allowed
to continue until such period that their contracts, agreements or permits may
allow.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette and at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,