REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON CITY

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS:
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

up.no._ 1139

Introduced by HON. AL FRANCIS C. BICHARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This bill seeks to promote serious investors in the mining industry by facilitating
and/or shortening the processing of exploration permits, and providing grounds for the
cancellation therefor in order to prevent speculation.

Mining is being touted as one of the pillars of economic development by the
present administration. Indeed, our country is rich in mineral resources. With proper
regulations to protect the environment and ensure sound mining practices, mining has
great potentials to develop and spur the economic growth of our countryside through
infrastructure development, job creation and of course, an increase in government
revenues, particularly of host local government units

‘The industry has already attracted a lot of investors, serious or otherwise, as result
of the rise of metal prices in the world market. Together with the influx of investors,
however, are the speculators, middlemen, shysters and all other personalities trying to
cash in on the booming industry. As a result, there are certain mining claims which are
being applied for exploration — by individuals and/or corporations who are not seri
investors but are mere speculators. On the other hand, there are serious investors who are
discouraged to come in due to the delay in the processing of permits.

This bill, therefore, seeks to address these concerns through the following, to wit:
a) providing for a mandatory period for the approval of exploration permit; b) providing
for automatic approval of exploration permit; and ¢) grounds for the cancellation of
exploration permit . With these measures emplaced, we can now separate the serious
investors from mere speculators and at the same time, streamlining and cutting
bureaucratic red tape

In view of the foregoing considerations, approval this measure is urgently
mended.

Jit Ln,

AL FRANCIS C. BICHARA
2” Distriét, Albay


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

1139

HB. No.

Introduced by HON. AL FRANCIS C. BICHARA

AN ACT AMENDING CHAPTER IV SECTION 20 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO.
7942 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “PHILIPPINE MINING ACT OF 1995” BY
FACILITATING THE APPROVAL AS WELL AS CANCELLATION OF
EXPLORATION PERMITS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,

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

Section 1. Chapter IV, Section 20 of R.A. 7942, hereby amended to read as
follows:

Section 20. An exploration permit grants the right to conduct
exploration for all minerals in specified areas. The Bureau shall have
the authority to grant an exploration permit to a qualified person. An
application for an exploration permit shall be acted upon by the Bureau
within sixty (60) days from submission by the applicant of all
requirements, provided however, that all requirements are submitted
within ninety (90) days from filing with the Bureau of the application
permit, provided finally, that should the applicant fail to submit the
requirements within ninety (90) days from filing of the application for
exploration permit, such application for an exploration permit shall be
deemed ipso facto abandoned with finality.

Section 2. Any and all application for exploration permits not acted upon by the
Bureau within sixty (60) days from the submission of all requirements shall be deemed
approved and the applicant shall enjoy the rights and obligations of a permittee.

Section 3. A holder of an exploration permit who fails to enter, occupy, possess
as well as to commence exploration work within sixty (60) days from approval of the
exploration permit, or incurs gross delay or deviation from its approved work program
or who fails to submit periodic reports to the Bureau shall be summarily be divested of
the rights and obligations of a permittee.

Section 4. The Bureau shall submit annually to Congress the names of all holders
of exploration permits, the terms, conditions and status of such permit as well as other
relevant information.

Section 5.. All other laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, issuances and rules
and regulations or part thereof which are inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Section 6. This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days upon publication in a
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,