Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 254

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Party-List Representatives EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT,
CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE and FERDINAND R. GAITE,
ACT TEACHERS Party-List Representative FRANCE L. CASTRO,
GABRIELA Women’s Party Representative ARLENE D. BROSAS and
KABATAAN Representative SARAH JANE I. ELAGO

AN ACT
RE-ORIENTING THE PHILIPPINE MINING INDUSTRY TOWARDS NATIONAL
INDUSTRIALIZATION AND ENSURING THE HIGHEST INDUSTRY
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 1995, the Philippines passed Republic Act (RA) 7942, which liberalized every aspect of the
domestic mining industry, allowing foreign access and control of our mineral resources including
exploration, development and utilization. RA 7942 superseded the country's previous laws on
mining, such as the interim Presidential Decree 463 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1974
and, even laws upheld by the United States colonial government, including the U.S. Mining Act of
1972, the Mining Law of 1905, and Commonwealth Act 137 or the Mining Act of 1935.

Yet, even at the onset, RA 7942 was already opposed. Its constitutionality was questioned by a
broad range of social sectors and civil society organizations (CSOs), including environmental groups,
lawyers, scientists, academics, patriots, and agricultural and indigenous peoples’ organizations.

In 2004, the Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines finally declared RA 7942 as unconstitutional, in
the case of the La Bugal B'laan Tribal Association vs. Ramos. However, before the year ended, the
SC reversed its own decision and instead adopted policy shifts such as moving on from ‘active
tolerance’ to 'promotion! of mining investments. Thereafter, the Executive Department issued



various executive and administrative orders to supposedly harmonize laws with the Mining Act of
1995 and to create a favorable climate for foreign investors.

Historically, state policy has framed the Philippine minerals industry as a driver for increased foreign
‘economic investment and a domestic source of employment. The Philippine government has
pursued the policy of liberalizing the mining industry and in effect limiting the industry to extraction
and export of raw mineral ores, to import dependence on foreign capital and technologies, and to
control by foreign and private entities.

‘This policy, however, has created an unsustainable situation for the nation, the environment, and the
people. Twenty-one years have passed since RA 7942 was signed into law and implemented under
four (4) administrations. Now, the country, its ecosystems, and its citizens are suffering from the
various adverse impacts of the law's implementation and its policy thrust.

Disasters caused by decades of liberalized mining operations have caused some of the worst
environmental tragedies in the country. Mining disasters take place in the Philippines at least every
few years: the Marcopper tragedy that rendered the Boac river biologically dead in 1996, just a year
after the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 was signed into law; the Lafayette mine spill in Rapu-Rapu
Island, shortly after the National Minerals Policy was made official in 2005; and now, the Philex
mine spill in August 2012, barely a month after former Pres. Benigno Aquino III issued Executive
Order 79, which supposedly aims to regulate the industry pending the passage of a new mining law.

Other phenomena related to mining operations in local communities, such as land subsidence, acid
mine drainage, and, landslides, have been documented with increasing frequency over the past years.
‘The damage done to the country's mountainous, agricultural, and aquatic ecosystems has been
immense.

‘The losses sustained by the country’s other environmental resources loom in comparison to the
promised gains of the industry. Contrary to projections, the country did not reap the full benefits
from the current mining liberalization policy.

‘The real benefits of mining in terms of its contributions to the country’s GDP, employment,
government revenues, investments, national industrialization and poverty alleviation is, in fact, not
significant. According to independent think-tank IBON Foundation, 97% of mineral production in
the Philippines goes to foreign industries, proving the export-oriented nature of Philippine mining.
It supports other countries’ industrialization and profit instead of being instrumental in the
development of the country’s local industries.

Additionally, the mining industry has remained a weak economic contributor after 20 years of
wanton mining liberalization. Foreign investments in mining fell from US$1.45 billion in 2013 to
US$693.1 million in 2014.

‘The share of mining in the gross domestic product is only 0.7%, while its contribution to
‘employment is only at 0.6%. Government shares from mining in taxes, royalties and fees
amounted to Php22.83 billion in 2013 or a measly 1.33% of total tax revenues.


Itis also important to note that mining has the highest poverty incidence of any sector in the
country at 48.7 percent. The notable mining areas with high poverty incidence include CARAGA.
(47.5%), the Zamboanga Peninsula (42.75%), Bicol region (44.92%), with the national average at
being 26 percent. These data show, at the very least, a correlation between mining and poverty that
counters the claims of foreign-backed mining firms that mining improves the quality of life of the
immediate communities.

‘The current policy on mining has spawned more physical, social, and economic displacement of
affected communities among other human rights violations. Foremost, indigenous people's
communities, whose ancestral lands hold some of the last bastions of our natural wealth, are being
dispossessed of their lands, whether through coercion, exigency, of collusion in relation to mining
projects. Agricultural and fishing communities affected by the downstream environmental impacts
of mining also suffer from diminished productivity and food insecurity.

Grave human rights violations also arise in mining-affected communities. Indigenous peoples
organization KATRIBU Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas notes that in the
administration of former Pres. Aquino III, there have been at least 21 killings of indigenous peoples
related to the defense of their lands from big mining interests. One of the most revolting is the 2012
killing of pregnant Blan lumad leader Juvy Capion and her two other small children in ‘Tampakan,
North Cotabato, when elements of the 27th Infantry Battalion strafed their home. The Blaan has
been waging pangayaw or tribal war versus multinational mining corporation Xstrata since 2006.

Under the current administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines garnered that
highest number of environmental defenders killed in Asia with 48 deaths recorded in his first year in
office, in 2017. The killings are linked with plantations, mining, poaching and logging.

President Duterte is credited for his consistent stand opposing open pit mining. He appointed
environment crusader Gina Lopez as the chief of the Department of the Environment and Natural
Resources in 2016. Secretary Lopez ordered the closure of 27 mining sites for violating
environmental laws. However, her successor, retired general Roy Cimatu quietly lifted the
moratorium on mining exploration, opening practically all mineral lands for mining interests. He
also reversed the closure of 23 out of the 27 mining sites, essentially reversing the previous decision.

‘There are also other documented cases of both physical and legal harassment, where citizen's rights
to public participation are violated with impunity, such as in the site of the Didipio Gold Copper
Project owned by Australia-New Zealand firm OceanaGold Corporation, the Runruno Gold-
Molybdenum Project of FCF Minerals Corp owned by UK firm Metals Exploration Plc, and the Pao
Gold-Copper Exploration Project by Australian firm Royalco Resources Ltd in Nueva Viscaya.
Among the issues faced by the mine-affected areas are forced displacement of people from their
land and homes, destruction of their homes and property, Strategic Lawsuits Against Public
Participation (SLAPP) suits, and harassment.

Indeed, the current law, policy, and practices governing the Philippine mining industry are
unsustainable from an economic, ecological, legal, cultural, and human rights perspective. These can
not and should not be pursued any further, in the interest of protecting the country's remaining
finite mineral resources and national patrimony from more plunder; in the interest of allowing State
and Filipino citizens to fully benefit and reap the gains from the country's vast mineral wealth.



CSOs, grassroots communities, and local governments have long been clamoring for the repeal of
RA 7942 and the passage of an alternative legislation. In 2002, the multisectoral Dapitan Initiative
and the Dapitan Declaration affirmed the commitment of non-government entities and advocates to
work for the enactment of new legislation based on certain principles.

In 2005, the People's Mining Policy (PMP), an alternative policy framework for the Philippine
mining industry, was drafted and affirmed by the nationwide network Defend Patrimony through a
series of consultations with people's organizations and CSOs.

In the 17 Congress, the People’s Mining Bill was enriched and improved with input and additions
from other alternative mining bills and inputs from experts in mining, environment, indigenous
people’s rights taxation, among others.

Local government officials at the provincial level have also upheld LGU-based measures such as
moratoriums on large-scale and/or open pit mining. These efforts at the grassroots level of the past
years are now converging into concrete proposals in policy and legislation for the Philippine
government to heed and take action on.

‘Thus, this bill is an amalgamation of previous alternative policy proposals which seek to reorient the
Philippine mining industry towards the wise and sustainable development and judicious use of our
mineral resources. It defines the significant roles that mining and a prosperous minerals industry in
attaining a progressive, independent, industrialized and self-reliant economy. It seeks to place the
Philippine's extensive mineral wealth as part of its national patrimony, a resource that has the
potential to propel the country towards industrialization and self-sufficiency.

Itis estimated that the country has around 7.1 billion metric tons (BMT) of metallic mineral reserves
(such as gold, copper, and nickel) and 51 BMT of non-metallic deposits. Combined, the total value
of these reserves could reach around US$840 billion to USS1 trillion: ten times the country's gross
domestic product and 14 to 17 times larger than its entire external debt.

If properly regulated and developed, these resources will be a requisite to developing a strong, self-
reliant and progressive economy, founded on a healthy balance between agriculture and
industrialization and programmed to break the cycle of the country’s underdevelopment.

‘This bill was first filed in the 15th Congress, and, then re-filed in the 16" Congress and again in the
17" Congress, enriched by experience and discussions, in response to the critical need for an
alternative framework, a new regime for the mining industry, which should be anchored on the
principles of social justice, respect for people’s rights and welfare, environmental conservation,
defense of national sovereignty and patrimony, and national industrialization.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.


Approved,

REP. BL ed C. CULLAMAT

BAYAN MUNA Partylist

A

REP. CARBOS. ae IT. ZARATE
BAYAN MUNA Partylist

es
REY. E D. BROSAS
BRIRVA Women’s Party

REP. FERDINAND R. GAITE
BAYAN MUNA Partylist

REP. S: JANE I. ELAGO
KABATARN Party-List



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _294

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Party-List Representatives EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT,
CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE and FERDINAND R. GAITE,
ACT TEACHERS Party-List Representative FRANCE L. CASTRO,
GABRIELA Women’s Party Representative ARLENE D. BROSAS and
KABATAAN Representative SARAH JANE I. ELAGO

AN ACT
RE-ORIENTING THE PHILIPPINE MINING INDUSTRY TOWARDS NATIONAL
INDUSTRIALIZATION AND ENSURING THE HIGHEST INDUSTRY
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

CHAPTER I
DECLARATION OF POLICIES

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the PEOPLE’S MINING ACT.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is enshrined in the Philippine Constitution that the State
owns all the mineral, coal, natural gas and petroleum resources within its national territory, its
terrestrial, fluvial and marine domains, including its territorial seas, the seabed, the subsoil, the
insular shelves, and other submarine areas within its archipelagic baselines. The appropriate
utilization, sound management of the country’s finite mineral resources and the enjoyment of the
benefits of such is exclusive to the Filipino people. These resources shall in no way be alienated.

The Philippine mining industry shall be developed within the framework of national
industrialization through the nationalization of the industry towards self-sufficiency. The pursuit


of mining industry development is integrative to the country’s priorities in achieving genuine
agrarian reform, the modernization of its agricultural base, and rural development.

The State shall take the lead in mining industry development that shall be pursued according to a
National Industrialization Program (NIP) and Mining Plan (MP) that adheres to the following:

a. the medium- and long-term needs of the Philippines;

b. the advancement of the industry’s technology with emphasis on existing indigenous

knowledge, research and development;

the right to self-determination of the indigenous and Moro peoples;

4. the generally accepted principles as embodied in the International Covenants on Civil and
Political Rights, on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the UN Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other international accords on human rights, labor
rights, the rights of women and children, and the protection and preservation of the
environment, of which the State is a party; and

¢. abalanced and healthful ecology.

Section 3. Mining is important to nation building and the economic advancement of our people.
The mineral industry plays an essential role in establishing a progressive, independent and self-
reliant economy.

The State shall craft and implement its National Industrialization Program and a Mining Plan that
provides the framework for the utilization and management of the country’s mineral resources,
which will address the needs of the domestic economy and upholds the rights of industry
workers, indigenous peoples and local communities.

The said Mining Plan to be implemented by the State shall be economically-viable, ecologically-
sound, and in aid to the nation’s efforts to attaining food self-sufficiency, rural development and
national industrialization.

The Mining Plan shall be crafted in accord with the National Industrialization Program that will
provide a comprehensive economic framework for genuine national development, including
agricultural modernization, public infrastructure in energy, transportation, communication, and
downstream mineral industries.

Section 4.The exploration, development and utilization of natural resources shall comply with
the following principles:

1, The current export-orientation of mining is hereby reversed and a
domestic needs-based development of the industry shall be pursued by the State as a step
towards achieving genuine economic development;

2. The mining industry shall be geared towards national industrialization and
shall be built for the production of raw materials such as base metals, basic chemicals and
petrochemicals needed by the basic, medium and heavy industries to produce as much


consumer, intermediate and capital goods with the country’s stock of finite mineral and
non-mineral industrial raw materials and in the process provide jobs to the country’s vast
human resources;

3. The State shall provide the appropriate support and protection to Filipino
corporations to further develop and increase their participation in the industry. All mining
industry investments shall be mutually-beneficial and help achieve the specific target and
goals of the National Industrialization Program. To come up with the large capital
requirement for mining, the State must use local sources such as but not limited to the
granting of incentives and financial aid to local private sector investors, re-channelling of
government budget allocations for foreign debt payments and military expenditures, and
the proceeds from the government shares of the Malampaya Natural Gas Project, and/or
similar projects;

4. The State shall allow, in exceptional cases, foreign corporations to invest
in the mineral industry. Based on the National Industrialization Program and the
country’s capability and capacity, the government must identify the mineral areas where
foreigners can help and invest subject to rigorous screening and strict regulations as
provided in this Act and related laws. The participation of foreign companies in the
critical stages of minerals extraction and processing shall be in accordance with a
mandatory program or agreement for technology transfer and equity shares that do not
exceed 40 percent of the full capital requirements;

Provided, that capital accumulation and reinvestment within the country shall be
primarily encouraged over profit repatriation by the foreign companies and that foreign
mining corporations, their principals, local firms and conduits that have a bad track
record in the Philippines are banned from investing in the country;

5. The development of the mining industry should primarily be geared to
serve the needs of the country’s agrarian reform program and help modernize Philippine
agriculture. Mining shall be prohibited in prime agricultural lands.

6. Inland and water use, the production of sufficient food free from pollution
towards food security shall always be the priority.

7. Mining shall also be prohibited in areas specified for food production,
fisheries development, watershed and heritage areas, sacred sites of indigenous people,
and in small island ecosystems. Mining in environmentally-critical areas such as small
island ecosystems, primary forests and environmentally sensitive watersheds such as, but
not limited to, the areas surrounding the Verde Island Passage connecting and
surrounding the provinces of Batangas, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental
Mindoro and Romblon, shall be banned. Dumping of mine wastes and tailings to rivers,
lakes and seas are prohibited. Additionally, off-site effects of mining shall not have
disadvantageous effects on downstream areas;


8. Mining shall also be prohibited in areas declared by local government
units as No-Mining Zones; in prime agricultural lands, irrigable and irrigated lands as
defined by Republic Act 9700, and, in areas wherein cultural properties are found, as
enumerated under Republic Act 10066;

9. Long-term mining development shall be programmed by the State in
accordance with the country’s availability of resources, capability and well-being of the
people, technological capacity and people’s acceptability. The right of Muslim Filipinos
or the Moro people and indigenous peoples to self-determination and ancestral domain
shall be recognized and their collective property rights are guaranteed by this Act;

10. Job security, adequate wages, benefits, and safe working conditions for
mine workers shall be ensured in state and privately owned mining corporations. Their
right to organize and form their own associations, to collective bargaining and to strike
shall be upheld. The state will strictly prohibit forced and child labor in the industry;

11. Small-scale mining operations shall be supported and regulated by the
state. The state will encourage the formation of cooperatives among small-scale miners
and provide financial and technical support to develop the labor-intensive and upgrade
the backward technologies into a more efficient and less environmentally destructive
mining process. Whenever small-scale mining activities are stopped, alternative and
sustainable livelihood shall be provided to the small-scale miners;

12. In no instance shall the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the
Philippine National Police (PNP) and private security and paramilitary groups be used to
coerce or force the entry and protection of mining operations;

13. Mining industry research and development shall focus on hamessing more
economically-efficient and less environmentally-destructive methods. The advanced
technologies from other countries that are proven to be appropriate locally shall be
adopted in the industry;

14, All mining operations shall be strictly regulated to ensure the domestic
processing of mineral ores up to the secondary and tertiary stages of industrial production
to develop our own basic and medium industries. Recycling programs and substitution in
the use of minerals shall be incorporated in the overall plan of mining development to
reduce mine waste and pollution, and mining rehabilitation techniques. Indigenous
technologies that are relevant and appropriate, particularly with respect to the domestic
processing of minerals shall be promoted, hamessed, expanded and upgraded;

15. Ecologically-sound practices at all stages of mining shall be promoted.
Mining technologies such as open-pit mining and submarine mine tailing disposal
methods that are banned abroad and/or proven inappropriate in countries like the


Philippines must and shall all be banned. Environmental standards shall be set to ensure
the protection and efficient utilization of the country's mineral resource base. Ecological
considerations in mining development shall be given due emphasis and attention to
substantially eliminate destructive effects that certain mining industrial processes might
have on the people's health and the environment. Monitoring mechanisms with strong
participation from the local communities will be instituted;

16. Areas affected by mining shall be rehabilitated, including abandoned
mines. Violators shall be strictly punished and made to pay heavy compensation to the
State and the affected communities.

CHAPTER I
SCOPE AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Section 5. Scope. This Act shall cover the ownership, management and governance of both
metallic and non-metallic minerals, as well as quarry resources, sand and gravel, guano,
magnetite, and gemstones; including the conservation, exploration, development, utilization,
processing and transportation thereof. The ownership, management and governance of
petroleum, natural gas and coal shall be governed by special laws. Offshore mining shall also be
governed by special laws.

This Act shall cover onshore and offshore, large-scale and small-scale mining operations in the
country, including mining projects in ancestral domains in accordance to the existing national
and international policies on our indigenous peoples.

Section 6. All ore minerals are part of the national patrimony and form part of the country’s
irreplaceable and non-renewable natural wealth and capital. The conservation of our mineral
wealth is of paramount public interest and mineral resources shall be utilized only in a rational
manner for national and local development as specified by law and the National Industrialization
Program and the Mining Plan.

Section 7. The State shall have primary role, responsibility and concern in the management,
conservation, utilization, and development of the mining industry and shall ensure the people’s
participation in policy making and implementation of the same at all levels of government.
Mining shall be a shared concern and responsibility of the national and local governments,
corporations, and the communities affected by the exploration, development, and utilization of
mineral resources.

Section 8. The State shall support small-scale Filipino mining corporations and mining
cooperatives to venture into large-scale mining projects through Joint-Venture Agreements and
invest on mutually-beneficial grounds that will push forward the National Industrialization
Program.


Section 9. Mineral resource extraction shall be allowed based on the country’s Mining Plan. The
sharing of profits from mining activities, including the anticipated environmental and social costs
on the affected local communities of each mining project, should substantially exceed the returns
compared to alternative land uses. The environmental and social costs shall be prevented and/or
mitigated at all times with the appropriate allocation of sufficient funds for this purpose. In
mining projects with foreign participation, a just return of investment scheme for the foreign
entrants into the industry shall be prescribed by law.

Section 10. The State shall support indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples
(ICCs/IPs) in developing capacities to effectively exercise their rights and responsibility,
including their right to self-determination. ICCs/IPs have the shared responsibility with the State
to manage the mineral resources in their respective ancestral domains. They shall be free from
external interference, manipulation, threats, intimidation, coercion and other analogous acts.

Section 11. The State shall prioritize the development of mineral resources that are needed for
national development and for the creation of domestic processing capacity for industrial metals,
the integration of agricultural modernization, and downstream industries that will generate
employment, The Mining Plan shall be formulated to meet the country’s needs to build basic,
medium and heavy industries for the country to attain sustainable development advances and
modernization of its economic base. The Mining Plan shall be crafted to meet this principle. The
National Industrial Plan shall support national development and modernization of its economic
base. This framework will define minerals to be extracted, volume to the extracted and when to
be extracted. This shall be matched with the approved mining areas as identified by the Multi-
Sectoral Mining Councils. These matched areas are eligible for mining operations.

Section 12. The State shall also give priority to the re-mining and recycling of mineral resources
as the first option instead of opening new mines to maximize the remaining mineral resources
from the wastes of previous mine projects subject to the environmental, social and economic
costs. The rehabilitation of abandoned mines shall also be given importance.

Section 13. The State shall ensure the fullest compliance of all government and corporate entities
in and on the closure of mines, the rehabilitation/restoration of the immediate environs of each
mining project/activity in the country as provided by law. The rehabilitation of abandoned mines
shall also be given importance.

CHAPTER II
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Section 14. Definition of terms. For the purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:

a. Abandonment - the contractor’s act of leaving the entire mining lease in a state that
has not met agreed rehabilitation standards;

b. Acid mine drainage - the dissolution, mobilization and transportation of toxic metals
from rocks arising from the chemical reaction of acid-generating minerals in rock and


‘waste materials that possess high permeability to air, rainfall and other water inflows
when land is opened up for mining that initiates the chemical reaction, resulting to a
perpetual machine of acid generation.

c. Ancestral domain - all areas generally belonging to indigenous cultural
communities/indigenous peoples (ICCs/IPs) comprising the lands, inland waters, coastal
areas, and natural resources therein, held under a claim of ownership, occupied or
possessed by ICCs/IPs, by themselves or through their ancestors, communally or
individually since time immemorial, continuously to the present except when interrupted
by war, force majeure, deceit, stealth or as a consequence of government projects or any
other voluntary dealings entered into by government and private individuals/corporations,
and which are necessary to ensure their economic, social and cultural welfare. It shall
include ancestral lands, forest, pasture, residential, agricultural, and other lands
individually owned whether alienable and disposable or otherwise; hunting grounds,
burial grounds, areas of worship, bodies of water, mineral and other natural resources,
and lands which may no longer be exclusively occupied by ICCs/IPs but from which they
traditionally and historically had access to for their subsistence and traditional activities,
particularly the home ranges of ICCs/IPs who are still nomadic and/or shifting
cultivators.

d. Ancestral lands - lands occupied, possessed and utilized by individuals, families and
clans who are members of ICCs/IPs since time immemorial, by themselves or through
their predecessors-in-interest, under claims of individual or traditional group ownership,
continuously, to the present except when interrupted by war, force majeure or
displacement by force, deceit, stealth, or as a consequence of government development
aggression projects and other dealings entered into by government and private
individuals/corporations including, but not limited to, residential lots, rice terraces or
paddies, forests, swidden farms and tree lots;

e. Beneficiation — a process wherein a large fraction of the waste material is removed
from the mineral ore;

f. Buffer Zones — identified areas that are outside the boundaries of, and immediately
adjacent to protected areas designated by law that need special development control in
order to avoid or minimize harm to the said protected areas;

g. Bureau — denotes the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) under the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);

h. Carrying capacity - the capacity of the natural and human environments to
accommodate and absorb changes without giving rise to conditions of ecological
instability and degradation;

i, Certificate of Ancestral Domains Title (CADT) — a title that formally recognizes the
rights of possession and ownership of ICCs/IPs over their ancestral domains identified
and delineated in accordance with law;


j. Certificate of Ancestral Lands Title (CALT) - a title formally recognizing the rights
of ICCs/IPs over their ancestral lands;

k. Closure of mines — the permanent termination of operations at a mine or mine
processing site after its complete decommission;

1. Consensus - the decision collectively reached after the appropriate participatory
consultations and discussions that are free from any external manipulation, interference
and coercion, and other analogous acts; and obtained after fully disclosing the intent and
scope, including the positive and negative impacts, of the mining activity in a language
and process understandable to the community or group;

m. Consent - the voluntary assent of the landowner or those who have been in open,
continuous, and exclusive possession of the land for more than ten (10) years in good
faith, or thirty (30) years in bad faith, free from any external manipulation, interference
and coercion, and obtained after fully disclosing the intent, scope, and the positive and
negative impacts of the activity, in a language and process understandable to the said
landowner or occupant;

n. Contract area - the area delineated as specifically provided by a mineral agreement
for the development or utilization of mineral resources found therein;

o. Critical watershed - refers to a drainage area of a river system, lake or water reservoir
that supports any existing and proposed hydroelectric power, domestic water supply,
geothermal power and irrigation sources and works, that needs immediate rehabilitation
and protection to minimize soil erosion, improve water yield and prevent possible
flooding. The term shall also include areas which are traditional areas for human
settlements, land-uses, or sea-uses which are representative of a culture (or cultures), or
human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under
the impact of irreversible change;

p. Critical habitats — areas where species and/or subspecies naturally occur or that have
naturally established its population that are crucial to the survival of other species and are
essential for its conservation;

iving or which has disappeared or, directly or tangibly
associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and
literary works of outstanding universal significance;

r, Customary laws - body of written and/or unwritten rules, usages, customs and
practices that are traditionally recognized, accepted and observed by respective ICCs/IPs
and local communities;


s. Decommissioning - the activity or process that commences after the cessation of
prospecting activities or mineral production, including metallurgical plant production. It
involves, among others, the removal of unwanted infrastructure, making excavations and
waste repositories safe and stable; and surface rehabilitation with a view to negate any
adverse environmental impacts remaining after cessation of mineral production. It
includes the after-care or maintenance that may be needed;

t. Downstream industries — are mining activities that cover minerals processing,
refining, manufacturing of intermediate and capital goods and marketing of such;

u. Ecological profile - geographic-based instruments for planners and decision-makers
which present an evaluation of the environmental quality and carrying capacity of an area
and measures the specific interactions that will be affected by any and all mining
operations;

v. Exploration — covers all methods of searching or prospecting for mineral resources
for the purpose of determining the existence, extent, quantity and quality thereof, which
may include but are not limited to seismic, gravity, magnetic, electromagnetic, radar,
induced polarization, radio-wave and electro-geochemical;

w. Extraction - ore-removal activities that take place at the mine site itself;

x. Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) - the consensus of all members of the
ICCs/IPs to be determined in accordance with their respective customary laws and
practices, free from any external manipulation, interference, coercion, and other
analogous acts and obtained after fully disclosing the intent and scope, including the
positive and negative impacts, of all the activities, in a language and process
understandable and acceptable to the community;

y. Indigenous peoples/Indigenous cultural communities (IP/ICC) - refer to a group of
people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and ascription by others,
who have continuously lived as organized communities on communally bounded and
defined territory, and who have, under claims of ownership since time immemorial,
occupied, possessed and utilized such territories, sharing common bonds of language,
customs, traditions and other distinctive cultural traits, or who have, through resistance to
political, social and cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions and
cultures, became historically differentiated from the majority of Filipinos. ICCs/IPs shall
likewise include peoples who are regarded as indigenous on account of their descent from
the populations which inhabited the country, at the time of conquest or colonization, or at
the time of inroads of non-indigenous religions and cultures, or the establishment of
present state boundaries, who retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural
and political institutions, but who may have been displaced from their traditional domains
or who may have resettled outside their ancestral domains. They are peoples who have a
spiritual relationship with the land;


z. Indigenous political structure - refers to organizational and cultural leadership
systems, institutions, relationships, patterns and processes for decision-making and
participation as identified by ICCs/IPs such as, but not limited to, Council of Elders,
Council of Timuays, Bodong Holders, and any other tribunal or body of similar nature;

aa, Joint Venture Agreement - an agreement wherein the government and a qualified
person organize a joint-venture company, with both parties having equity shares, to
develop and manage mineral resources. Aside from earnings on the equity, the
Government shall be entitled to a share in the output computed at a certain percentage
mutually agreed upon by and beneficial to both parties;

bb. Key biodiversity areas - are places of international importance for the conservation
of biodiversity;

cc. Large-scale mining - mining in areas with more than twenty (20) hectares, using
mechanized tools and equipment, requiring considerable capital and having large-scale
environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts with regard to resource use and/or
consumption;

dd. Mineral Agreement - a contract entered into by the government, in behalf of the
State, and a private Filipino person, granting such person/s the privilege to mine a
specific contract area;

ee. Mineral resource - any concentration of minerals/rocks with potential economic
value;

ff. Mineral processing - the milling, beneficiation or upgrading of ores or minerals and
rocks or by similar means to convert the same into marketable products;

gg. Minerals - all naturally occurring inorganic substances in solid, gas, liquid, or any
intermediate state excluding energy materials such as petroleum, natural gas, radioactive
materials, and geothermal energy;

hh. Mine development - preparing the mine site for production by shaft sinking or pit
excavation, building of access roads, and constructing of surface facilities;

ii, Mine wastes and tailings - rock materials from surface or underground mining and
milling operations with little or no economic value to the generator of the same;

jj. Mining activity - any or all of the following activities: exploration, extraction,
utilization, processing, transportation and other activities conducted for the same;

kk. Mining area - a portion of the contract area which has been identified by the
contractor wherein actual mining operations shall be conducted;


Il. Mining operations ~ any and all of the mining activities involving the acts of
exploration, feasibility, development, utilization, and processing;

mm. National Industrialization — in the mining industry, this shall denote the primacy
of mineral production, processing and distribution for the primary benefit of the domestic
economy. This includes creating favorable conditions for Filipino entrepreneurs to
engage in mining through various state-private agreements that shall ensure that mining
shall help spur more domestic investments, increase agricultural production and produce
both consumer and producer goods and manufactures;

nn. National park - an area of the public domain that is a natural wilderness that is
scenic or historic in character and has been withdrawn from settlement, occupancy, or
any form of exploitation except in conformity with an approved management plan and set
aside exclusively to conserve the area or preserve the scenery, the natural and historic
objects, wild animals, and plants therein mainly for the purpose of biodiversity
conservation and/or human enjoyment;

00. Native title - pre-conquest rights to lands and domains which, as far back as memory
reaches, have been held under a claim of private ownership by ICCs/IPs, have never been
public lands and are thus indisputably presumed to have been held that way since before
the Spanish Conquest;

pp. Natural forest - forests composed of indigenous, native or endemic trees, with high
biodiversity, whose structure, functions, and dynamics have been largely the result of
natural succession processes;

qq. Natural parks - is a relatively large area not materially altered by human activity
where extractive resource activities are not allowed. These parks are maintained to
protect outstanding natural and scenic areas of national or international significance for
scientific, educational and recreational use;

rr, Open-pit mining - Extracting metal ores and minerals that lie near the surface by
removing the overlying material and breaking and loading the ore. Also known as open-
cast mining and open-cut mining;

ss. Ore - a material that contains minerals in such quantities that can be mined and
worked commercially to extract that mineral. The mineral is usually contained in
chemical combination with some other element in addition to various impurities;

tt. Pollution control and infrastructure devices - infrastructure, machinery, equipment
and/or improvements used for the impounding, treating, or neutralizing, precipitating,
filtering, conveying and cleansing mine industrial waste and tailings as well as reducing
or eliminating hazardous effects of solid particles, chemicals, liquids or other harmful by-
products and gases emitted from any facility utilized in mining operations for their
disposal;


uu, Private land - any land belonging to any private person which includes alienable and
disposable land being claimed by a holder, claimant, or occupant who has already
acquired a vested right thereto under the law, although the corresponding certificate or
evidence of title or patent has yet to be issued;

wv. Processing - includes all the treatment an ore receives after its extraction and
beneficiation, which involves changes in the chemical nature of the mined minerals;

ww. Progressive rehabilitation — a rehabilitation that involves the staged treatment of
disturbed areas during mining exploration, construction/development and extraction
‘operations;

xx. Protected areas - identified portions of land and water set aside by reason of their
unique physical and biological significance that are managed to enhance the biological
diversity and protected against destructive human exploitation;

yy. Protected landscapes, seascapes, marine sanctuaries - areas of national
significance which are characterized by the harmonious interaction of man and the
environs while providing opportunities for public enjoyment through recreation and
tourism within the bounds of the normal lifestyle and economic activity of these areas;

zz. Quarry resources - any common rock or other mineral substances as the Director of
the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) may declare to be quarry resources such as,
but not limited to, andesite, basalt, conglomerate, coral sand, diatomaceous earth, diorite,
decorative stones, gabbro, granite, limestone, marble, marl, red burning clay for potteries
and bricks, rhyolite, rock phosphate, sandstone, serpentine, shale, tuff, volcanic cinders,
and volcanic glass;

Provided, That such quarry resources do not contain metals or metallic constituents and
/or other valuable minerals in economically workable quantities;

Provided further, That non-metallic minerals such as kaolin, feldspar, bull quartz, quartz
or silica, sand and pebbles, bentonite, talc, asbestos, barite, gypsum, bauxite, magnesite,
dolomite, mica, precious and semi-precious stones, and other non-metallic minerals that
may later be discovered and which the Director declares the same to be of economically
workable quantities, shall not be classified under the category of quarry resources;

aaa. Quarrying - process of extracting, removing and disposing quarry resources found
on or underneath the surface of private or public land;

bbb. Regional director - the director of any MGB regional office;
cece. Regional office - any of the MGB regional offices;

ddd. Recycling - shall refer to the treating of used or waste materials through a process of
making them suitable for beneficial use and for other purposes, and includes any process


by which solid waste materials are transformed into new products that may be used as
raw materials for the production of other goods or services:

Provided, That the collection, segregation and re-use of previously used packaging
materials shall be deemed recycling under this Act;

eee. Rehabilitation - the process by which the land will be returned to a form and
productivity in conformity with a prior land use plan, including a stable ecological state
that does not contribute substantially to environmental deterioration;

fff. Remediation - removal of pollution or contaminants from environmental media for
general protection of the area and the people;

ggg. Remining - maximizing and recovering the remaining minerals from the rejects or
wastes of previous mines and mining operations;

hhh. Restoration - the act of bringing back the original, or the closest possible state, of
the forest and biodiversity, with the productivity matching that of the original ecosystem;

iii, Self-determination - refers to the right of a people to determine its own political
destiny as defined by existing Philippine laws. The right to self-determination has
includes the right of ICCs/IPs to choose their form of government within existing
national borders to achieve a greater degree of autonomy to help preserve their culture,
ancestral domain, and way of life;

jij. Small-scale mining - mining activities which rely heavily on manual labor using
simple implements and methods and do not use explosives or any heavy mining
equipment, primarily engaged in for sustainable living. Impacts from small-scale mining
shall not be large-scale, otherwise, the mining activity shall be defined as large-scale
mining;

kkk, Small-scale mining permit - permit issued for small-scale mining opeartions;

Il Strategic minerals - minerals needed for national industrialization, including rural
development;

mmm. Tailings Disposal System or Tailings Placement - the method wherein the
mining wastes are dumped, placed, or disposed;

nnn, Traditional small-scale mining - small-scale mining using traditional means and
without the use of chemical or mechanized extraction and separation means, methods,
implements, and/or equipment;

000, Watershed system - shall refer to an area consisting of the watershed and its divide
including its connection from the headwaters to the reef or a land area drained by a
stream or a fixed body of water and with tributaries having a common outlet for surface



run-off. It is the system by which the mining-affected communities shall be determined
following the drainage of a stream or fixed body of water with tributaries having a
common outlet for surface runoff,

ppp. Wildlife - undomesticated forms and varieties of flora and fauna.

CHAPTER IV
OWNERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE

Section 15. Authority of the Bureau. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) shall be a
scientific research institution under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR), primarily conducting the research and development of mineral resources and mining
technologies, and the training of local communities, local government units and indigenous
peoples. It shall also regulate the operations of persons involved in all mining activities. It shall
also work with the Multi-Sectoral Mineral Council in the monitoring of mining activities, as
provided in this Act.

Section 16. Regional Offices. The Bureau shall have as many regional offices in the country as
may be established by the Secretary, upon the recommendation of the Director.

Section 17. Bureau as repository of information. The Bureau shall be the central repository of
information regarding mineral lands, resources, permits, studies and other information relevant to
the operation of a mine, including the necessary requirements that a contractor is obliged to
submit. All other governmental offices and other bodies created under this Act shall furnish
copies to the Bureau of all other information related to mining.

Section 18, Access to Information. All contractors for mineral permits and agreements shall
provide information to the Bureau and the affected indigenous peoples, local communities, and
local government units. The following information of full disclosure, among others, shall be
required:

(@) _ the methods and processes of mining to be used by the contractor,
(b) the environmental and social risks,

(©) _ the ownership structure of the contractor/company,

(@)__ the sources of financing, including loan agreements;

Alll information and documents related to the proposals, mineral agreements, permits and mining
operations shall not be considered confidential. The refusal to grant access to the aforementioned
information shall be cause for the disqualification of prospective proponents, or the cancellation
of mineral agreements and permits.

‘The Bureau, being the repository of all relevant information under this Act is mandated to grant
the public access to any information in its custody. The refusal or unnecessary delay by officers


of the Bureau to provide information shall be punishable by a fine of fifty thousand pesos (PhP
50,000.00) for every instance of refusal or unnecessary delay. Information requested by
indigents or marginalized sectors shall be provided to them for free.

Section 19. Recording System. There shall be established a national and regional filing and
recording system. A mineral resource database system shall be set up in the Bureau which shall
include, among others, a mineral rights management system.

Section 20. Publication. The Bureau shall publish at least annually a mineral gazette of
nationwide circulation containing among others, a current list of mineral rights, their locations
specified in the appropriate map, mining rules and regulations, other official acts affecting
mining, and other relevant information to mineral resources development. A publication fund
shall be included in the regular budget of the Bureau.

Section 21. Bureau on exploration activities. All results of exploration of mineral resources
shall be submitted and shared with the State through the Bureau.

Section 22. Regulation of exploration phase. All exploration activities shall be strictly
monitored by the MGB to ensure that State rights to mining or mineral resources are not
extracted even before mining has been allowed and after the subsequent environmental, social,
indigenous and community benefit assessments and approvals have been done.

Section 23. Government has the primary responsibility for mining exploration. The State
will also carry out human resource training and development, scientific research and
technological application and development in geological baseline surveys of minerals and
mineral activities.

Section 24. Exploration by private entities shall only be allowed in a Joint Venture
Agreement as described in this Act. The State encourages organizations and individuals to
invest and cooperate with state-owned geological organizations in conducting geological
baseline surveys of minerals.

Section 25. The State shall invest in exploration and ing. Minerals important in the
service of socio-economic development, national defense and security shall be invested on by the
State.

SEC. 2x. Non-invasive exploration. — Exploration activities shall be non-invasive such as
seismic, gravity, magnetic, electromagnetic, radar, induced polarization, radio-wave and electro-
geochemical whenever possible;

Section 26. Consent. The Bureau shall not allow entry into any private lands for the purposes of
exploration activities without the written consent of the land owner, possessor and/or occupant,
or the FPIC of the ICC/IP, and, payment of just compensation for the use of property. Neither
shall the Bureau allow entry into any land under dispute.


Section 27. Ownership of ICCs/IPs. The mineral resources within the ancestral
domains/ancestral lands are the collective private property of the indigenous cultural
communities/indigenous peoples (ICCs/IPs), as provided by law. The management of such
mineral resources shall build on the indigenous knowledge systems and practices of the
ICCs/Ps.

Section 28. Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). No mining activity shall be conducted
within the ancestral domains/lands of the ICCs/IPs without their free, prior and informed
consent (FPIC), in addition to the conditions set forth in the succeeding sections of this Act.

For instances wherein there are questions on the legality or validity of the issued FPIC, mining
operations shall not be allowed in the ancestral domains or lands of the ICCs/IPs without the
final resolution of such question on the legality or validity of the FPIC.

Section 29. When ancestral domain is yet to be formally recognized. When an ancestral
domain is not covered by a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) or Certificate of
Ancestral Land Title (CALT), or is covered by a different title issued in favor of members of the
ICCS/IPs, then mineral resources shall nevertheless be managed by the ICCs/IPs concerned when
it can be presumed that the area is part of their ancestral domain, An area is presumed to be part
of an ancestral domain by virtue of historic rights and self-delineation of the ICCs/IPs.

Section 30. ICCs/IPs displaced from ancestral domain due to mining. The native title over an
ancestral domain subsists notwithstanding the fact that the ICCs/IPs who hold such title have
been displaced therefrom or that such ancestral domains have been occupied by other persons or
corporations under another claim of title emanating from the State. In such cases, ICCs/IPs shall
continue to own such mineral resources.

SEC. 3x. Questions on the validity of FPIC. — In instances that there are questions on the
legality or validity of the issued free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) , mining operations
shall not be allowed to be conducted in the ancestral domains or lands of the ICCs/IPs without
the final resolution of such question on the legality or validity of such FPIC.

Section 31. Ownership of mineral resources. The State owns the mineral resources, facilities
and technology within its national territory and shall utilize and manage these for the benefit of
the Filipino people on the national and local levels. Consistent with the State's recognition of the
indigenous and Moro peoples’ right to self-determination, government shall ensure that the
management of mineral resources shall be primarily for the benefit of the local communities in
whose territory the same shall be found. Any minerals extracted shall be used for local
industries consistent with the Mining Plan. The State may directly undertake the development,
utilization and processing of mineral resources or enter into mineral agreements with eligible
parties pursuant to the provisions of this Act.

Section 32. Inventory of mineral resources. The Bureau shall identify and provide an
inventory of all the available mineral resources, including the mine tailings and wastes within the
country. It shall submit to the DENR a report which shall contain the following information:


a. the classification of minerals;

b. the quality and grade of the ore;

c. the potential mine life;

d. the geological description of the area;

e. the economic viability of mine tailings; and

£. all other relevant information necessary for potential mineral investments.

The process for mineral exploration and the approval for any mining permit shall not commence
without the said inventory.

Section 33. Strategic minerals. The Bureau shall conduct researches and studies prior to any
mining operations to identify strategic mineral resources. Mineral resources needed for local
industries, agricultural modernization and rural development shall be opened to mining subject to
the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

Section 34. Demarcation of mineral areas. The Bureau shall demarcate the boundaries of all
areas identified as containing commercial quantities of mineral resources.

Section 35. Information on watershed continuums. The baseline information on all
watersheds in the country shall be required and made accessible to the public in all forms,
including the websites of the Bureau and the National Water Resources Board (NWRB). No
mining permit shall be issued without this baseline information.

Section 36. Affected local community and local government unit. For the purposes of this
Act, the affected local community and local government unit are defined in relation to any area
which has the potential to be negatively impacted by mining operations in the demarcated area.
The local communities and the local government units therefore, are those who are dependent on
the watershed eco-system and its resources.

Section 37. Establishment of the Multi-Sectoral Mineral Council. A Multi-Sectoral Mineral
Council shall be established for the purposes of this Act. There shall be as many Multi-Sectoral
Mineral Councils per province corresponding to demarcated mineral areas.

Section 38. Powers and Functions of the Council. The Council shall have the following
powers, among others:

a. To define a review period, for each mineral area, where comments on mining
proposals shall be submitted to the Bureau;

b. To call for public hearings to present and formally discuss mining applications and
gather options and public feedback or comments before a project should be approved
by the Bureau.

. To determine whether or not mining operations shall be allowed;
. To deliberate on proposals for mineral agreements;
e. To monitor the conduct of mining operations;

ae


f. To establish its internal rules of procedure which are not contradictory to this Act;
g. To provide public comment on all public submissions and justify their decision; and
h. To recommend the cancellation of a permit.

Section 39. Composition of the Multi-Sectoral Mineral Council. The Multi-Sectoral Mineral
Council shall be composed of::

(a) a representative from the Bureau, who may come from the concerned Provincial DENR
Office;

(b) one (1) representative from each of the affected provincial governments/independent
component cities/highly urbanized cities (LGUs);

(c) representatives from an established municipal-level peoples/community/sectoral/ICCs or
IP organizations affected by the proposed mining project and whose numbers shall be
equal to or as many as the number of those representing the affected LGUs; and,

(@) two (2) representatives from non-government organizations of at least five years (5) of
prior existence,

The Bureau shall be the convenor of the Council. No mining operations shall be allowed without
the Council having been properly convened.

Section 40. Areas open to mining. The power to determine whether or not the land where
mineral resources are found shall be opened to mining is vested in the Council. Areas may only
be opened to mining upon the two-thirds vote of all the members of the Council pursuant to the
guidelines provided by this Act. In determining whether or not such area shall be opened, the
following shall be taken into consideration:

a. Bureau report on the exploration conducted;

b. Existence of downstream industries for the mineral resources;

c. Potential environmental, public health and cultural impacts;

d. Conflict and risk assessment;

e. Potential economic benefits of the development and utilization of the minerals;
f. Carrying capacity and the ecological profile of the area;

g. Existing and alternative land uses of the area; and

h. Local government land use plan.

No mining application shall be allowed by the Council unless an environmental economic audit
or resource valuation of the proposed mining area has been conducted applying acceptable
valuation standards. This audit or resource valuation shall be conducted in coordination with a
multi-sectoral group of experts and community stakeholders. It shall include the determination of
the expected economic returns and the potential negative impacts from mining. A detailed study
must mention the biodiversity present in the mining claim and the impact of mining operations
on the environment, the possible environmental degradation and the attendant loss of subsistence


resources. There must be mention of existence of sacred areas or areas of cultural significance
and address the impacts of resource exploitation on indigenous and local communities.

No mining application shall be allowed by the Council unless an environmental economic audit
or resource valuation of the proposed mining area has been conducted applying acceptable
valuation standards. This audit or resource valuation shall be conducted in coordination with a
multi-sectoral group of experts and community stakeholders. It shall include the determination of
the expected economic retums and the potential negative impacts from mining. A detailed study
must mention the biodiversity present in the mining claim and the impact of mining operations
on the environment, the possible environmental degradation and the attendant loss of subsistence
resources. There must be mention also of existence, if any, of sacred areas or areas of cultural
significance and address the impacts of resource exploitation on indigenous and local
communities.

This information shall be accessible to the public at all times.
Provided however, That in no case shall the Council open the following areas to mining:

a)

Areas declared by the Local Government Units as No-Mining Zones as specified by local
ordinances and other issuances;
b) densely populated areas, especially residential areas;

©) prime agricultural lands, irrigable and irrigated lands as defined by Republic Act 9700;

d)

lands subject for agrarian reform;

e) areas with potential for acid mine drainage;
f) critical watersheds and critical habitats;

g) geohazard and climate disaster-prone areas;

small island ecosystems;

—

i) cultural sites, which may include, but not limited to, sacred sites and burial grounds;
j)_ traditional swidden farms and hunting grounds;

k) cultural property enumerated under Republic Act 10066;

key biodiversity areas;


m) high conflict areas;
n) the Province of Palawan pursuant to Republic Act 7611;

©) in military and other government reservations, except upon prior written clearance by the
government agency concerned;

near or under public or private buildings, cemeteries, archaeological and historic sites,
bridges, highways, waterways, railroads, reservoirs, dams or other infrastructure projects,
public or private works including agricultural crop plantations,;

P)

q) in areas covered by small-scale miners as defined by law unless with prior consent of the
small-scale miners, in which case a royalty payment upon the utilization of minerals
shall be agreed upon by the parties, with said royalty forming a trust fund for the
socioeconomic development of the community concerned;

1) old growth, natural or primary forests, watershed forest reserves, wildemess area,
mangrove forests, mossy forests, national parks, protection forests, provincial/municipal
forests, parks, greenbelts, game refuge and bird sanctuaries and their respective buffer
zones as defined by existing laws and ordinances; and

s) Inareas expressly prohibited by law or ordinances.

The determination whether or not the same are absolutely closed to mining shall not only be
limited to the existence of a law or ordinance declaring it as protected areas, but also to the actual
use of said area,

Section 41. Manner of voting by the Council for opening an area to mining. Sections 26 and
27 of the Local Government Code on consultation and consent shall be strictly adhered to. Local
government units at all levels shall conduct mandatory public hearings with the affected local
communities, to be carried out within their respective territories and presenting those enumerated
under Section 40 of this Act.

The Bureau shall convene the Council once the inventory of the existing minerals, the
formulation of a mine plan, and the existence of the baseline information of the particular
watershed area are submitted.

The Council shall thereafter convene their respective constituents to determine whether or not
their respective territories shall be opened for mining.

Local government units, ICCs/IPs, NGOs and peoples organizations, shall ensure that the Bureau
shall comprehensively explain the goals and objectives of the project or program, its negative
and positive impact upon the people and the community in terms of environmental or ecological
balance, and the measures that will be undertaken to prevent or minimize the adverse effects
thereof.


Thereafter, the approval of the respective Sanggunians of the affected local government units
shall be required in accordance to the sentiment of the peoples of the local government unit as a
result of the consultations conducted.

Provided, That the affected local government unit representatives shall meet and relay the
decision of their respective constituents to the provincial governmenv/independent component
cities/highly urbanized cities. The provincial/component city/highly urbanized city government
representative shall sit in the Council and shall carry the result of the vote of all the affected local
government units within the province resulting from the process as provided in this Act. There
must be a two-thirds vote among all the affected LGUs for the purpose of opening a particular
area for mining in its jurisdiction. Failure to reach a two-thirds vote for opening shall mean that
the area is closed to mining. Alll the proceedings shall at all times be recorded.

Provided further, That in case there are affected indigenous cultural communities/indigenous
peoples, they shall also bring the community's vote to the Council after undergoing their own
processes in accordance with their respective indigenous political structure, free from any
external manipulation, interference, coercion and other analogous acts, and obtained after fully
disclosing the intent and scope, including the positive and negative impacts of the activity, ina
language and process understandable and acceptable to them.

Provided finally, That any member of the community may file a protest with the Council during
any point in the period of consultations and deliberations for the Council’s consideration.

SEC. 4x. Violation of Section 54. — Local government officials who are administratively found
to violate the preceding section and Section 5X of this Act (section on the Deliberation of
Proposals) vis-4-vis the pertinent sections of the Local Government Code shall be removed from
office and perpetually disqualified from holding any elective or appointive position in
government, its divisions, subsidiaries and any government owned and controlled corporations.

Section 42. Pool of consultants. There shall be a pool of independent consultants that shall
assist the local government units, local communities or ICCs/IPs with regard to the technical
aspects of mining.

Section 43, Publication, posting and radio announcement requirements. Any decision of the
Council shall be published by the Bureau in the local newspaper in the local language, shall be
announced on local radio programs for not less than six (6) weeks and notices shall be distributed
widely in communities. The notice containing relevant information shall likewise be posted in
conspicuous places for the information of the general public and shall be announced during the
local market day.

CHAPTER V
MINERAL AGREEMENTS


Section 44, Modes of Mineral Agreement. The following are the mineral agreements as herein
defined;

a. Mineral production sharing agreement - an agreement where the Government
grants to the contractor the exclusive right to conduct mining operations within a
contract area and shares in the gross output. The contractor shall provide the
financing, technology, management and personnel necessary for the implementation
of this agreement;

b. Co-production agreement - an agreement between the Government and the
contractor wherein the Government shall provide inputs to the mining operations
other than the mineral resource; and

c. Joint venture agreement - an agreement where a joint-venture company is organized
by the Government and the contractor with both parties having equity shares. Aside
from earnings in equity, the Government shall be entitled to a share in the gross
output.

In no case shall Financial or Technical Assistance Agreements, or any other similar agreements,
contracts, and/or executive issuances granting license or permission to explore, develop and/or
utilize mineral resources be awarded to foreign entities or persons.

Section 45. Eligibility. Only Filipino citizens or corporations sixty percent (60%) of whose
equity is owned or controlled by such citizens shall be allowed to conduct the development,
utilization and processing of mineral resources within the country.

Section 46. Identification of mining projects. With at least two-thirds vote of the mining-
affected communities as reported by the Council to open areas for mining operations, the Bureau
shall prepare the necessary information sheets on the said area for potential investments. The
Bureau shall call for proposals to develop the mining area based on the National Mining Plan
(NMP).

Section 47. Pre-screening of mining proposals. Mining proposals shall be pre-screened by the
Bureau according to the National Industrialization and Mineral Development Plan and upon the
submission of interested parties of the following:

a. demonstration of financial capability;

b. proven social and environmental track record, including those of its officers and
directors;

c. clear corporate structure and ownership;

d. proof of physical office and operations of the proponent within the Philippines;

e. identification of potential investors;

£. mining project feasibility and operational work plan to include proposed operation,
mitigation and prevention methods and/or equipment;

g. capacity to process minerals;


h. intent to develop downstream industries and contribute to local community
development; and,
i, submission of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Mitigation Plan

The Council shall fix the minimum capitalization that any bidder must satisfy based on its
determination of the expected economic returns and the potential negative impacts from mining,
upon reference to an independent study proposing such minimum capitalization.

Section 48. Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Mitigation Plan. The
contractor shall submit an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Mitigation Plan
(ESIAMP) containing the means, methods, processes and schedule by which the contractor shall
conduct its operations and mitigate negative environmental and social impacts. Social impact
shall include possible impacts on the enjoyment and exercise of human rights, cultural rights, and
the right to a healthful ecology. The ESIAMP shall include plans relative to mining operations;
the rehabilitation, regeneration and restoration of mineral areas; slope stabilization of mined out
and tailings covered areas; aquaculture, watershed development and water conservation; the
relocation and return of displaced population; and provisions for alternative livelihood and
socioeconomic development.

The ESIAMP shall also contain a Social Development Plan which shall likewise contain the
plans of the proponent for the development of the community through the establishment of
infrastructures and programs that shall be sustainable even after the closure of the mine.

Section 49. Pre-qualification. The Bureau shall thereafter identify the top five (5) proposals and
shall recommend the same to the Council for deliberation.

Section 50. Deliberation. After the Bureau’s transmittal of its recommendations to the Council
together with all the submitted documents for the pre-qualification, the Council shall initiate the
deliberation process of the pre-qualified proposals.

Immediately thereafter, Sections 26 and 27 of the Local Government Code on consultation and
consent shall be strictly adhered to. Local government units at all levels shall conduct mandatory
public hearings with the affected local communities, to be carried out within their respective
territories and presenting those enumerated under Section 38. Local government units, ICCs/IPs,
NGOs and peoples organizations, shall ensure that the mining applicant shall comprehensively
explain the goals and objectives of the project or program, its negative and positive impact upon
the people and the community in terms of social, cultural and environmental or ecological
balance, and the measures that will be undertaken to prevent or minimize the adverse effects
thereof. Thereafter, the approval of the respective sanggunians of the affected local government
units shall be required in accordance to the sentiment of the peoples of the local government unit
as a result of the consultations conducted.

Provided, That the affected local government unit representatives shall meet and shall relay the
decision of their respective constituents to the provincial government/independent component
cities/highly urbanized cities. The provincial/component city/highly urbanized city government
representative shall sit in the Council and shall carry the result of the vote of all the affected local


government units within the province/independent component city/highly urbanized city
resulting from the process provided in the preceding paragraph of this Section.

In determining which proposal is acceptable to the people, a majority vote of the local
government units within the province/independent component city/highly urbanized city shall be
required.

The affected ICCs/IPs shall also deliberate on the proposals in accordance with their own
systems and processes free from any external manipulation, interference, coercion and other
analogous acts, and obtained after fully disclosing the intent and scope, including the positive
and negative impacts of the activity, in a language and process understandable and acceptable to
them.

After the respective processes are complied with, the Council shall then meet and decide which
proposal, if any, is most acceptable and consistent with their own socio-economic, environmental
and cultural programs and shall notify the Bureau of the chosen proposal.

Section 51. Posting and Publication Requirement. After notice, the Bureau shall notify the
proponent of the accepted proposal and cause the publication and posting of the accepted
proposal.

Provided, That any member of the community may contest the decision of the Council within six
(6) weeks upon the posting and publication of notice of the acceptance of the proposal in the
manner provided for in Section 38 . No mining operations shall be allowed pending any action
questioning the legality or validity of the proposal.

Section 52. Permit issuance. If no contest is filed after six (6) weeks from the date of posting
and publication, the DENR shall issue a permit in accordance with the report of the Council on
the winning proposal that won 2/3 affirmation of each of the municipalities affected.

Section 53. Environmental and Social Impact Compliance Certificate. The mining proponent
shall be issued an Environmental and Social Impact Compliance Certificate by the
Environmental Management Bureau with the approval of the Council.

Provided, That no amendments to the ESIAMP shall be allowed, unless any proposed
amendment shall benefit the affected communities and that the Council and the Bureau shall be
notified of any amendments to the ESIAMP, that the former shall give their consent to the same,
after the proponent explains in detail the reason for such amendment/s and the possible impacts
and consequences of these.

Provided further, That any violation of the ESIAMP shall cause the cancellation of the
Certificate.

Section 54. Maximum areas for mineral agreements. The maximum area under mineral
agreements that an entity can hold at any one time shall be determined by the Council, Provided
That the contract area per agreement shall not exceed five hundred (500) hectares.


Provided further, That no entity shall be awarded in excess of the total contract area of seven
hundred-fifty (750) hectares in any given watershed area. For the purposes of this Act, the
prohibition on the maximum area shall also include corporations that shall have common
directors or significant shareholders.

Section 55. Term of Mineral Agreement. The term of the mineral agreement shall be
equivalent to the mine life plus an additional five (5) years for the rehabilitation of the mining
area. Provided , That Mine Agreements will not exceed fifteen (15) years at most and may be
extended multiple times with the total extension period not exceeding fifteen (15) years.
Provided further, That the contractor shall already include rehabilitation/remediation of the
mining area within the first fifteen-year term.

In no case shall a Mineral Agreement be extended without just cause to be determined by the
Council.

Section 56. Prohibition on open-pit mining methods and submarine tailings disposal. The
open-pit mining methods and the submarine tailings disposal method shall be prohibited.

Section 57. Failure to initiate mining operations. Failure to initiate mining operations in
accordance with the work program within five (5) years from the award of the mineral agreement
shall cause the cancellation of the mineral agreement. The contractor thereafter forfeits the value
of the improvements made upon the land. The contractor and other corporations who are also run
by the same directors and officers are thereafter banned from bidding to conduct mining
operations for ten (10) years after failure to initiate its mining operations in accordance with the
work program

Section 58. Mandatory consultations for each mining phase. Mandatory consultations and
consent/approval shall be undertaken by the Council in each phase of mining operation:
exploration, extraction, processing, and mine closure to ensure that mining-affected communities
shall be informed and shall approve of the proposed plans and methods to be conducted.

Section 59. FPIC of ICCs/IPs on each stage of mining. The FPIC of the ICCs/IPs shall be
required at each and every stage of the mining operations. The FPIC shall be secured in
accordance with the laws, practices and processes of the concerned ICCs/IPs. The violation of
any of the conditions imposed by the ICCs/IPs on the contractor shall cause the cancellation of
the mineral agreement. Explanation of the rights of ICCs/IPs over ownership and self-
determination shall be included in this process.

Section 60. Consent of private landowners. No person shall be allowed entry into private lands
without the written consent of the landowners, possessors or lawful occupants of the land and/or
the FPIC of the ICC/IP.

Section 61. Expropriation. Expropriation proceedings shall be filed with the regular courts to
determine whether the taking of private property for mining purposes shall meet a public purpose
and to determine just compensation.


Section 62. Monitoring. The Council shall form a multi-partite monitoring team to monitor the
contractor’s compliance to the terms and conditions of the mineral agreement. It may conduct
ocular inspections of the contract area at any time and inspect all the books of contractors and
refer the same to independent auditors. The multi-partite monitoring team and/or the Bureau may
confiscate surety, performance and guaranty bonds posted through an order to be promulgated by
the Director. The Council, the Director or the local government authorities may deputize, when
necessary, any member or unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP), barangay, duly registered
non-government organization (NGO) or any qualified person to police any and all mining
activities.

Section 63. Withdrawal from the Mineral Agreement. The contractor may withdraw from the
mineral agreement at any time for justifiable cause with one (1) month’s notice to the Bureau,
the Council and/or the ICCs/IPs, and other government agencies as provided in this Act. The
Council, in cooperation with other concerned government agencies, shall issue a clearance for
withdrawal upon certifying that the contractor has complied with all its legal obligations,
including the appropriate measures for mine closure and rehabilitation. Funds and bonds which
have been put up by the contractor in accordance with this Act shall be forfeited.

Section 64. Prohibition on the Transfer of Mineral Agreements. In no case shall mining
rights under this Act be transferable. The contractor shall also immediately notify the Council
and the Bureau of any change in the ownership and/or control of the corporation and its
financing program. Violation of this provision shall cause the cancellation of the mineral
agreement and forfeiture of the contractor's assets in favor of the State.

CHAPTER VI
SMALL-SCALE MINING

Section 65. Applicability of RA 7076. Small-scale mining shall continue to be governed by the
provisions of Republic Act 7076 or the People's Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991, Provided, That
the Provincial/City Mining Regulatory Board shall be composed of the Governor or City Mayor,
as chairperson, as the case may be, a DENR representative as co-chairperson, one (1) small scale
mining representative, one (1) large-scale mining representative, one representative from an
environmental non-government organization, one representative from a people’s organization
(PO) coming from the marginalized sector, and at least one (1) representative from the
indigenous communities, whenever applicable, as members. The representatives from the private
sector, nongovernment organization and indigenous communities shall be selected by their
respective organizations and/or communities, and appointed by the PMRB or CMRB.

Provided further, That the conduct of small-scale mining shall also comply with the prohibitions
and regulations established herein for large-scale mining. Only individuals and cooperatives may
apply for a small-scale mining permit.

Section 66. Maximum term of small-scale mining permits. The term for small-scale mining
permits shall be three (3) years, extendable to a maximum of fifteen (15) years.


Section 67. Traditional small-scale mining within ancestral domains. The Council shall
conduct regular monitoring activities within its jurisdiction to determine if the provisions of
relevant laws are complied with in traditional small-scale mining by ICCs/IPs within their
respective ancestral domains.

Section 68. FPIC in small-scale mining. Small-scale mining act
domain by any person shall also require the FPIC of ICCs/IPs.

ies within any ancestral

Section 69, Requirement for Environmental and Social Impact Compliance Certificate.
Small-scale mining shall likewise require an Environmental and Social Impact Compliance
Certificate (ESICC). All small scale mining applicants or proponents must show proof of
compliance with the terms and conditions of its ESIC prior to the issuance of a small scale
mining permit (SSMP). Failure to submit this requirement will result in the non-issuance of the
SSMP.

Section 70. Environmental measures in small-scale mining. The State shall immediately
address the environmental and health hazards and problems in small-scale mining, including the
use of mercury, cyanide and other chemicals, in the amalgamation of gold by small-scale miners.

The Bureau shall immediately conduct research to focus on developing and promoting
appropriate, clean, efficient, culturally-sensitive and industrially-viable technologies that shall
mitigate the environmental and health effects of mercury and cyanide use and eventually replace
the current practice.

Section 71. Monitoring small-scale mining. A multi-sectoral monitoring team shall be
organized by the Council to monitor SSMP permittees’ compliance with the terms and
conditions of their respective SSMPs and ESICCs. The team shall conduct ocular inspections of
SSMP areas at any time and shall have visitorial powers.

Section 72. Livelihood support. The State shall support the improvement of the livelihood of
‘small-scale-miners by extending services for access to other more viable and sustainable forms
of livelihood, and, if the same is not possible, the following support services:

(a) access to minerals markets and to financing;

(b) facilitating partnership with mining companies or contractors by, among others, requiring
mining companies to buy tailings from small-scale mining operations for further processing or
recycling;

(c) facilitating partnerships among small-scale mining cooperatives; and

(d) other incentives to attract informal small-scale miners to formalize their status.

Section 73. Buying stations. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shall ensure that buying stations

acquire gold from small-scale traders at prevailing international gold market prices and the
prevailing exchange rate set by the BSP Treasury Department on a daily basis.


CHAPTER VII
QUARRY RESOURCES

Section 74. Quarry resources ancestral domains. Gathering of quarry resources, sand
and gravel, guano and other organic fertilizer materials, and gemstones within ancestral domains
shall likewise be subject to the FPIC of ICCs/IPs. ICCs/IPs and the government shall be entitled
to ten percent (10%) of royalties depending on whether the resources are found inside or outside
ancestral domains. Permits shall have a term of five (5) years, renewable for like period but not
to exceed a total term of twenty (20) years, and, only at a maximum surface area of five (5)
hectares.

Section 75. Quarry Permit. Any qualified Filipino may apply for a quarry permit on privately-
owned lands and ancestral domains and public lands for building and construction materials such
as marble, basalt, andesite, conglomerate, tuff, adobe, granite, gabbro, serpentine, inset filling
materials, clay for ceramic tiles and building bricks, pumice, perlite and other similar materials
that are extracted by quarrying from the ground at the provincial/city mining regulatory board.
The provincial governor shall grant the permit after the applicant has complied with all the
requirements as prescribed by the rules and regulations set forth by this Act. Provided that
gathering/extraction of sand for its metallic contents such as magnetite from the country’s rivers
and shorelines shall be require a mineral agreement in lieu of a quarry permit.

The maximum area which a qualified person may hold at any one time shall be limited to a
surface area of five hectares (5 has.) Provided, That in large-scale quarry operations involving
cement raw materials, marble, granite, sand and gravel and construction aggregates, a qualified
person and the government may enter into a mineral agreement as defined herein.

A quarry permit shall have a term of five (5) years, renewable for like periods but not to exceed a
total term of twenty (20) years. No quarry permit shall be issued or granted for any area that is
covered by a mineral agreement.

Section 76. Quarry fees and taxes. A quarry permittee shall pay quarry fees as provided for
under the implementing rules and regulations. The permittee shall also pay excise taxes as
provided by pertinent laws.

Section 77. Cancellation of quarry permit. A quarry permit may be cancelled by the provincial
governor for violations of the provisions of this Act, its implementing rules and regulations or
the terms and conditions of said permit. Provided, That before the cancellation of such permit,
the holder thereof shall be given the opportunity to be heard in an investigation conducted for the
purpose.

Section 78. Commercial sand and gravel permit. Any qualified person may be granted a
permit by the provincial governor to extract and remove sand and gravel or other loose or
unconsolidated materials outside ancestral domains which are used in their natural state, without


undergoing processing from an area of not more than five hectares (5 has.) and in such quantities
as may be specified in the permit.

Section 79, Industrial sand and gravel permit. Any qualified person may be granted an
industrial sand and gravel permit by the Bureau for the extraction of sand and gravel and other
loose or unconsolidated materials outside ancestral domains that necessitate the use of
mechanical processing covering an area of not more than five hectares (5 has.) at any one time.
The permit shall have a term of three (3) years, renewable for a like period but not to exceed a
total term of twenty (20) years.

Section 80. Exclusive sand and gravel permit. Any qualified person may be granted an
exclusive sand and gravel permit by the provincial governor to quarry and utilize sand and gravel
or other loose or unconsolidated materials from public lands for his own use, Provided, That
there will be no commercial disposition thereof.

Section 81. State gratuitous permit. Any government entity or instrumentality may be granted
a gratuitous permit by the provincial governor to extract sand and gravel, quarry or loose
unconsolidated materials outside ancestral domains needed in the construction of building and/or
infrastructure for public use or other purposes over an area of not more than two hectares (2 has.)
for a period co-terminus with the said construction.

Section 82. Section 86. Private Gratuitous Permit. Any owner of land may be granted a private
gratuitous permit by the provincial governor to extract sand and gravel, quarry or loose
unconsolidated materials within his property.

Section 83. Guano permit. Any qualified Filipino may be granted a guano permit by the
provincial governor to extract and utilize loose unconsolidated guano and other organic fertilizer
materials in any portion of a municipality where he/she has an established domicile outside
ancestral domains. The permit shall be for specific caves and/or for confined sites with locations
verified by the Department's field officer in accordance with existing rules and regulations.
Provided, That extraction does not violate and is consistent with the provisions in the Cave
Conservation Act and the Wildlife Act.

Section 84. Gemstone gathering permit. Any qualified Filipino may be granted a non-
exclusive gemstone gathering permit by the provincial governor to gather loose stones useful as
gemstones in rivers and other locations outside ancestral domains...

Section 85, Council recommendation for approval. All permits under Chapter VII of this Act
shall require the recommendation of the Multi-Sectoral Mineral Council prior to approval by the
provincial government unit. The absence of a recommendation from the Council prohibits the
approval of any permit in this Chapter.

CHAPTER VIII
TRANSPORT, SALE AND PROCESSING OF MINERALS


Section 86. Ore transport permit. A permit specifying the origin and quantity of non-processed
mineral ores or minerals shall be required for their transport.

In the case of mineral ores or minerals being transported from the Minahang Bayan areas to the
custom mills or processing plants, the Minahang Bayan Council concerned shall formulate their
own policies to govern such transport of ores produced by small-scale mining cooperatives.

Transport permits shall be issued by the Bureau. The absence of a permit shall be considered as
prima facie evidence of illegal mining and shall be sufficient cause for the confiscation of the
ores or minerals being transported, the tools and equipment utilized, and the vehicle containing
the same.

Section 87. Track record. Only mining companies with demonstrated capacity and good
environmental track record in mineral processing shall be allowed to extract minerals. The
Council shall encourage contractors to put up processing plants within the community with the
end in view of generating employment and developing other downstream industries.

Section 88, Mineral trading registration. No person shall engage in the trading of mineral
products, either locally or internationally, unless accredited by the Department and duly
registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with a copy of said accreditation and
registration submitted to the Bureau.

Section 89. Mineral Processing Permit. No individual, partnership, partnership, cooperative,
corporation or other entity shall engage in the processing of minerals without first securing a
minerals processing permit from the Council. Minerals processing permits shall be for a period
of five (5) years, renewable for like periods but not to exceed a total term of twenty-five (25)
years.

In the case of small-scale miners, the processing of mineral ores they produce, as well as the
licensing of their custom mills or processing plants, shall continue to be governed by the
provisions Of Republic Act No. 7076.

In the case of individuals, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives or other entities who are
parties to a Mineral Agreement or a Financial or 'Technical Assistance Agreement, holders of
quarry and industrial sand and gravel permits, the approved work program for the production
period shall be sufficient requirement for them to process minerals in lieu of a mineral
processing permit.

‘A mineral processing permit shall be for a period of ten (10) years, renewable for like periods:
Provided, That renewal shall not be allowed unless the permit holder has complied with all the
terms and conditions of the permit and has not been found guilty of violation of any provision of
this Act and its implementing rules and regulations.

After due process, a mineral processing permit may be suspended, revoked or cancelled by the
DENR for violation of its terms and conditions, or of pertinent laws, rules and regulations.


Mineral processing shall be included in the Investment Priority plan to be prepared by the Board
of Investment in accordance with Executive Order No, 226, as amended, otherwise known as the
Omnibus Investment Code of 1987 and shall always be listed as a preferred area of investment.

CHAPTER IX
DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITIES, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Section 89. Expenditure for community development. A contractor shall assist in the
development of the community, and the promotion of the general welfare of its inhabitants
towards sustainable development. Community development projects shall in no way decrease the
obligation of the corporation with regard to royalties and fees due to communities and/or local
government units. Community development projects should be consistent with the
Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUP), Ancestral Domains Sustainable Development and
Protection Plan (ADSDPP) and annual investment plans of the local governments, CADT/CALT
holders, and the like.

Section 90. Preferential option for Filipino labor, experts and training of members of the
local community. A contractor and/or permittee shall give preference to Filipino citizens in all
types of mining employment within the country. Members of the local community shall be
trained in all aspects of the mining operations, including remining, recycling, and the
management thereof.

Section 91. Use of indigenous goods, services and technologies. A contractor shall give
preference to the use of local goods, services, and the scientific and technical resources in all
stages of mining operations, where the same are of equivalent quality and are available on
equivalent terms as their imported counterparts.

Section 92. Donation or turnover of facilities. Prior to the cessation of mining operations by
abandonment or withdrawal of operations on public lands by the contractor, the latter shall have
a period of one (1) year therefrom within which to remove improvements. Otherwise, all the
infrastructure, facilities and equipment shall be turned over or donated tax-free to the proper
government authorities, national or local, to ensure that said infrastructure facilities and
equipment are continuously maintained and utilized by the State. A fine of one hundred thousand
pesos (PhP100,000.00) shall be imposed for every day of delay.

CHAPTER X
BENEFIT SHARING, TAXES AND FEES

Section 93. Taxes and fees. The contractor shall pay all taxes and fees as required by law,
including, but not limited to:

a. contractor’s income tax;

'b. customs, duties and fees on imported capital equipment;

c. value-added tax on imported goods and services;

4. withholding tax on interest payments to foreign loans and on dividends to foreign


stockholders;
e. documentary stamps tax;

f. capital gains tax;

g. excise tax on minerals;

h. local business tax;

i, real property tax;

j. community tax;

. occupation fees;

1. registration, accreditation and permit fees;
m. water usage fees.

Section 94. Government share. Aside from the taxes and fees referred to in the preceding
section, Government shall have a share equivalent or greater than ten percent (10%) of the
gross revenues from the development and utilization of mineral resources that are owned
by it to be set aside for the general fund of the government to be used, among others, for
special projects such as energy development and generation and the management and
conservation of protected areas in areas within the vicinity or adjacent to mining
operations.

Section 95. Indigenous cultural communities’ royalty. In case of mineral operations within
ancestral domains, the contractor shall allot at least ten percent (10%) of the gross revenues as
royalty to the ICCs/IPs. Community development programs shall not be considered as royalty
payment. The payment of the royalties shall directly be given to the communities in a process
that build on the ICCs/IPs’ traditional and customary laws.

Provided, That the royalty established in this Act shall be free from any external manipulation,
interference, coercion, and other analogous acts, and obtained after fully disclosing the intent and
scope, including the positive and negative impacts of the activity, in a language and process
understandable and acceptable to them.

Section 96. Scientific research and development fund. A Scientific Research and
Development Fund shall be set aside to be devoted to research and development of clean mining
technologies, improvement of mining processes, mine rehabilitation, mitigating technologies, the
setting up and maintenance of an independent pool of experts, and operational expenses of the
Bureau.

Section 97. Legal services fund. A legal support fund shall be set aside for the use of the
communities and local government units for cases that they may file against mining permittees or
cases that may be filed against them by mining companies in trying to do their responsibility of
protecting the rights of the marginalized groups, the environment and sustainable development in
general.

Section 98. Local Government Unit share. Local Government Units shall be entitled to a share
of the net revenues from mining operations which shall be paid directly to the treasurer’s office
of the provincial/independent component city/highly urbanized city for distribution to other local


government units. To determine the government share, the following variables shall be
considered:

a. Classification of local government;
b. Vulnerability; and
c. Human development index.

A percentage of this amount shall be set aside by the respective local government units for
Disaster Risk Management. This fund shall likewise benefit ICCs/IPs within the territory of the
local government unit.

Provided, That the administrative and operational expenses of the Council shall also be taken
from this share.

Section 99. Mine wastes and tailings fees. A semi-annual fee denoted as mine wastes and
tailings fee is hereby imposed on all operating mining companies in accordance with the
implementing rules and regulations. The mine wastes and tailings fee shall accrue to a fund to be
used as support funds for the monitoring activities of the Council. The Secretary is authorized to
increase mine wastes and tailings fees, when public interest so requires.

Section 100. Incentives. Incentives that shall be given to the contractors shall be limited only to
pollution control or mitigation devices.

Section 101. Deposit of capital and profits requirement. As part of their demonstrated
financial capacity, all large-scale mining companies/contractors are required to deposit their
capital investment and profits in banks or financial institutions that are owned, managed and
operated by the Philippine government.

Section 102. General rule on profit repatriation. Contractors with foreign financial assistance
shall be allowed to repatriate their profits from mining projects that should not exceed fifty
percent (50 %) of the total posted at the end of every fiscal year. Full disclosure of profits is
required. The full repatriation of profits shall be allowed one year after the cessation of mining
activities and the progressive rehabilitation of a mining area as specified in the mineral
agreement of each contractor.

The guidelines for Sections 98 and 99 shall be issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and
shall be furnished to the Department, Bureau, Council and all respective contractors in the
industry.

CHAPTER XI
SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

A. Safety

Section 103. Mines safety. All contractors and permittees shall strictly comply with all the rules
and regulations concerning the safety and sanitary upkeep of mines and mining development.


Government personnel involved in the implementation of mines safety, occupational health and
environmental rules and regulations shall be covered under Republic Act 7305 or the Magna
Carta of Public Health Workers.

Section 104, Mine workers. No person under sixteen (16) years of age shall be employed in any
place of mining operations and no person under eighteen (18) years of age shall be employed in a
mine.

Section 105, Mine supervision. All mining and quarrying operations that employ more than
fifty (50) workers shall have at least one (1) licensed mining engineer with at least five (5) years
of experience in mining operations, and one (1) registered foreman.

Section 106, Safety of workers. All mining companies shall provide safeguards to the health
and well-being of workers. The Regional Office of the Department of Labor and Employment
shall inspect all mining sites within their areas of jurisdiction to determine the conditions of
workers. Denial of entry shall be punishable under this Act. Representatives of trade unions shall
also have visitorial rights.

Section 107. Mine inspection. The regional directors of the Bureau and the Council shall have
jurisdiction over the safety inspection of all installations, surface or underground, in mining
‘operations at reasonable hours of day or night and in a manner that shall not impede or obstruct
work in progress of a contractor or permittee. Monitoring reports and recommendations of the
Bureau shall be submitted to the Council.

Section 108. Power to issue orders. The regional directors of the Bureau, in consultation with
the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), forthwith or within such time as specified in the
order, require the contractor to remedy any practice connected with mining, which is not in
accordance with safety and anti-pollution laws and regulations. In case of imminent danger to
life or property, the Director may summarily suspend the mining operation until the danger is
removed, or appropriate measures are taken by the contractor. Unreasonable delay to remove the
danger or introduce the necessary improvements by the contractor shall be a cause for the
cancellation of the mineral agreement.

Section 109. Report of accidents. In case of any incident or accident, causing or creating the
danger of loss of life or serious physical injuries, the person in charge of operations shall
immediately report the same to the regional office where the operations are situated. Failure to
report the same without justifiable reason shall be cause for the imposition of administrative
sanctions prescribed in the rules and regulations implementing this Act.

B. Environmental Protection

Section 110, Environmental Protection. Every contractor shall undertake an environmental
protection and enhancement program covering the period of the mineral agreement or permit.
Such environmental program shall be incorporated in the work program which the contractor or
permittee shall submit as an accompanying document to the application for a mineral agreement
or permit. The work program shall include not only plans relative to mining operations but also


to rehabilitation, regeneration, revegetation and reforestation of mineralized areas, slope
stabilization of mined-out and tailings covered areas, aquaculture, watershed development and
water conservation; and socioeconomic development.

Section 111. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Except during the exploration period
of a mineral agreement or an exploration permit, an environmental clearance certificate shall be
required based on an environmental impact assessment and procedures under the Philippine
Environmental Impact Assessment System, including Sections 26 and 27 of the Local
Government Code of 1991 which require national agencies to maintain ecological balance, and
prior consultation with the local government units, nongovernmental and people's organizations
and other concerned sectors of the community: Provided, That a completed ecological profile of
the proposed mining area shall also constitute part of the environmental impact assessment.
People's organizations and nongovernmental organizations shall be allowed and encouraged to
participate in ensuring that contractors/permittees shall observe all the requirements of
environmental protection.

Section 112. Environmental Insurance. Contractors and mineral processing permit holders
shall be obliged to execute an insurance contract as environmental assurance for each and every
source of pollution or disaster, relative to the worst case scenario costs, following accepted
actuarial standards, Provided, That in no way shall this provision be construed to remove or
reduce the liability of the contractors and/or permit holders to compensate any damage caused by
their operations. Provided further, That the insurer shall be an accredited international company
in good standing.

Prior to the approval of the insurance contract, the DENR shall seek and consider the opinion of
an independent expert as to the financial credibility of the insurer.

Section 113. Calamity and Human Rights Protection Fund. Persons issued a mineral
agreement shall deposit 1/12 of their gross income semi-annually in an interest-bearing account a
common fund maintained by the national government which shall be used for responding to, or
ameliorating the effects of calamities, natural disasters and human rights violations including
militarization, displacement, and forcible evacuation in any part of the country in relation to
mining activities. Provided, That in no way shall this provision be construed to remove or reduce
the liability of the contractors and/or permit holders to compensate any damage caused by their
operations,

Section 114. Performance Bond. The contractor shall put up a bond in an amount equivalent to
fifty percent (50%) of the projected cost of rehabilitation as validated by independent studies.
This amount shall be deposited in an interest-bearing account. The bond shall be forfeited in the
event that the contractor shall fail or default in the rehabilitation or remediation of the mining
area as included in the work plan of the contractor or abandons the mine at any time of its
operations.

Section 115. Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Fund. Contractors and
permittees shall technically and biologically rehabilitate the excavated, mined-out, tailings
covered and disturbed areas to the condition of environmental safety, as provided in the


implementing rules and regulations of this Act. A mine rehabilitation fund shall be created, based
on the contractor's approved work program, and shall be deposited as a trust fund in a
government depository bank and used for physical and social rehabilitation of areas and
communities affected by mining activities and for research on the social, technical and
preventive aspects of rehabilitation. Failure to fulfill the above obligation shall mean immediate
suspension or closure of the mining activities of the contractor/permittee concerned.

A Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Fund (FMRDF) shall be established by each
operating Contractor or Permit Holder to ensure that the full cost of the approved Final Mine
Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Plan (FMRDP) is accrued before the end of the operating
life of the mine- The FMRDF shall be deposited as trust fund in Government depository bank
and shall be used solely for the implementation of the approved FMRDP.

Annual cash provisions shall be made by Contractors/Permit Holders to a FMRDF 3 based on
the formula:

Annual provision Cost of Implementing the Approved FMR/DP x Percentage Required per Table I

Based on the expected mine life, the initial annual cash provision shall be made to the MRF
Committee within sixty (60) days from the date of the FMR/DP’s approval and every anniversary
date thereafter; Provided, That, on application by the Contractor/Permit Holder, the MIRF
Committee may allow a later date for the payment of the first annual provision. Failure to fulfil
the above obligation shall mean immediate suspension or closure of the mining activities of the
contractor/permittee concerned.

Mining firms are also mandated to immediately restore and replant areas that they have already
finished excavating as they move on to other development sites: Provided, however, that if
mining firms cannot do reforestation in their immediate area they could do the reforestation in
other areas provided they comply with 100:1 hectare ratio. Any mining firm found to have
violated or have not complied with the foregoing mandatory provisions shall be held liable with
the penalty of revocation of their mining permits and payment of a fine of not less than One
Million Pesos (P 1,000,000). The owners, officers and management employee of said mining
firms shall also be held liable and be subject to imprisonment of not less than one year not more
than three (3) years.

Section 116. Progressive rehabilitation. Contractors shall also conduct progressive
rehabilitation activities.

Section 117. Adoption of the precautionary principle. When an activity related to mining
raises threats of harm to public health or the environment, precautionary measures shall be taken
proactively even if some cause and effect relationship have yet to be scientifically established of
which the mining proponent and the Bureau shall also be obliged to disclose publicly.

Section 118. Adoption of polluter pays principle. Polluters shall pay for the damage they cause
to the environment. The amount of damages shall be determined by accredited independent
consultants, to be chosen from a list and agreed upon by both the mining proponent and by the
Council.


Section 119. Tailings impoundment. Tailings impoundments shall be built away from critical
watershed drainage areas. Furthermore, it shall be ensured impoundments will not endanger
critical watershed areas and low-lying valleys in the event of accidents under abnormal
conditions. Tailing impoundments and dams shall meet the international standards for large
dams.

Section 120, Dumping of waste. Dumping of waste or tailings in any body of water shall be
prohibited. Provisions of the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act shall be strictly implemented.

Section 121. Use of toxic chemicals and methods. At all times, mining contractors shall use
chemicals or reagents which would result to the least environmental and social destruction. The
use of mercury and cyanide for the extraction of gold, silver and other minerals shall be
prohibited. The use of blow torching to separate gold from amalgam shall likewise be prohibited.

Section 122. Preservation of topsoil. The removed topsoil, or the more productive horizons of
the soil shall be preserved for other uses.

Section 123. Priority use for water. The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) shall
investigate any existing use of water resources in the area whether or not covered by any existing
water permit or registration. Upon determination of any existing use, the applicant shall procure
the consent of all water users and/or the FPIC of ICCs/IPs with or without water permits within
the same groundwater network or any downstream users of water resources. In all instances,
priority shall be given to use of water for domestic, municipal, and agricultural purposes. If
potential negative impact on other water users is identified, the water permit shall not be granted.
For water resources within the ancestral domain of indigenous peoples, no water permit shall be
granted by the NWRB without the FPIC of the indigenous peoples.

Section 124. Recycling of water resources. Water used in mining operations shall be recycled.
Mining contractors shall be required to provide for the methods and equipment for the recycling
or reuse of water. Released contaminated water shall be treated accordingly to meet national
standards. Released water must at least be equivalent in quality to the baseline water quality.

Section 125. Water user’s fee. A water user’s fee that reflects the value of water to the country
and community shall be imposed by the Council for water used in mining operations.
Contractors shall pay the fee to the NWRB which shall use the same for monitoring and
improvement of the affected waterways and systems and the mitigation of negative impacts
thereon to ensure that communities shall have access to clean water.

C. Acid Mine Drainage
Section 126. Prohibition from using acid-generating waste rock for infrastructure. The use

of acid-generating waste rock to build roads, dams or other infrastructures is prohibited. The use
of such materials shall only be used after treatment to neutralize the effect of acid mine drainage.


Section 127. Establishment of a prediction and monitoring system. The Bureau shall
establish a prediction and monitoring system to identify potential acid-producing materials and
monitor their production of acid waste.

Section 128. Avoidance of waterways. Open pits, waste rock piles and tailings impoundments
shall not be built near or on waterways to prevent contact and subsequent acid production and
groundwater contamination.

Section 129. Remining. Remining shall be prioritized over the opening of new mines to
maximize and recover the remaining minerals from the rejects or wastes of previous mines and
mining operations, Provided, That remining operations shall follow the processes, standards,
parameters and guidelines set for mining operations in this Act.

Section 130. Suits after the termination of contracts or projects. Recognizing that the effects
of mining may be seen or felt, actions relating to the health of affected communities or peoples,
environmental degradation and other similar effects may be maintained against the project
proponent and/or persons even after the mineral agreement or mining project has terminated.

CHAPTER XII
RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS:

Section 131. Panel of Arbitrators. There shall be a panel of arbitrators in the regional offices of
the Department composed of three (3) members, two (2) of whom must be members of the
Philippine Bar in good standing, and one a licensed mining engineer or a professional in a related
field, and duly designated by the Secretary as recommended by the MGB Director. Those
designated as members of the panel shall serve as such in addition to their work in the
Department without receiving any additional compensation. As much as practicable, said
members shall come from the different bureaus of the Department in the region. The presiding
officer thereof shall be selected by the drawing of lots. His tenure as presiding officer shall be on
a yearly basis. The members of the panel shall perform their duties and obligations in hearing
and deciding cases until their designation is withdrawn or revoked by the Secretary. Within thirty
(30) working days, after the submission of the case by the parties for decision, the panel shall
have exclusive and original jurisdiction to hear and decide on the following:

2. Questions involving compliance with the established technical guidelines and
standards herein established, or those to be established by the implementing rules
and regulations of this Act;

b, Questions involving the compliance with technical procedures herein established,
or those to be established by the implementing rules and regulations; and,

c Other similar instances wherein the technological and technical expertise of the
Department shall be needed.


Disputes involving real rights, contractual obligations and other causes of action that are not in
anyway connected with the abovementioned scopes of jurisdiction shall be under the jurisdiction
of the regular courts or as otherwise provided by other special laws.

Provided, That disputes pending before the Bureau and the Department at the date of the
effectivity of this Act shall undergo an immediate review within sixty (60) working days upon
the passage of this Act to determine the cause of action. Those which are outside the technical
expertise of the Department or Bureau shall be refiled with the appropriate court, without costs to
the complainant or petitioner. All Decisions or orders to stop mining operations or to clean or
rehabilitate mining operations and surrounding communities shall be immediately executory.

Section 132. Appeal. The decision or order of the panel of arbitrators may be appealed by the
party not satisfied thereto to the Mines Adjudication Board within fifteen (15) days from receipt
thereof, which must decide the case within thirty (30) days from submission thereof for decision.

Section 133. Mines Adjudication Board (MAB). The Mines Adjudication Board shall be
composed of three (3) members. The Secretary of the DENR shall be the Chairperson with the
Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director and the Undersecretary for Operations of the
Department as members thereof. The Board shall have the following powers and functions:

a. promulgate rules and regulations governing the hearing and disposition of cases
before it, as well as those pertaining to its internal functions, and such rules and
regulations as may be necessary to carry out its functions;

b. administer oaths, summon parties to a controversy, issue subpoenas requiring the
attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of such books, papers,
contracts, records, statement of accounts, agreements, and other documents as may be
material to a just determination of the matter under investigation, and to testify in any
investigation or hearing conducted in pursuance of this Act;

c. conduct hearings on all matters within its jurisdiction, proceed to hear and determine
the disputes in the absence of any party thereto who has been summoned or served
with notice to appear, conduct its proceedings or any part thereof in public or in
private, adjourn its hearings at any time and place, refer technical matters or accounts
to an expert and to accept his report as evidence after hearing of the parties upon due
notice, direct parties to be joined in or excluded from the proceedings, correct,
amend, or waive any error, defect or irregularity, whether in substance or in form,
give all such directions as it may deem necessary or expedient in the determination of
the dispute before it, and dismiss the mining dispute as part thereof, where it is trivial
or where further proceedings by the Board are not necessary or desirable:

1. To hold any person in contempt, directly or indirectly, and impose appropriate
penalties therefor; and


2. To enjoin any or all acts involving or arising from any case pending before it
which, if not restrained forthwith, may cause grave or irreparable damage to
any of the parties to the case or seriously affect social and economic stability.

In any proceeding before the Board, the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity
shall not be controlling and it is the spirit and intention of this Act that shall govern. The Board
shall use every and all reasonable means to ascertain the facts in each case speedily and
objectively and without regard to technicalities of law or procedure, all in the interest of due
process and social justice. In any proceeding before the Board, the parties may be represented by
legal counsel. The findings of fact of the Board shall be conclusive and binding on the parties
and its decision or order shall be final and executory.

A petition for review by certiorari and question of law may be filed by the aggrieved party with
the Court of Appeals within thirty (30) days from receipt of the order or decision of the Board.

Sec. 134. Exceptions.
In no case, however, shall the following cases be subject to arbitration:

A. Cases wherein a mining application was already dismissed or vetoed as provided under
Sec. 41 of this Act;
B. Cases which involve criminal liability;

CHAPTER XIII
ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Section 134, Human Rights obligations. Corporations shall respect, protect and promote the
human rights of communities affected by mining, including the right to life, liberty and property,
freedom of movement, right of public participation and the right to self-determination of
indigenous cultural communities.

Section 135. Violations of human rights. Extrajudicial killing, torture, involuntary
disappearance, forcible displacement of populations, setting up of checkpoints and imposition of
toll fees which impede the freedom of movement within mineral areas, deprivation of food and
water sources, vote-buying and bribery for the purpose of securing consent or endorsement for
the mining project, and other analogous acts are violations of human rights. Violations of human
rights by contractors shall cause the immediate cancellation of mineral agreements. The
offending contractor, as well as corporations having the same directors and/or officers as of the
offending contractor shall be perpetually disqualified from being granted a mineral agreement.
All equipment and assets of the corporation or person shall be confiscated in favor of the State.

Section 136. Use of paramilitary and military forces. All mining companies are strictly
prohibited from using and/or funding paramilitary groups. Using private, paramilitary and
military forces to threaten and harass individuals and communities shall result in the automatic


cancellation of the mineral agreement and the filing of appropriate civil, criminal and/or
administrative charges.

Section 137. Strategic Legal Action Against Public Participation (SLAPP). SLAPP is any
legal action, whether civil, criminal or administrative, filed to harass, vex, exert legal action or
stifle legal recourses of citizens complaining against violations of this Act or enforcing the
provisions of the Act, or exercising their freedom of assembly or right of public participation. On
motion that alleges that the action is a SLAPP, the investigating prosecutor or court shall
immediately determine within a period of thirty (30) days from filing thereof whether a legal
action is a SLAPP and accordingly dismiss the same.

Section 138. Indigents suit. Indigents shall be exempt from payment of any administrative or
court fees, including docket fees for the filing of a case. Lawyers shall be provided by the Public
Attorney's Office to pauper litigants in case they could not afford legal services.

Section 139. Application of the customary laws of ICCs/IPs. The contractor shall respect the
customary laws of the ICCs/IPs and ensure that such laws shall be adhered to. Provided, That, in
applying this provision in relation to other national laws, as well as in resolving disputes, the
integrity of the ancestral domains, culture, values, practices, institutions, customary laws and
traditions of the ICCs/IPs shall be given primacy. Interpretation of this provision shall be
resolved in favor of ICCs/IPs.

Section 140. Strict liability. Mining corporations are required to observe extra-ordinary
diligence in all its actions in relation to mining operations and are strictly liable for all damages
that the mining operations might cause. In case of any actual damage, the burden of proof shall
lie with the corporations.

Section 141. Surmounting the corporate veil. When the separate personality of the corporation
from its shareholders is being invoked as defense in order to perpetuate a crime, fraud, evade
liability, and conduct other machinations, the separate personality of the corporation shalll be set
aside. Civil, criminal and administrative actions may thus be filed directly against the members
of the Board of Directors, officers and the individual stockholders. The corporation shall publish
in its website and in the Securities and Exchange Commission the names and addresses of its
officers in the Philippines anyone of whom is authorized to receive summons and other court
processes on its behalf.

Section 142. Citizen Suits. For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Act and its
implementing rules and regulations, any citizen may file appropriate civil, criminal and
administrative suits against any of the following:

a. Any person who violates or fails to comply with the provisions of this Act or its
implementing rules and regulations;

b. Any public officer with respect to orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with this
Act;


c. Any public officer who willfully or grossly neglects the performance of an act
specifically

enjoined as a duty by this Act or its rules and regulations; or abuses the authority in the

performance of a duty/ies under this Act or its implementing rules and regulations.

The court shall exempt such action from the payment of filing fees, except fees for actions not
capable of pecuniary estimation, and shall likewise, upon prima facie showing of non-
enforcement or violation complained of, exempt the plaintiff from filing an injunction bond for
the issuance of a preliminary injunction.

CHAPTER XIV
PENAL PROVISIONS

Section 143. Grounds for the cancellation of mineral agreements and permits:

a. Late or non-compliance with the requirements and prohibitions set forth in this Act, or

in its implementing rules and regulations;

b. Violation of the Terms and Conditions of Permits or Agreements. Any act or omission
contrary to what is stipulated in the exploration permit, mining agreements and other
contracts shall cause the immediate revocation and termination of the said permit or
agreement. Likewise, any person who knowingly presents any false application,
declaration, or evidence to the Government or publishes or causes the publication of any
prospectus or other information containing any false statement relating to mines, mining
operations or mineral agreements and permits shall, upon conviction, not only cause the
immediate revocation and termination of the said permit or agreement, but shall also be
penalized by a fine of not exceeding One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00).

c. Human rights violations perpetrated by the contractor or any of its agents;
c. Failure to pay the taxes and fees provided forth in this Act;

d. Bribery, use of force, intimidation, threat, coercion of public officials and
communities;

e. Any act that shall create or contribute to conflicts between community members;
f. Other analogous acts.
Provided, that violations of Chapter XI of this Act shall cause the immediate cancellation of

mining permits, including but not limited to provisions of this Act, and the contractor shall be
required to pay for the rehabilitation, restoration or clean-up of the impacts of such violations.


Corporations, corporate directors/officers found guilty of the above enumeration shall be
perpetually banned for participating directly or indirectly in any and all mining operations in the
Philippines.

Section 145. Illegal exploration. Any person undertaking exploration work, upon conviction,
shall be penalized by a fine of not exceeding Five Million pesos (P5,000,000.00).

Section 146. Theft of minerals. Any person, except traditional miners and small-scale panners,
extracting minerals and disposing the same without a mining agreement, lease, permit, license; or
steals minerals or ores or the products thereof from mines, mills or processing plants shall, upon
conviction, be imprisoned from six (6) months to six (6) years or pay a fine from One Hundred
thousand pesos (P100, 000.00) to One Million pesos (P1, 000,000.00) or both, at the discretion

of the appropriate court. In addition, he shall be liable to pay damages and compensation for the
minerals removed, extracted, and disposed of. In the case of associations, partnerships, or
corporations, the president and each of the directors thereof shall be responsible for the acts
committed by such association, corporation, or partnership.

Section 147. Vitiation of FPIC. Any person found to have vitiated the consent of the ICCs/IPs
through bribery, threat, force, and/or intimidation, or any other similar means, shall suffer the
penalty of six (6) years and one (1) day to ten (10) years in prison, and a fine of at least two
million pesos (PhP 2,000,000.00). If the perpetrator is a government official, the penalty shall be
eight (8) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years imprisonment, and a fine of at least four
million pesos (PhP 4,000,000.00). He/she shail be perpetually prohibited from assuming public
office, and shall be disqualified from receiving other benefits by virtue of his/her position in
government.

Section 148. Penalty for human rights violations. Contractors or other persons who have
committed human rights violations in connection with the mining operations shall be penalized
with ten (10) to fourteen (14) years imprisonment and a fine of at least five million pesos (PhP
5,000,000.00) and shall indemnify the victims.

Section 149. Abandonment. Contractors and/or permittees who shall abandon mines shall be
perpetually banned or disqualified from directly or indirectly conducting mining operations. The
ban and/or disqualification shall include the officers and directors of corporations that have
abandoned mines.

Section 150. Confiscation of equipment and property. The equipment and property of
contractors and permit holders violating this Act shall be forfeited in favor of the State.

Section 151. Non-application of the corporate veil. Any person violating the provisions of
Commonwealth Act No. 108, or the Anti-Dummy Law of the Philippines as amended, or is
found to have used the corporate structure to defeat the provisions of this Act shall suffer the
penalty of five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) and a perpetual ban in the mining industry.


Section 152. Unauthorized dealing, selling, and/or buying of gold. Any person, partnership or
corporation who shall sell, buy or in any manner deal gold from any miner or person without
being duly authorized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shall be punished as unauthorized
dealing and shall be penalized in accordance with Section 146 of this Act.

Section 153. Amendment to Section 27 of Republic Act 7076 or the Small-scale Mining Act.
Violations of the provisions of Republic Act 7076 or of the rules and regulations issued pursuant
hereto shall be penalized with imprisonment of six years and one day to twelve years. The State
shall confiscate and seize equipment, tools and instruments; effect immediate suspension or
closure of the mining activities of the permittee concerned, and revoke the permit.

Section 154, Confiscation of equipment and property. The equipment and property of small-
scale contractors and permit holders who violate this Act shall be forfeited in favor of the State.

Section 155. Local government officials who are administratively found to violate provisions of
this Act, vis-a-vis the pertinent sections of the Local Government Code shall be removed from
office and perpetually disqualified from holding any elective or appointive position in
government, its divisions, subsidiaries and any government-owned and -controlled corporations.

Section 156. Reinstatement of revoked permits. After notice and hearing, revoked permits that
have undergone due process may be reinstated, Provided, That it may only be reinstated once.

CHAPTER XV
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Section 157. There shall be a moratorium on all new mining activities until all the systems are in
place for the proper implementation of this Act.

Section 158. Review of Existing Mining Permits, Contracts and Agreements. The DENR
shall conduct a review and audit of all mining permits, licenses and agreements for the purpose
of determining: (i) whether their continuance shall be advantageous for the Government in
accordance with the Mining Plan, and (ii) the level of compliance of the grantee or
concessionaire with its statutory and contractual undertakings and obligations in accordance to
this Act and other pertinent laws concerning environmental protection and conservation. Mine
workers and their families that may be displaced during the transition period shall receive
livelihood support and job placements to be facilitated by the appropriate agencies of the State.

Section 159. The classification of public lands as mineral reservations pursuant to pre-existing
laws shall hereby cease. A review of the current mineral land classification shall be conducted to
determine the best livelihood and economic options for each area. No mining operations can start
within mineral reservations unless finally determined to have been in compliance with this Act.

Section 160. The members of the panels of arbitrators and the provincial or city mining
regulatory boards established under Republic Act No. 7942 shall hold-over their positions until
replaced in accordance with provisions of this Act.


CHAPTER XVI
FINAL PROVISIONS

Section 161. Separability clause. The provisions of this Act are hereby declared to be separable
and, in the event of any such provisions are declared unconstitutional, the other provisions which
are not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Section 162. Repealing clause. Presidential Decree 463, Presidential Decree 512, Republic Act
7942, and other related mining laws are hereby repealed. All provisions in laws, decrees,
issuances and other regulations inconsistent with this Act shall be deemed amended or repealed
if the inconsistency is irreconcilable.

Section 163. Funds. The amount of One Hundred Billion Pesos (PhP 100,000,000,000) is
hereby appropriated for the proper functioning of the Bureau, the Council, and other bodies
established under this Act of which half of the said amount shall be allotted for the baseline
mineral exploration activities of the Bureau.

Section 164. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The implementing rules and regulations of
this Act shall be promulgated by the Department and the MGB after collaborative efforts to draft
and finalize the same with representatives from the local government units, people’s
organizations, indigenous peoples organizations, sectoral organizations and non-governmental
organizations in exhaustive and appropriate public consultations at all levels nationwide.

Section 165. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days following its
publication in two national newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,