HOUSE WF REPRESENTATIVES

RECEIVED
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Republic of the Philippines hn
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY: — hk
Quezon City
RATION UNIT
JLLS AND INDEX SE
SEVENTEENTH concress |_&"'S x
First Regular Session
2715
HOUSE BILL No. __

Tntroduced by Reps. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate, Rep. Antonio L. Tinio, Rep. Emmi A. De
Jesus, Rep. Arlene D. Brosas, Rep. France L. Castro, Rep. Ariel B. Casilao,

and Rep. 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 RA 7942 superseded the country's previous laws on mining, such as the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 iberalizing 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 ftom 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 Bone 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 IIT issued Executive Order
79, which supposedly aims to regulate the industry pending the passage of a new mining law.

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

‘The losses sustained by the countty’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 0 the country’s GDP, employment,
government revenues, investments, national industrialization and poverty alleviation is, in fact, not
significant, According, o 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 counteies” 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 of 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 shows, at the very least, a cortelation between mining and poverty that counters
the claims of forcign-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, or 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 (or the Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas) notes that
in the administration of former Pres. Aquino IIT, 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 Blaan lumad leader Juvy Capion and her two other small children in
“‘Tampakan, Nosth Cotabato, when elements of the 27th Infantry Battalion strafed their home. The
Blaan has been waging pangayaw or tribal war versus mulinacional mining corporation Xstrata since
2006.

‘Thete 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 Ple, 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 theie land
and homes, destruction of theit 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 tights 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 altemative 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.

Local government oflicials 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.

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.

It is estimated that the country has around 7.1 billion metric tons (BMT) of metallic mineral reserves
(such a8 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 US§1 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, 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.

Appromd,

—
Rep Aided ATL ure
‘Bayan Muna 7

ANTONIO L. TINIO Rep. L. CASTRO
ACT Teachers Partylist Aef Teachgyé Partylist

Deres

Rep. EMMI A. DE JESUS

Gabriela Women's Party Gabriela Women’s Party
Rep. Ge. B, CASILAO Rep. ANE I. ELAGO
Anakpawis Partylist Kabataan Parilist,


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2715

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by Representatives CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE,
EMMI A. DE JESUS, ANTONIO L. TINIO, ARLENE D. BROSAS,
FRANCE L. CASTRO, ARIEL B. CASILAO, and 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 Honse 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 OF 2016.
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 submatine 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;

c. 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 envionment, of which the
State is a party; and

e. a balanced 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 curtent 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

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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, ittigable 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 progeummed 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 ot force
the entry and protection of mining operations;

13, Mining industry research and development shall focus on harnessing 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 industey;

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, harnessed, 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 II
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 forcign 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
((CCs/IPs) in developing capacities to effectively exercise their rights and responsibilty, including
their sight to self-detetmination. 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

9


industries for the country to attain sustainable development advances and modernization of its
economic base. ‘The Mining Plan shalll 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 III
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 agrced 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) compzising 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 of 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, butial 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/1Ps who are stil
nomadic and/or shifting cultivators.

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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, fore majeure ot 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;

£, Bufifer 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 (CAD'T) — a title that formally recognizes the
tights of possession and ownership of ICCs/TPs 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 @ 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 fally 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;
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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;

q, Cultural sites - those that bear a unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or
to a civilization which is living 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;

x, 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

12


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/LPs 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 areas

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

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

13


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 litle 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;

1, 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 processe:

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;

4


sr, 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
climinating 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 - arcas 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, tale, asbestos, barite, gypsum, bauxite, magnesite,
dolomite, mica, precious and semi-precious stones, and other non-metallic minerals that may

15



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
ot underneath the surface of private or public land;

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

ddd. Reeycling - 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;

cee, 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,

jjj. 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;

Ill. Steategic minerals - minerals needed for national industrialization, including rural
development;

16


mmm. Tailings Disposal System of 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
ora 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.
Te 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
Alll 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 fall disclosure, among others, shall be required!

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

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

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

7


‘All 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 tights 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 surv
of minerals,

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

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

18


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/IPs.

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
(EPIC), in addition to the conditions set forth in the succeeding sections of this Act.

For instances whercin there are questions on the legality of 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 Ancesteal Domain Title (CAD) or Certificate of Ancestral Land
Title (CALT), of is covered by a different title issued in favor of members of the ICCs/IPs, then

s 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.

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;

. the geological description of the area;

¢. 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.

19


Section 33. Strategic minetals. ‘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 pusposes 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,

‘o determine whether or not mining operations shall be allowed;

‘0 deliberate on proposals for mineral agreements;

‘0 monitor the conduct of mining operations;

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

c
d.
e
i
&
h.
Section 39. Composition of the Multi-Sectoral Mineral Council. The Multi-Sectoral Mineral

Couneil shall be composed of:

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

20


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

(©) sepresentatives 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,

(d) nwo (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;

4. Conflict and risk assessment,

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

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 o
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 communi

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 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.

2


‘This information shall be accessible to the public at all times.

Provided however, ‘That in no case shall the Couneil open the following areas to mining:

a)
»)
Co)

4)

)

»

‘Areas declared by the Local Government Units as No-Mining Zones as specified by local
ordinances and other issuances;

densely populated areas, especially residential areas;

prime agricultural lands, itrigable and irrigated lands as defined by Republic Act 9700;
lands subject for agrarian reform;

areas with potential for acid mine drainages

ctitical watersheds and critical habitats;

geohazard and climate disaster-prone areas;

small island ecosystems;

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

cultural property enumerated under Republic Act 10066,

key biodiversity areas;

m) high conflict areas;

n)
°)

P)

the Province of Palawan pursuant to Republic Act 7611;

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

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

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;

2


1) old growth, natural or primary forests, watershed forest reserves, wilderness 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

8) 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 of 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
ofa mine plan, and the existence of the baseline information of the particular watershed area are
submitted.

‘The Council shall thereafter convene thei 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 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 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. All 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,
23



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.

Provided final, 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 Couneil’s consideration.

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 agrcement 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

24


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,

. proven social and environmental track record, including those of its officers and directors;
¢. clear corporate structure and ownership;

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

¢. 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
ight 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

25


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 requited 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 Couneil 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 ESLAMP 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 ESTAMP, that the former shall give their consent to the same, after the

26


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 ESLAMP 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 $5. 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 concemed ICCs/TPs. 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.

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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 EPIC 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 arca at any time and inspect all the books of contractors and refer
the same to independent auditors. The mult-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 al 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 theit 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.

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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
Jaws 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 activities within any ancestral domain
by any person shall also require the FPIC of ICCs/IPs.

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 Couneil 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:

(@) access to minerals markets and to financing;

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

(©) facilitating partnerships among small-scale mining cooperatives; and
(@ other incentives to attract informal small-scale miners to formalize thei status.
Section 73. Buying stations. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shall ensure that buying stations

acquite 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.

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CHAPTER VII
QUARRY RESOURCES

Section 74, Quarry resources within 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 quatry 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
tesm 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
thercof 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 ate 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

30


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 ot 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. 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.

Section 83. 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.

Section 84. 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 85. Ore transport permit. A permit specifying the origin and quantity of non-processed
mineral ores of minerals shall be required for their transport. 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 86, Track record. Only mining companies with demonstrated capacity and good
cavironmental 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 87. 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 (DTT) with a copy of said accreditation and registration
submitted to the Bureau.

a1


Section 88,.Mineral Processing Permit. No person 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.

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 of 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 of local, to ensure that said infrastructure facilities and equipment
are continuously maintained and utilized by the State. AA 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.
including, but not limited to:

1¢ contractor shall pay all taxes and fees as required by law,

a. contractor's income tax;
b. customs, duties and fees on imported capital equipment;
c. value-added tax on imported goods and services;
d, withholding tax on interest payments to foreign loans and on dividends to foreign
stockholders;
¢. documentary stamps tax;
32


£ capital gains tax;

g. excise tax on minerals;

h. local business tax;

i. real property tax;

j. community tax;

kk. occupation fees;

1. registration, accreditation and permit fees;
im. 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.

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.

33


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 ate owned, managed and operated by
the Philippine government.

Section 102. General tule on profit repatriation. Contractors with foreign financial
shall be allowed to tepatriate 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 engincer 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
34


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 ot 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 whete 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
permittce 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.

35


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. n0 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. Pronided
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 insuret.

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. Rehabilitation. 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.

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 employce 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

36


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 arcas 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 w

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 ot
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, Recyling 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.

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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 of projects. Recognizing that the effects of
mining may be scen 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 XIL
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 yeatly 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:

a. 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,

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

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Disputes involving real rights, contractual obligations and the other causes of action that are outside
the technological and technical expertise of the Panel of Arbitrators shall be under the jurisdiction of
the regular courts of 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.

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,
recotds, statement of accounts, agreements, and other documents as may be material to @
just determination of the matter under investigation, and to testify in any investigation or
hearing conducted in pursuance of this Act;

©. 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 of served with notice
to appear, conduct its proceedings or any part thercof 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
ot 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 tivial 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 orall 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.

39


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 ot order shall be final and
executory.

A petition for review by artiorari and question of law may be filed by the aggrieved patty with the
Supreme Court within thirty (30) days ftom receipt of the order or decision of the Board.

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 ate 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. AAll 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 employing paramilitary groups. The use of private and military forces 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, ctiminal 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, ot exercising their fteedom of assembly or right of public participation. The investigating
prosecutor ot court shall immediately determine within a petiod of thisty (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 shall submit to the processes of the same, Provided, That these
laws are not contrary to the provisions of the Constitution.

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Section 140. Strict liability. Mining corporations 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 shall 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.

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:

4. 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 ot
violation complained of, exempt the plaintiff from filing an injunction bond for the issuance of a
preliminary injunction.

‘The court shall determine whether or not the complaint is malicious or baseless and shall
accordingly dismiss the petition within thirty (30) days upon the filing of the case.

CHAPTER XIV
PENAL PROVISIONS

Section 143. Grounds for the cancellation of mineral agreements and permits:
a. Violation of any provision of this Act;
b, Human rights violations perpetrated by the contractor or any of its agents;
c. Non-payment of taxes;
4. Bribery, use of force, intimidation, threat, coercion of public officials and communities;
¢. Any act that shall create or contribute to conflicts;

£ Other analogous acts.
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Provided, that violations of environmental provisions 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 144, False statements. 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, be penalized by a fine of not exceeding One
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00).

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 shall 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.

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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 provisions in 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. All existing mining permits, licenses and agreements are hereby deemed canceled. 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. The President's power to declare mineral reservations shall henceforth cease to
exist. All such lands shall be closed to mining unless opened thereto in accordance with the
provisions of this Act. A review of the current mineral land classification shall be conducted to
determine the best livelihood and economic options for each area.

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.

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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 after collaborative efforts to draft and finalize the
same with representatives from the local government units, 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 irs
publication in two national newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,