DENR gives Benguet mining board power to decide on mine tunnels, processed ores

October 21, 2018

ITOGON -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources ( DENR)  has given Benguet province's mining regulatory board the authority to decide what do to with mine tunnels, stockpiled mineral ores and processing plants in Itogon.

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu declared on September 17  all illegal small-scale mining activities in the Cordillera Administrative Region will be stopped after at least 80 persons died in a landslide in Barangay Ucab caused by a storm that crossed northern Philippines.

Cimatu met small scale miners here on October 17 and said  processing of applications for a site in  Itogon is underway to legalize small-scale mining activities.

He stressed the region-wide stoppage order remains on all illegal small-scale mining activities, including  extraction, mineral processing and gold panning.

Small-scale mining activities will only be allowed, if within declared minahang bayan sites, he said.

There are around 20,000 engaged in small scale mining, according to the Benguet Federation of Small-Scale Miners. DMS