The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has reached out to a tribe and an Indigenous People’s group in Nueva Vizcaya.
The technical personnel from the Mining Technology Division (MTD) of the MGB Central Office, in collaboration with MGB Region II, went to Baranggay Abaca in Dupax Del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya to render information dissemination and technical assistance to Bugkalot Tribe elders and some members of the Abaca-Pogkat Indigenous People’s Association Inc. in Nueva Vizcaya.
The information dissemination activity is in response to the Association’s letter-appeal dated April 26, 2017 on the denial of its application for Minahang Bayan and its request for an opportunity to personally air its side. At the same time, the Association wants to have its members informed, on the pertinent policies, laws, rules and regulations concerning the no-go zones to mining applications as well as the basic requisites and procedures in the evaluation of Minahang Bayan applications.
Previously, the Association has filed a Petition for Declaration of a Minahang Bayan which approximately covers 81 hectares, within the Ancestral Domain with Certificate of Domain Title (CADT - RO2-DUP-0110-146) but the MGB control map revealed that their application area is situated inside a No-Go Zone.
According to the results of the plotting of the technical descriptions of the proposed Minahang Bayan area, it is located within a Critical Watershed Forest Reserve known as Pantabangan Watershed. Pursuant to the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 7942, the Philippine Mining Act of 1985; Section 15 of the DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2010-21; Section 1 of the Executive Order (EO) No. 79; and Section 4 of the DAO No. 2012-07, the area is closed to mining applications.
The MGB’s reach out and information dissemination activity is also a part of the regular activities under the small-scale mining program of the MTD.
The dialogue was held last June 21-24, 2017.
By: Mining Technology Division
Mining Technology personnel during the information dissemination session with the Bugkalot Tribe elders and members of the Abaca-Pogkat Indigenous People’s Association Inc.