The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) recently conducted a joint validation of the Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development Zones (SAFDZs) following the instructions of the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC).

 The MICC deemed necessary to implement a validation of the said zones having initially learned that 57% of the nine (9) applications for Exploration Permits filed with the MGB are within the No-Go Zone area, majority of which are considered as SAFDZs. It was then discovered that the No-GO Zone map was prepared based on a 1:250,000 scale thereby generalizing the various sub-zones of the SAFDZs. It was then reported that the SAFDZ maps were based on 1989 data and needs updating.

From the report of the MGB from its 21st meeting with the MICC, only a few regional offices have successfully completed the task, most are still conducting the validation due to the unawareness of the DA regional offices of the said validation. It was further reported that the DA regional offices referred the matter to its central office particularly to the Bureau of Soils and Water Management which has the maps of the SAFDZ.

The MICC requires the DA and MGB to submit pertinent validation reports jointly signed by the concerned Regional Directors.

By: Legal Staff