Small scale miners want idle lot claims cancelled

By Dexter A. See

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Thousands of small-scale miners in this mineral-rich province are seeking the immediate cancellation of mining claims by companies that never developed their claims and to allow small miners to exploit and utilize the idle resources.

The Federation of Small-scale Miners in Benguet said claim sitters should not be allowed by the government because they only help deny the declaration of mineral lands as “Minahang Bayan” or public mines pursuant to the Small-Scale Mining Law.

According to the group, concerned agencies should provide a definite time frame for mining claim holders to develop their areas and to revoke the claims if not used for productive purposes.

The group said some mining claims were declared over 50 years ago but were never developed by the concerned mining companies.

Presidential Decree 1899 or the Small-Scale Mining Law mandates the establishment of “Minahang Bayan” but small-scale miners must first obtain the consent of companies holding claims over highly mineralized areas before they could claim the same for their use.

However, the small-scale miners said most large-scale mining companies do not allow their claims to be declared as public mines.

Benguet is one of the highly mineralized provinces in the country because of its highly fractured soil and rock formation that indicates the presence of high grade minerals. It is also a major vegetable producer.

The province hosts two large mining firms, the Philex Mining Corporation and the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company, and at the same time accommodates over 25,000 small-scale miners spread in mineral-rich communities.

Despite its huge number of small-scale miners, however, the provincial government does not earn from them since almost all of the small-scale miners in Itogon, Tuba, Mankayan, Bakun and Kabayan are operating illegally.

The province has given the 65 small-scale mining associations until February 28, 2010 to register their operations so that government agencies could closely monitor their safety and health procedures.