Itogon pushes revocation of 2 firms’ mining MOA

By Susan C. Aro

ITOGON, Benguet – Folks of this mining town backed the call of council of elders and community members of Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples for revocation and withdrawal of consent  of mining application of two companies  in the area.

Officials of Ampucao led by barangay chairman Eddie Amuasen passed a resolution strongly supporting and endorsing the statement of the council of elders, surface claimants and community residents for the office of the NCIP and MGB-DENR to deny the application of the Omico Corporation and the Macawili Gold Mining and Development Company, Inc. (MGMDCI).

Barangay Resolution No. 25 series of 2016 is entitled, ‘Revocation of consent as contained in a memorandum of agreement dated Oct. 17, 2006 between the Indigenous Peoples and Landowners of Ampucao, Itogon and Omico Corporation.”

The reason for the revocation and withdrawal of consent was gross violation of the terms and conditions of the MOA.

The council of elders and the community members claimed there was utter disregard by said companies on the rights not only of the host indigenous peoples but all surface owners and claimants within the area under the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement(MPSA).

       Omico accordingly illegally utilized the consent to apply for MPSA when it is clearly stated in the agreement that the same is limited to the conduct of exploration only.

Further, Omico or the present permit holder, MGMDCI, disregarded or totally violated the “No payment, no exploration” policy as embodied in the MOA.

        The council of elders and community also claimed that Omico transferred the consent in favor of MGMDCI without the knowledge of the host IPs.

They sought for the denial of the application of the MGMDCI for the renewal of their exploration permit and to ultimately revoke the issued MPSA No. 278-2009 and also for the NCIP to revoke Compliance Certificate CCCAR-07-02-71.

Copies of said resolution were forwarded to the EMB-DENR, NCIP for their appropriate action and likewise furnished other concerned offices for their information, support and endorsement. 

       It was also furnished the Provincial Board and was referred to the Committees on Mining and Energy and IP for further action.