Mineral Resources: The Mining Laws of the Philippines

The extraction of mineral resources is currently governed by two major laws. The Mining Act of 1995 governs all large-scale mining activities for all types of mineral resources, whether on land or at sea. Sections 43 to 52 contain provisions on the quarrying of common mineral resources like rocks, sand, and gravel, but if such resources make up a marine habitat, they should be considered as excluded since the Fisheries Code of 1998 now prohibits the extraction of such materials. It does not include the extraction of petroleum resources like oil and gas, which are governed by Republic Act No. 387 as amended.

Small-scale mining is governed by the People’s Small-scale Mining Act of 1991. Such activities do not include quarrying, since the law is clearly intended for small-scale development and utilization of mineral resources which would otherwise be subject to large-scale commercial operations.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7942

AN ACT INSTITUTING A NEW SYSTEM OF
MINERAL RESOURCES EXPLORATION,
DEVELOPMENT, UTILIZATION, AND
CONSERVATION

CHAPTER I — INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — All mineral resources in public and private lands within the territory and exclusive economic zone of the Republic of the Philippines are owned by the State. It shall be the responsibility of the State to promote their rational exploration, development, utilization and conservation through the combined efforts of government and the private sector in order to enhance national growth in a way that effectively safeguards the environment and protect the rights of affected communities.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in and for purposes of this Act, the following terms, whether in singular or plural, shall mean:

(a) "Ancestral lands" refers to all lands exclusively and actually possessed, occupied, or utilized by indigenous cultural communities by themselves or through their ancestors in accordance with their customs and traditions since time immemorial, and as may be defined and delineated by law.

(b) "Block" or "meridional block" means an area bounded by one-half (1/2) minute of latitude and one-half (1/2) minute of longitude, containing approximately eighty-one hectares (81 has.).

(c) "Bureau" means the Mines and Geosciences Bureau under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

(d) "Carrying capacity" refers to the capacity of natural and human environments to accommodate and absorb change without experiencing conditions of instability and attendant degradation.

(e) "Contiguous zone" refers to water, sea bottom and substratum measured twenty-four nautical miles (24 n.m.) seaward from the base line of the Philippine archipelago.

(f) "Contract area" means land or body of water delineated for purposes of exploration, development, or utilization of the minerals found therein.

(g) "Contractor" means a qualified person acting alone or in consortium who is a party to a mineral agreement or to a financial or technical assistance agreement.

(h) "Co-production agreement (CA)" means an agreement entered into between the Government and one or more contractors in accordance with Section 26(b) hereof.

(i) "Department" means the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

(j) "Development" means the work undertaken to explore and prepare an ore body or a mineral deposit for mining, including the construction of necessary infrastructure and related facilities.

(k) "Director" means the Director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

(l) "Ecological profile or eco-profile" refers to geographic-based instruments for planners and decision-makers which presents an evaluation of the environmental quality and carrying capacity of an area.

(m) "Environmental compliance certificate (ECC)" refers to the document issued by the government agency concerned certifying that the project under consideration will not bring about an unacceptable environmental impact and that the proponent has complied with the requirements of the environmental impact statement system.

(n) "Environmental impact statement (EIS)" is the document which aims to identify, predict, interpret, and communicate information regarding changes in environmental quality associated with a proposed project and which examines the range of alternatives for the objectives of the proposal and their impact on the environment.

(o) "Exclusive economic zone" means the water, sea bottom and subsurface measured from the baseline of the Philippine archipelago up to two hundred nautical miles (200 n.m.) offshore.

(p) "Existing mining/quarrying right" means a valid and subsisting mining claim or permit or quarry permit or any mining lease contract or agreement covering a mineralized area granted/issued under pertinent mining laws.

(q) "Exploration" means the searching or prospecting for mineral resources by geological, geochemical or geophysical surveys, remote sensing, test pitting, trending, drilling, shaft sinking, tunneling, or any other means for the purpose of determining the existence, extent, quantity and quality thereof and the feasibility of mining them for profit.

(r) "Financial or technical assistance agreement" means a contract involving financial or technical assistance for large-scale exploration, development, and utilization of mineral resources.

(s) "Force majeure" means acts or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the contractor including, but not limited to, war, rebellion, insurrection, riots, civil disturbance, blockade, sabotage, embargo, strike, lockout, any dispute with surface owners and other labor disputes, epidemic, earthquake, storm, flood or other adverse weather conditions, explosion, fire, adverse action by government or by any instrumentality or subdivision thereof, act of God or any public enemy and any cause that herein described over which the affected party has no reasonable control.

(t) "Foreign-owned corporation" means any corporation, partnership, association, or cooperative duly registered in accordance with law in which less than fifty per centum (50%) of the capital is owned by Filipino citizens.

(u) "Government" means the government of the Republic of the Philippines.

(v) "Gross output" means the actual market value of minerals or mineral products from its mining area as defined in the National Internal Revenue Code.

(w) "Indigenous cultural community" means a group or tribe of indigenous Filipinos who have continuously lived as communities on communally-bounded and defined land since time immemorial and have succeeded in preserving, maintaining, and sharing common bonds of languages, customs, traditions, and other distinctive cultural traits, and as may be defined and delineated by law.

(x) "Joint venture agreement (JVA)" means an agreement entered into between the Government and one or more contractors in accordance with Section 26(c) hereof.

(y) "Mineral processing" means the milling, beneficiation or upgrading of ores or minerals and rocks or by similar means to convert the same into marketable products.

(z) "Mine wastes and tailings" shall mean soil and rock materials from surface or underground mining and milling operations with no economic value to the generator of the same.

(aa) "Minerals" refers to all naturally occurring inorganic substance in solid, gas, liquid, or any intermediate state excluding energy materials such as coal, petroleum, natural gas, radioactive materials, and geothermal energy.

(ab) "Mineral agreement" means a contract between the government and a contractor, involving mineral production-sharing agreement, co-production agreement, or joint-venture agreement.

(ac) "Mineral land" means any area where mineral resources are found.

(ad) "Mineral resource" means any concentration of minerals/rocks with potential economic value.

(ae) "Mining area" means a portion of the contract area identified by the contractor for purposes of development, mining, utilization, and its sites for support facilities or in the immediate vicinity of the mining operations.

(af) "Mining operation" means mining activities involving exploration, feasibility, development, utilization, and processing.

(ag) "Non-governmental organization (NGO)" includes nonstock, nonprofit organizations involved in activities dealing with resource and environmental conservation, management and protection.

(ah) "Net assets" refers to the property, plant and equipment as reflected in the audited financial statement of the contractor net of depreciation, as computed for tax purposes, excluding appraisal increase and construction in progress.

(ai) "Offshore" means the water, sea bottom, and subsurface from the shore or coastline reckoned from the mean low tide level up to the two hundred nautical miles (200 n.m.) exclusive economic zone including the archipelagic sea and contiguous zone.

(aj) "Onshore" means the landward side from the mean tide elevation, including submerged lands in lakes, rivers and creeks.

(ak) "Ore" means a naturally occurring substance or material from which a mineral or element can be mined and/or processed for profit.

(al) "Permittee" means the holder of an exploration permit.

(am) "Pollution control and infrastructure devices" refers to infrastructure, machinery, equipment and/or improvements used for impounding, treating or neutralizing, precipitating, filtering, conveying and cleansing mine industrial waste and tailings as well as eliminating or reducing hazardous effects of solid particles, chemicals, liquids or other harmful byproducts and gases emitted from any facility utilized in mining operations for their disposal.

(an) "President" means the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

(ao) "Private land" refers to any land belonging to any private person which includes alienable and disposable land being claimed by a holder, claimant, or occupant who has already acquired a vested right thereto under the law, although the corresponding certificate or evidence of title or patent has not been actually issued.

(ap) "Public land" refers to lands of the public domain which have been classified as agricultural lands and subject to management and disposition or concession under existing laws.

(aq) "Qualified person" means any citizen of the Philippines with capacity to contract, or a corporation, partnership, association, or cooperative organized or authorized for the purpose of engaging in mining, with technical and financial capability to undertake mineral resources development and duly registered in accordance with law at least sixty per centum (60%) of the capital of which is owned by citizens of the Philippines: Provided, That a legally organized foreign-owned corporation shall be deemed a qualified person for purposes of granting an exploration permit, financial or technical assistance agreement or mineral processing permit.

(ar) "Quarrying" means the process of extracting, removing and disposing quarry resources found on or underneath the surface of private or public land.

(as) "Quarry permit" means a document granted to a qualified person for the extraction and utilization of quarry resources on public or private lands.

(at) "Quarry resources" refers to any common rock or other mineral substances as the Director of Mines and Geosciences Bureau may declare to be quarry resources such as, but not limited to, andesite, basalt, conglomerate, coral sand, diatomaceous earth, diorite, decorative stones, gabbro, granite, limestone, marble, marl, red burning clays for potteries and bricks, rhyolite, rock phosphate, sandstone, serpentine, shale, tuff, volcanic cinders, and volcanic glass: Provided, That such quarry resources do not contain metals or metallic constituents and/or other valuable minerals in economically workable quantities: Provided, further, That non-metallic minerals such as kaolin, feldspar, bull quartz, quartz or silica, sand and pebbles, bentonite, talc, asbestos, barite, gypsum, bauxite, magnesite, dolomite, mica, precious and semi-precious stones, and other non-metallic minerals that may later be discovered and which the Director declares the same to be of economically workable quantities, shall not be classified under the category of quarry resources.

(au) "Regional director" means the regional director of any mines regional office under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

(av) "Regional office" means any of the mines regional offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

(aw) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

(ax) "Special allowance" refers to payment to the claim-owners or surface right-owners particularly during the transition period from Presidential Decree No. 463 and Executive Order No. 279, series of 1987.

(ay) "State" means the Republic of the Philippines.

(az) "Utilization" means the extraction or disposition of minerals.

SECTION 4. Ownership of Mineral Resources. — Mineral resources are owned by the State and the exploration, development, utilization, and processing thereof shall be under its full control and supervision. The State may directly undertake such activities or it may enter into mineral agreements with contractors.
The State shall recognize and protect the rights of the indigenous cultural communities to their ancestral lands as provided for by the Constitution.

SECTION 5. Mineral Reservations. — When the national interest so requires, such as when there is a need to preserve strategic raw materials for industries critical to national development, or certain minerals for scientific, cultural or ecological value, the President may establish mineral reservations upon the recommendation of the Director through the Secretary. Mining operations in existing mineral reservations and such other reservations as may thereafter be established, shall be undertaken by the Department or through a contractor: Provided, That a small scale-mining cooperative covered by Republic Act No. 7076 shall be given preferential right to apply for a small-scale mining agreement for a maximum aggregate area of twenty-five percent (25%) of such mineral reservation, subject to valid existing mining/quarrying rights as provided under Section 112 Chapter XX hereof. All submerged lands within the contiguous zone and in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines are hereby declared to be mineral reservations.

A ten per centum (10%) share of all royalties and revenues to be derived by the government from the development and utilization of the mineral resources within reservations as provided under this Act shall accrue to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to be allotted for special projects and other administrative expenses related to the exploration and development of other mineral reservations mentioned in Section 6 hereof.

SECTION 6. Other Reservations. — Mining operations in reserved lands other than mineral reservations may be undertaken by the Department, subject to limitations as herein provided. In the event that the Department cannot undertake such activities, they may be undertaken by a qualified person in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary. The right to develop and utilize the minerals found therein shall be awarded by the President under such terms and conditions as recommended by the Director and approved by the Secretary: Provided, That the party who undertook the exploration of said reservation shall be given priority. The mineral land so awarded shall be automatically excluded from the reservation during the agreement: Provided, further, That the right of the lessee of a valid mining contract existing within the reservation at the time of its establishment shall not be prejudiced or impaired.

SECTION 7. Periodic Review of Existing Mineral Reservations. — The Secretary shall periodically review existing mineral reservations for the purpose of determining whether their continued existence is consistent with the national interest, and upon his recommendation, the President may, by proclamation, alter or modify the boundaries thereof or revert the same to the public domain without prejudice to prior existing rights.

SECTION 8. Authority of the Department. — The Department shall be the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development, and proper use of the State's mineral resources including those in reservations, watershed areas, and lands of the public domain. The Secretary shall have the authority to enter into mineral agreements on behalf of the Government upon the recommendation of the Director, promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the intent and provisions of this Act.

SECTION 9. Authority of the Bureau. — The Bureau shall have direct charge in the administration and disposition of mineral lands and mineral resources and shall undertake geological, mining, metallurgical, chemical, and other researches as well as geological and mineral exploration surveys. The Director shall recommend to the Secretary the granting of mineral agreements to duly qualified persons and shall monitor the compliance by the contractor of the terms and conditions of the mineral agreements. The Bureau may confiscate surety, performance and guaranty bonds posted through an order to be promulgated by the Director. The Director may deputize, when necessary, any member or unit of the Philippine National Police, barangay, duly registered non-governmental organization (NGO) or any qualified person to police all mining activities.

SECTION 10. Regional Offices. — There shall be as many regional offices in the country as may be established by the Secretary, upon the recommendation of the Director.

SECTION 11. Processing of Applications. — The system of processing applications for mining rights shall be prescribed in the rules and regulations of this Act.

SECTION 12. Survey, Charting and Delineation of Mining Areas. — A sketch plan or map of the contract or mining area prepared by a deputized geodetic engineer suitable for publications purposes shall be required during the filing of a mineral agreement or financial or technical assistance agreement application. Thereafter, the contract or mining area shall be surveyed and monumented by a deputized geodetic engineer and the survey plan shall be approved by the Director before the approval of the mining feasibility.

SECTION 13. Meridional Blocks. — For purposes of the delineation of the contract or mining areas under this Act, the Philippine territory and its exclusive economic zone shall be divided into meridional blocks of one-half (1/2) minute of latitude and one-half (1/2) minute of longitude.

SECTION 14. Recording System. — There shall be established a national and regional filing and recording system. A mineral resource database system shall be set up in the Bureau which shall include, among others, a mineral rights management system. The Bureau shall publish at least annually, a mineral gazette of nationwide circulation containing among others, a current list of mineral rights, their location in the map, mining rules and regulations, other official acts affecting mining, and other information relevant to mineral resources development. A system and publication fund shall be included in the regular budget of the Bureau.

SECTION 15. Scope of Application. — This Act shall govern the exploration, development, utilization and processing of all mineral resources.

SECTION 16. Opening of Ancestral Lands for Mining Operations. — No ancestral land shall be opened for mining operations without the prior consent of the indigenous cultural community concerned.

SECTION 17. Royalty Payments for Indigenous Cultural Communities. — In the event of an agreement with an indigenous cultural community pursuant to the preceding section, the royalty payment, upon utilization of the minerals shall be agreed upon by the parties. The said royalty shall form part of a trust fund for the socioeconomic well-being of the indigenous cultural community.

SECTION 18. Areas Open to Mining Operations. — Subject to any existing rights or reservations and prior agreements of all parties, all mineral resources in public or private lands, including timber or forestlands as defined in existing laws, shall be open to mineral agreements or financial or technical assistance agreement applications. Any conflict that may arise under this provision shall be heard and resolved by the panel of arbitrators.

SECTION 19. Areas Closed to Mining Applications. — Mineral agreement or financial or technical assistance agreement applications shall not be allowed:

SECTION 20. Exploration Permit. — An exploration permit grants the right to conduct exploration for all minerals in specified areas. The Bureau shall have the authority to grant an exploration permit to a qualified person.

SECTION 21. Terms and Conditions of the Exploration Permit. — An exploration permit shall be for a period of two (2) years, subject to annual review and relinquishment or renewal upon the recommendation of the Director.

SECTION 22. Maximum Areas for Exploration Permit. — The maximum area that a qualified person may hold at any one time shall be:

SECTION 23. Rights and Obligations of the Permittee. — An exploration permit shall grant to the permittee, his heirs or successors-in-interest, the right to enter, occupy and explore the area: Provided, That if private or other parties are affected, the permittee shall first discuss with the said parties the extent, necessity, and manner of his entry, occupation and exploration and in case of disagreement, a panel of arbitrators shall resolve the conflict or disagreement.

The permittee shall undertake an exploration work on the area as specified by its permit based on an approved work program.

Any expenditure in excess of the yearly budget of the approved work program may be carried forward and credited to the succeeding years covering the duration of the permit. The Secretary, through the Director, shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the terms and conditions of the permit.

The permittee may apply for a mineral production sharing agreement, joint venture agreement, co-production agreement or financial or technical assistance agreement over the permit area, which application shall be granted if the permittee meets the necessary qualifications and the terms and conditions of any such agreement: Provided, That the exploration period covered by the exploration permit shall be included as part of the exploration period of the mineral agreement or financial or technical assistance agreement.

SECTION 24. Declaration of Mining Project Feasibility. — A holder of an exploration permit who determines the commercial viability of a project covering a mining area may, within the term of the permit, file with the Bureau a declaration of mining project feasibility accompanied by a work program for development. The approval of the mining project feasibility and compliance with other requirements provided in this Act shall entitle the holder to an exclusive right to a mineral production sharing agreement or other mineral agreements or financial or technical assistance agreement.

SECTION 25. Transfer or Assignment. — An exploration permit may be transferred or assigned to a qualified person subject to the approval of the Secretary upon the recommendation of the Director.

SECTION 26. Modes of Mineral Agreement. — For purposes of mining operations, a mineral agreement may take the following forms as herein defined :

A mineral agreement shall grant to the contractor the exclusive right to conduct mining operations and to extract all mineral resources found in the contract area. In addition, the contractor may be allowed to convert his agreement into any of the modes of mineral agreements or financial or technical assistance agreement covering the remaining period of the original agreement subject to the approval of the Secretary.

SECTION 27. Eligibility. — A qualified person may enter into any of the three (3) modes of mineral agreement with the government for the exploration, development and utilization of mineral resources: Provided, That in case the applicant has been in the mining industry for any length of time, he should possess a satisfactory environmental track record as determined by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and in consultation with the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department.

SECTION 28. Maximum Areas for Mineral Agreement. — The maximum area that a qualified person may hold at any time under a mineral agreement shall be:

The maximum areas mentioned above that a contractor may hold under a mineral agreement shall not include mining/quarry area under operating agreements between the contractor and a claimowner/lessee/permittee/licensee entered into under Presidential Decree No. 463.

SECTION 29. Filing and Approval of Mineral Agreements. — All proposed mineral agreements shall be filed in the region where the areas of interest are located, except in mineral reservations which shall be filed with the Bureau.

The filing of a proposal for a mineral agreement shall give the proponent the prior right to areas covered by the same. The proposed mineral agreement will be approved by the Secretary and copies thereof shall be submitted to the President. Thereafter, the President shall provide a list to Congress of every approved mineral agreement thirty (30) days from its approval by the Secretary.

SECTION 30. Assignment/Transfer. — Any assignment or transfer of rights and obligations under any mineral agreement except a financial or technical assistance agreement shall be subject to the prior approval of the Secretary. Such assignment or transfer shall be deemed automatically approved if not acted upon by the Secretary within thirty (30) working days from official receipt thereof, unless patently unconstitutional or illegal.

SECTION 31. Withdrawal from Mineral Agreements. — The contractor may, by giving due notice at any time during the term of the agreement, apply for the cancellation of the mineral agreement due to causes which, in the opinion of the contractor, make continued mining operations no longer feasible or viable. The Secretary shall consider the notice and issue its decision within a period of thirty (30) days: Provided, That the contractor has met all its financial, fiscal and legal obligations.

SECTION 32. Terms. — Mineral agreements shall have a term not exceeding twenty-five (25) years to start from the date of execution thereof, and renewable for another term not exceeding twenty-five (25) years under the same terms and conditions thereof, without prejudice to changes mutually agreed upon by the parties. After the renewal period, the operation of the mine may be undertaken by the Government or through a contractor. The contract for the operation of a mine shall be awarded to the highest bidder in a public bidding after due publication of the notice thereof: Provided, That the contractor shall have the right to equal the highest bid upon reimbursement of all reasonable expenses of the highest bidder.

SECTION 33. Eligibility. — Any qualified person with technical and financial capability to undertake large-scale exploration, development, and utilization of mineral resources in the Philippines may enter into a financial or technical assistance agreement directly with the Government through the Department.

SECTION 34. Maximum Contract Area. — The maximum contract area that may be granted per qualified person, subject to relinquishment shall be:

SECTION 35. Terms and Conditions. — The following terms, conditions, and warranties shall be incorporated in the financial or technical assistance agreement, to wit:

SECTION 36. Negotiations. — A financial or technical assistance agreement shall be negotiated by the Department and executed and approved by the President. The President shall notify Congress of all financial or technical assistance agreements within thirty (30) days from execution and approval thereof.

SECTION 37. Filing and Evaluation of Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement Proposals. — All financial or technical assistance agreement proposals shall be filed with the Bureau after payment of the required processing fees. If the proposal is found to be sufficient and meritorious in form and substance after evaluation, it shall be recorded with the appropriate government agency to give the proponent the prior right to the area covered by such proposal: Provided, That existing mineral agreements, financial or technical assistance agreements and other mining rights are not impaired or prejudiced thereby. The Secretary shall recommend its approval to the President.

SECTION 38. Term of Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement. — A financial or technical assistance agreement shall have a term not exceeding twenty-five (25) years to start from the execution thereof, renewable for not more than twenty-five (25) years under such terms and conditions as may be provided by law.

SECTION 39. Option to Convert into a Mineral Agreement. — The contractor has the option to convert the financial or technical assistance agreement to a mineral agreement at any time during the term of the agreement, if the economic viability of the contract area is found to be inadequate to justify large-scale mining operations, after proper notice to the Secretary as provided for under the implementing rules and regulations: Provided, That the mineral agreement shall only be for the remaining period of the original agreement.

In the case of a foreign contractor, it shall reduce its equity to forty percent (40%) in the corporation, partnership, association, or cooperative. Upon compliance with this requirement by the contractor, the Secretary shall approve the conversion and execute the mineral production-sharing agreement.

SECTION 40. Assignment/Transfer. — A financial or technical assistance agreement may be assigned or transferred, in whole or in part, to a qualified person subject to the prior approval of the President: Provided, That the President shall notify Congress of every financial or technical assistance agreement assigned or converted in accordance with this provision within thirty (30) days from the sate of the approval thereof.

SECTION 41. Withdrawal from Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement. — The contractor shall manifest in writing to the Secretary his intention to withdraw from the agreement, if in his judgment the mining project is no longer economically feasible, even after he has exerted reasonable diligence to remedy the cause or the situation. The Secretary may accept the withdrawal: Provided, That the contractor has complied or satisfied all his financial, fiscal or legal obligations.

SECTION 42. Small-Scale Mining. — Small-scale mining shall continue to be governed by Republic Act No. 7079 and other pertinent laws.

SECTION 43. Quarry Permit. — Any qualified person may apply to the provincial/city mining regulatory board for a quarry permit on privately-owned lands and/or public lands for building and construction materials such as marble, basalt, andesite, conglomerate, tuff, adobe, granite, gabbro, serpentine, inset filling materials, clay for ceramic tiles and building bricks, pumice, perlite and other similar materials that are extracted by quarrying from the ground. The provincial governor shall grant the permit after the applicant has complied with all the requirements as prescribed by the rules and regulations.

The maximum area which a qualified person may hold at any one time shall be five hectares (5 has.): Provided, That in large-scale quarry operations involving cement raw materials, marble, granite, sand and gravel construction aggregates, a qualified person and the government may enter into a mineral agreement as defined herein.

SECTION 44. Quarry Fee and Taxes. — A permittee shall, during the term of his permit, pay a quarry fee as provided for under the implementing rules and regulations. The permittee shall also pay the excise tax as provided by pertinent laws.

SECTION 45. Cancellation of Quarry Permit. — A quarry permit may be cancelled by the provincial governor for violations of the provisions of this Act or its implementing rules and regulations or the terms and conditions of said permit: Provided, That before the cancellation of such permit, the holder thereof shall be given the opportunity to be heard in an investigation conducted for the purpose.

SECTION 46. Commercial Sand and Gravel Permit. — Any qualified person may be granted a permit by the provincial governor to extract and remove sand and gravel or other loose or unconsolidated materials which are used in their natural state, without undergoing processing from an area of not more than five hectares (5 has.) and in such quantities as may be specified in the permit.

SECTION 47. Industrial Sand and Gravel Permit. — Any qualified person may be granted an industrial sand and gravel permit by the Bureau for the extraction of sand and gravel and other loose or unconsolidated materials that necessitate the use of mechanical processing covering an area of more than five hectares (5 has.) at any one time. The permit shall have a term of five (5) years, renewable for a like period but not to exceed a total term of twenty-five (25) years.

SECTION 48. Exclusive Sand and Gravel Permit. — Any qualified person may be granted an exclusive sand and gravel permit by the provincial governor to quarry and utilize sand and gravel or other loose or unconsolidated materials from public lands for his own use, provided that there will be no commercial disposition thereof.
A mineral agreement or a financial technical assistance agreement contractor shall, however, have the right to extract and remove sand and gravel and other loose unconsolidated materials without need of a permit within the area covered by the mining agreement for the exclusive use in the mining operations: Provided, That monthly reports of the quantity of materials extracted therefrom shall be submitted to the mines regional office concerned: Provided, further, That said right shall be coterminous with the expiration of the agreement.

Holders of existing mining leases shall likewise have the same rights as that of a contractor: Provided, That said right shall be coterminous with the expiry days of the lease.

SECTION 49. Government Gratuitous Permit. — Any government entity or instrumentality may be granted a gratuitous permit by the provincial governor to extract sand and gravel, quarry or loose unconsolidated materials needed in the construction of building and/or infrastructure for public use or other purposes over an area of not more than two hectares (2 has.) for a period coterminous with said construction.

SECTION 50. Private Gratuitous Permit. — Any owner of land may be granted a private gratuitous permit by the provincial governor.

SECTION 51. Guano Permit. — Any qualified person may be granted a guano permit by the provincial governor to extract and utilize loose unconsolidated guano and other organic fertilizer materials in any portion of a municipality where he has established domicile. The permit shall be for specific caves and/or for confined sites with locations verified by the Department's field officer in accordance with existing rules and regulations.

SECTION 52. Gemstone Gathering Permit. — Any qualified person may be granted a non-exclusive gemstone gathering permit by the provincial governor to gather loose stones useful as gemstones in rivers and other locations.

SECTION 53. Ore Transport Permit. — A permit specifying the origin and quantity of non-processed mineral ores or minerals shall be required for their transport. Transport permits shall be issued by the mines regional director who has jurisdiction over the area where the ores were extracted. In the case of mineral ores or minerals being transported from the small-scale mining areas to the custom mills or processing plants, the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) concerned shall formulate their own policies to govern such transport of ores produced by small-scale miners. The absence of a permit shall be considered as prima facie evidence of illegal mining and shall be sufficient cause for the Government to confiscate the ores or minerals being transported, the tools and equipment utilized, and the vehicle containing the same. Ore samples not exceeding two metric tons (2 m.t.) to be used exclusively for assay or pilot test purposes shall be exempted from such requirement.

SECTION 54. Mineral Trading Registration. — No person shall engage in the trading of mineral products, either locally or internationally, unless registered with the Department of Trade and Industry and accredited by the Department, with a copy of said registration submitted to the Bureau.

SECTION 55. Minerals Processing Permit. — No person shall engage in the processing of minerals without first securing a minerals processing permit from the Secretary. Minerals processing permit shall be for a period of five (5) years renewable for like periods but not to exceed a total term of twenty-five (25) years. In the case of mineral ores or minerals produced by the small-scale miners, the processing thereof as well as the licensing of their custom mills, or processing plants shall continue to be governed by the provisions of Republic Act No. 7076.

SECTION 56. Eligibility of Foreign-owned/-controlled Corporation. — A foreign-owned/-controlled corporation may be granted a mineral processing permit.

SECTION 57. Expenditure for Community Development and Science and Mining Technology. — A contractor shall assist in the development of its mining community, the promotion of the general welfare of its inhabitants, and the development of science and mining technology.

SECTION 58. Credited Activities. — Activities that may be credited as expenditures for development of mining communities, and science and mining technology are the following:

SECTION 59. Training and Development. — A contractor shall maintain an effective program of manpower training and development throughout the term of the mineral agreement and shall encourage and train Filipinos to participate in all aspects of the mining operations, including the management thereof. For highly-technical and specialized mining operations, the contractor may, subject to the necessary government clearance, employ qualified foreigners.

SECTION 60. Use of Indigenous Goods, Services and Technologies. — A contractor shall give preference to the use of local goods, services and scientific and technical resources in the mining operations, where the same are of equivalent quality, and are available on equivalent terms as their imported counterparts.

SECTION 61. Donations/Turn Over of Facilities. — Prior to cessation of mining operations occasioned by abandonment or withdrawal of operations, on public lands by the contractor, the latter shall have a period of one (1) year therefrom within which to remove his improvements; otherwise, all the social infrastructure and facilities shall be turned over or donated tax-free to the proper government authorities, national or local, to ensure that said infrastructure and facilities are continuously maintained and utilized by the host and neighboring communities.

SECTION 62. Employment of Filipinos. — A contractor shall give preference to Filipino citizens in all types of mining employment within the country insofar as such citizens are qualified to perform the corresponding work with reasonable efficiency and without hazard to the safety of the operations. The contractor, however, shall not be hindered from hiring employees of his own selection, subject to the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended, for technical and specialized work which, in his judgment and with the approval of the Director, requires highly-specialized training or long experience in exploration, development or utilization of mineral resources: Provided, That in no case shall each employment exceed five (5) years or the payback period as represented in original project study, whichever is longer: Provided, further, That each foreigner employed as mine manager, vice-president for operations or in an equivalent managerial position in charge of mining, milling, quarrying or drilling operation shall:

SECTION 63. Mines Safety and Environment Protection. — All contractors and permittees shall strictly comply with all the mines safety rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the Secretary concerning the safe and sanitary upkeep of the mining operations and achieve waste-free and efficient mine development. Personnel of the Department involved in the implementation of mines safety, health and environmental rules and regulations shall be covered under Republic Act No. 7305.

SECTION 64. Mine Labor. — No person under sixteen (16) years of age shall be employed in any phase of mining operations and no person under eighteen (18) years of age shall be employed underground in a mine.

SECTION 65. Mine Supervision. — All mining and quarrying operations that employ more than fifty (50) workers shall have at least one (1) licensed mining engineer with at least five (5) years of experience in mining operations, and one (1) registered foreman.

SECTION 66. Mine Inspection. — The regional director shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the safety inspection of all installations, surface or underground, in mining operations at reasonable hours of the day or night and as much as possible in a manner that will not impede or obstruct work in progress of a contractor or permittee.

SECTION 67. Power to Issue Orders. — The mines regional director shall, in consultation with the Environmental Management Bureau, forthwith or within such time as specified in his order, require the contractor to remedy any practice connected with mining or quarrying operations, which is not in accordance with safety and anti-pollution laws and regulations. In case of imminent danger to life or property, the mines regional director may summarily suspend the mining or quarrying operations until the danger is removed, or appropriate measures are taken by the contractor or permittee.

SECTION 68. Report of Accidents. — In case of any incident or accident, causing or creating the danger of loss of life or serious physical injuries, the person in charge of operations shall immediately report the same to the regional office where the operations are situated. Failure to report the same without justifiable reason shall be a cause for the imposition of administrative sanctions prescribed in the rules and regulations implementing this Act.

SECTION 69. Environmental Protection. — Every contractor shall undertake an environmental protection and enhancement program covering the period of the mineral agreement or permit. Such environmental program shall be incorporated in the work program which the contractor or permittee shall submit as an accompanying document to the application for a mineral agreement or permit. The work program shall include not only plans relative to mining operations but also to rehabilitation, regeneration, revegetation and reforestation of mineralized areas, slope stabilization of mined-out and tailings covered areas, aquaculture, watershed development and water conservation; and socioeconomic development.

SECTION 70. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). — Except during the exploration period of a mineral agreement or financial or technical assistance agreement or an exploration permit, an environmental clearance certificate shall be required based on an environmental impact assessment and procedures under the Philippine Environment Impact Assessment System including Sections 26 and 27 of the Local Government Code of 1991 which require national government agencies to maintain ecological balance, and prior consultation with the local government units, non-governmental and people's organizations and other concerned sectors of the community: Provided, That a completed ecological profile of the proposed mining area shall also constitute part of the environmental impact assessment. People's organizations and non-governmental organizations shall be allowed and encouraged to participate in ensuring that contractors/permittees shall observe all the requirements of environmental protection.

SECTION 71. Rehabilitation. — Contractors and permittees shall technically and biologically rehabilitate the excavated, mined-out, tailings covered and disturbed areas to the condition of environmental safety, as may be provided in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act. A mine rehabilitation fund shall be created, based on the contractor's approved work program, and shall be deposited as a trust fund in a government depository bank and used for physical and social rehabilitation of areas and communities affected by mining activities and for research on the social, technical and preventive aspects of rehabilitation. Failure to fulfill the above obligation shall mean immediate suspension or closure of the mining activities of the contractor/permittee concerned.

SECTION 72. Timber Rights. — Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, a contractor may be granted a right to cut trees or timber within his mining area as may be necessary for his mining operations subject to forestry laws, rules and regulations: Provided, That if the land covered by the mining area is already covered by existing timber concessions, the volume of timber needed and the manner of cutting and removal thereof shall be determined by the mines regional director, upon consultation with the contractor, the timber concessionaire/permittee and the Forest Management Bureau of the Department: Provided, further, That in case of disagreement between the contractor and the timber concessionaire, the matter shall be submitted to the Secretary whose decision shall be final. The contractor shall perform reforestation work within his mining area in accordance with forestry laws, rules and regulations.

SECTION 73. Water Rights. — A contractor shall have water rights for mining operations upon approval of application with the appropriate government agency in accordance with existing water laws, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder: Provided, That water rights already granted or vested through long use, recognized and acknowledged by local customs, laws, and decisions of courts shall not thereby be impaired: Provided, further, That the Government reserves the right to regulate water rights and the reasonable and equitable distribution of water supply so as to prevent the monopoly of the use thereof.

SECTION 74. Right to Possess Explosives. — A contractor/exploration permittee shall have the right to possess and use explosives within his contract/permit area as may be necessary for his mining operations upon approval of an application with the appropriate government agency in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder: Provided, That the Government reserves the right to regulate and control the explosive accessories to ensure safe mining operations.

SECTION 75. Easement Rights. — When mining areas are so situated that for purposes of more convenient mining operations it is necessary to build, construct or install on the mining areas or lands owned, occupied or leased by other persons, such infrastructure as roads, railroads, mills, waste dump sites, tailing ponds, warehouses, staging or storage areas and port facilities, tramways, runways, airports, electric transmission, telephone or telegraph lines, dams and their normal flood and catchment areas, sites for water wells, ditches, canals, new river beds, pipelines, flumes, cuts, shafts, tunnels, or mills, the contractor, upon payment of just compensation, shall be entitled to enter and occupy said mining areas or lands.

SECTION 76. Entry into Private Lands and Concession Areas. — Subject to prior notification, holders of mining rights shall not be prevented from entry into private lands and concession areas by surface owners, occupants, or concessionaires when conducting mining operations therein: Provided, That any damage done to the property of the surface owner, occupant, or concessionaire as a consequence of such operations shall be properly compensated as may be provided for in the implementing rules and regulations: Provided, further, That to guarantee such compensation, the person authorized to conduct mining operation shall, prior thereto, post a bond with the regional director based on the type of properties, the prevailing prices in and around the area where the mining operations are to be conducted, with surety or sureties satisfactory to the regional director.

SECTION 77. Panel of Arbitrators. — There shall be a panel of arbitrators in the regional office of the Department composed of three (3) members, two (2) of whom must be members of the Philippine Bar in good standing and one a licensed mining engineer or a professional in a related field, and duly designated by the Secretary as recommended by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director. Those designated as members of the panel shall serve as such in addition to their work in the Department without receiving any additional compensation. As much as practicable, said members shall come from the different bureaus of the Department in the region. The presiding officer thereof shall be selected by the drawing of lots. His tenure as presiding officer shall be on a yearly basis. The members of the panel shall perform their duties and obligations in hearing and deciding cases until their designation is withdrawn or revoked by the Secretary. Within thirty (30) working days, after the submission of the case by the parties for decision, the panel shall have exclusive and original jurisdiction to hear and decide on the following:

SECTION 78. Appellate Jurisdiction. — The decision or order of the panel of arbitrators may be appealed by the party not satisfied thereto to the Mines Adjudication Board within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof which must decide the case within thirty (30) days from submission thereof for decision.

SECTION 79. Mines Adjudication Board. — The Mines Adjudication Board shall be composed of three (3) members. The Secretary shall be the chairman with the Director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Undersecretary for Operations of the Department as members thereof. The Board shall have the following powers and functions:

In any proceeding before the Board, the rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity shall not be controlling and it is the spirit and intention of this Act that shall govern. The Board shall use every and all reasonable means to ascertain the facts in each case speedily and objectively and without regard to technicalities of law or procedure, all in the interest of due process. In any proceeding before the Board, the parties may be represented by legal counsel. The findings of fact of the Board shall be conclusive and binding on the parties and its decision or order shall be final and executory.

A petition for review by certiorari and question of law may be filed by the aggrieved party with the Supreme Court within thirty (30) days from receipt of the order or decision of the Board.

SECTION 80. Government Share in Mineral Production Sharing Agreement. — The total government share in a mineral production sharing agreement shall be the excise tax on mineral products as provided in Republic Act No. 7729, amending Section 151(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

SECTION 81. Government Share in Other Mineral Agreements. — The share of the Government in co-production and joint-venture agreements shall be negotiated by the Government and the contractor taking into consideration the: (a) capital investment of the project, (b) risks involved, (c) contribution of the project to the economy, and (d) other factors that will provide for a fair and equitable sharing between the Government and the contractor. The Government shall also be entitled to compensations for its other contributions which shall be agreed upon by the parties, and shall consist, among other things, the contractor's income tax, excise tax, special allowance, withholding tax due from the contractor's foreign stockholders arising from dividend or interest payments to the said foreign stockholders, in case of a foreign national, and all such other taxes, duties and fees as provided for under existing laws.

The Government share in financial or technical assistance agreement shall consist of, among other things, the contractor's corporate income tax, excise tax, special allowance, withholding tax due from the contractor's foreign stockholders arising from dividend or interest payments to the said foreign stockholder in case of a foreign national and all such other taxes, duties and fees as provided for under existing laws.

The collection of Government share in financial or technical assistance agreement shall commence after the financial or technical assistance agreement contractor has fully recovered its pre-operating expenses, exploration, and development expenditures, inclusive.

SECTION 82. Allocation of Government Share. — The Government share as referred to in the preceding sections shall be shared and allocated in accordance with Sections 290 and 292 of Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. In case the development and utilization of mineral resources is undertaken by a government-owned or -controlled corporation, the sharing and allocation shall be in accordance with Sections 291 and 292 of the said Code.

SECTION 83. Income Taxes. — After the lapse of the income tax holiday as provided for in the Omnibus Investments Code, the contractor shall be liable to pay income tax as provided in the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

SECTION 84. Excise Tax on Mineral Products. — The contractor shall be liable to pay the excise tax on mineral products as provided for under Section 151 of the National Internal Revenue Code: Provided, however, That with respect to a mineral production sharing agreement, the excise tax on mineral products shall be the government share under said agreement.

SECTION 85. Mine Wastes and Tailings Fees. — A semi-annual fee to be known as mine wastes and tailings fee is hereby imposed on all operating mining companies in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations. The mine wastes and tailings fee shall accrue to a reserve fund to be used exclusively for payment for damages to:

This is in addition to the suspension or closure of the activities of the contractor at any time and the penal sanctions imposed upon the same.

The Secretary is authorized to increase mine wastes and tailings fees, when public interest so requires, upon the recommendation of the Director.

SECTION 86. Occupation Fees. — There shall be collected from any holder of a mineral agreement, financial or technical assistance agreement or exploration permit on public or private lands, an annual occupation fee in accordance with the following schedule:

The Secretary is authorized to increase the occupation fees provided herein when the public interest so requires, upon recommendation of the Bureau Director.

SECTION 87. Manner of Payment of Fees. — The fees shall be paid on the date the mining agreement is registered with the appropriate office and on the same date every year thereafter. It shall be paid to the treasurer of the municipality or city where the onshore mining areas are located, or to the Director in case of offshore mining areas. For this purpose, the appropriate officer shall submit to the treasurer of the municipality or city where the onshore mining area is located, a complete list of all onshore mining rights registered with his office, indicating therein the names of the holders, area in hectares, location, and date registered. If the fee is not paid on the date specified, it shall be increased by twenty-five per centum (25%).

SECTION 88. Allocation of Occupation Fees. — Thirty per centum (30%) of all occupational fees collected from holders of mining rights in onshore mining areas shall accrue to the province and seventy per centum (70%) to the municipality in which the onshore mining areas are located. In a chartered city, the full amount shall accrue to the city concerned.

SECTION 89. Filing Fees and Other Charges. — The Secretary is authorized to charge reasonable filing fees and other charges as he may prescribe in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations.

SECTION 90. Incentives. — The contractors in mineral agreements, and financial or technical assistance agreements shall be entitled to the applicable fiscal and non-fiscal incentives as provided for under Executive Order No. 226, otherwise known as the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987: Provided, That holders of exploration permits may register with the Board of Investments and be entitled to the fiscal incentives granted under the said Code for the duration of the permits or extensions thereof: Provided, further, That mining activities shall always be included in the investment priorities plan.

SECTION 91. Incentives for Pollution Control Devices. — Pollution control devices acquired, constructed or installed by contractors shall not be considered as improvements on the land or building where they are placed, and shall not be subject to real property and other taxes or assessments: Provided, however, That payment of mine wastes and tailings fees is not exempted.

SECTION 92. Income Tax-Carry Forward of Losses. — A net operating loss without the benefit of incentives incurred in any of the first ten (10) years of operations may be carried over as a deduction from taxable income for the next five (5) years immediately following the year of such loss. The entire amount of the loss shall be carried over to the first of the five (5) taxable years following the loss, and any portion of such loss which exceeds the taxable income of such first year shall be deducted in like manner from the taxable income of the next remaining four (4) years.

SECTION 93. Income Tax-Accelerated Depreciation. — Fixed assets may be depreciated as follows:

In computing for taxable income, unless otherwise provided in this Act, the contractor may, at his option, deduct exploration and development expenditures accumulated at cost as of the date of the prospecting or exploration and development expenditures paid or incurred during the taxable year: Provided, That the total amount deductible for exploration and development expenditures shall not exceed twenty-five per annum (25%) of the net income from mining operations. The actual exploration and development expenditures minus the twenty-five per centum (25%) net income from mining shall be carried forward to the succeeding years until fully deducted.

Net income from mining operation is defined as gross income from operations less allowable deductions which are necessary or related to mining operations. Allowable deductions shall include mining, milling and marketing expenses, depreciation of properties directly used in the mining operations. This paragraph shall not apply to expenditures for the acquisition or improvement of property of a character which is subject to the allowances for depreciation.

SECTION 94. Investment Guarantees. — The contractor shall be entitled to the basic rights and guarantees provided in the Constitution and such other rights recognized by the government as enumerated hereunder:

SECTION 95. Late or Non-filing of Requirements. — Failure of the permittee or contractor to comply with any of the requirements provided in this Act or in its implementing rules and regulations, without a valid reason, shall be sufficient ground for the suspension of any permit or agreement provided under this Act.

SECTION 96. Violation of the Terms and Conditions of Permit or Agreements. — Violation of the terms and conditions of the permits or agreements shall be a sufficient ground for cancellation of the same.

SECTION 97. Non-payment of Taxes and Fees. — Failure to pay taxes and fees due the Government for two (2) consecutive years shall cause the cancellation of the exploration permit, mineral agreement, financial or technical assistance agreement and other agreements and the re-opening of the area subject thereof to new applicants.

SECTION 98. Suspension or Cancellation of Tax Incentives and Credits. — Failure to abide by the terms and conditions of tax incentives and credits shall cause the suspension or cancellation of said incentives and credits.

SECTION 99. Falsehood or Omission of Facts in the Statement — All statements made in the exploration permit, mining agreement and financial or technical assistance agreement shall be considered as conditions and essential parts thereof and any falsehood in said statements or omission of facts therein which may alter, change or affect substantially the facts set forth in said statements may cause the revocation and termination of the exploration permit, mining agreement and financial or technical assistance agreement.

SECTION 100. From Staff Bureau to Line Bureau. — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau is hereby transformed into a line bureau consistent with Section 9 of this Act: Provided, That under the Mines and Geosciences Bureau shall be the necessary mines regional, district and other pertinent offices — the number and specific functions of which shall be provided in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

SECTION 101. False Statements. — Any person who knowingly presents any false application, declaration, or evidence to the Government or publishes or causes to be published any prospectus or other information containing any false statement relating to mines, mining operations or mineral agreements, financial or technical assistance agreements and permits shall, upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of not exceeding Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00).

SECTION 102. Illegal Exploration. — Any person undertaking exploration work without the necessary exploration permit shall, upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of not exceeding Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00).

SECTION 103. Theft of Minerals. — Any person extracting minerals and disposing the same without a mining agreement, lease, permit, license, or steals minerals or ores or the products thereof from mines or mills or processing plants shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned from six (6) months to six (6) years or pay a fine from Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) to Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the appropriate court. In addition, be shall be liable to pay damages and compensation for the minerals removed, extracted, and disposed of. In the case of associations, partnerships, or corporations, the president and each of the directors thereof shall be responsible for the acts committed by such association, corporation, or partnership.

SECTION 104. Destruction of Mining Structures. — Any person who willfully destroys or damages structures in or on the mining area or on the mill sites shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned for a period not to exceed five (5) years and shall, in addition, pay compensation for the damages which may have been caused thereby.

SECTION 105. Mines Arson. — Any person who willfully sets fire to any mineral stockpile, mine or workings, fittings or a mine, shall be guilty of arson and shall be punished, upon conviction, by the appropriate court in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Penal Code and shall, in addition, pay compensation for the damages caused thereby.

SECTION 106. Wilful Damage to a Mine. — Any person who willfully damages a mine, unlawfully causes water to run into a mine, or obstructs any shaft or passage to a mine, or renders useless, damages or destroys any machine, appliance, apparatus, rope, chain, tackle, or any other things used in a mine, shall be punished, upon conviction, by the appropriate court, by imprisonment not exceeding a period of five (5) years and shall, in addition, pay compensation for the damages caused thereby.

SECTION 107. Illegal Obstruction to Permittees or Contractors. — Any person who, without justifiable cause, prevents or obstructs the holder of any permit, agreement or lease from undertaking his mining operations shall be punished, upon conviction by the appropriate court, by a fine not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or imprisonment not exceeding one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of the court.

SECTION 108. Violation of the Terms and Conditions of the Environmental Compliance Certificate. — Any person who willfully violates or grossly neglects to abide by the terms and conditions of the environmental compliance certificate issued to said person and which causes environmental damage through pollution shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of six (6) months to six (6) years or a fine of Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.

SECTION 109. Illegal Obstruction to Government Officials. — Any person who illegally prevents or obstructs the Secretary, the Director or any of their representatives in the performance of their duties under the provisions of this Act and of the regulations promulgated hereunder shall be punished, upon conviction, by the appropriate court, by a fine not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or by imprisonment nor exceeding one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of the court.

SECTION 110. Other Violations. — Any other violation of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations shall constitute an offense punishable with a fine not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00).

SECTION 111. Fines. — The Secretary is authorized to charge fines for late or non-submission of reports in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

SECTION 112. Non-impairment of Existing Mining/Quarrying Rights. — All valid and existing mining lease contracts, permits/licenses, leases pending renewal, mineral production-sharing agreements granted under Executive Order No. 279, at the date of effectivity of this Act, shall remain valid, shall not be impaired, and shall be recognized by the Government: Provided, That the provisions of Chapter XIV on government share in mineral production-sharing agreement and of Chapter XVI on incentives of this Act shall immediately govern and apply to a mining lessee or contractor unless the mining lessee or contractor indicates his intention to the secretary, in writing, not to avail of said provisions: Provided, further, That no renewal of mining lease contracts shall be made after the expiration of its term: Provided, finally, That such leases, production-sharing agreements, financial or technical assistance agreements shall comply with the applicable provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations.

SECTION 113. Recognition of Valid and Existing Mining Claims and Lease/Quarry Application. — Holders of valid and existing mining claims, lease/quarry applications shall be given preferential rights to enter into any mode of mineral agreement with the government within two (2) years from the promulgation of the rules and regulations implementing this Act.

SECTION 114. Separability Clause. — If any of the provision of this Act is held or declared to be unconstitutional or invalid by a competent court, the other provisions hereof shall continue to be in force as if the provision so annulled or voided had never been incorporated in this Act.

SECTION 115. Repealing and Amending Clause. — All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 116. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days following its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7076

AN ACT CREATING A PEOPLE'S SMALL-SCALE
MINING PROGRAM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "People's Small-scale Mining Act of 1991."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared of the State to promote, develop, protect and rationalize viable small-scale mining activities in order to generate more employment opportunities and provide an equitable sharing of the nation's wealth and natural resources, giving due regard to existing rights as herein provided.

SECTION 3. Definitions. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

(a) "Mineralized areas" refer to areas with naturally occurring mineral deposits of gold, silver, chromite, kaolin, silica, marble, gravel, clay and like mineral resources;

(b) "Small-scale mining" refers to mining activities which rely heavily on manual labor using simple implement and methods and do not use explosives or heavy mining equipment;

(c) "Small-scale miners" refer to Filipino citizens who, individually or in the company of other Filipino citizens, voluntarily form a cooperative duly licensed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to engage, under the terms and conditions of a contract, in the extraction or removal of minerals or ore-bearing materials from the ground;

(d) "Small-scale mining contract" refers to co-production, joint venture or mineral production sharing agreement between the State and a small-scale mining contractor for the small-scale utilization of a plot of mineral land;

(e) "Small-scale mining contractor" refers to an individual or a cooperative of small-scale miners, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other appropriate government agency, which has entered into an agreement with the State for the small-scale utilization of a plot of mineral land within a people's small-scale mining area;

(f) "Active mining area" refers to areas under actual exploration, development, exploitation or commercial production as determined by the Secretary after the necessary field investigation or verification including contiguous and geologically related areas belonging to the same claimowner and/or under contract with an operator, but in no case to exceed the maximum area allowed by law;

(g) "Existing mining right" refers to perfected and subsisting claim, lease, license or permit covering a mineralized area prior to its declaration as a people's small-scale mining area;

(h) "Claimowner" refers to a holder of an existing mining right;

(i) "Processor" refers to a person issued a license to engage in the treatment of minerals or ore-bearing materials such as by gravity concentration, leaching benefication, cyanidation, cutting, sizing, polishing and other similar activities;

(j) "License" refers to the privilege granted to a person to legitimately pursue his occupation as a small-scale miner or processor under this Act;

(k) "Mining plan" refers to a two-year program of activities and methodologies employed in the extraction and production of minerals or ore-bearing materials, including the financial plan and other resources in support thereof;

(l) "Director" refers to the regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and

(m) "Secretary" refers to the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

SECTION 4. People's Small-scale Mining Program. — For the purpose of carrying out the declared policy provided in Section 2 hereof, there is hereby established a People's Small-scale Mining Program to be implemented by the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, hereinafter called the Department, in coordination with other concerned government agencies, designed to achieve an orderly, systematic and rational scheme for the small-scale development and utilization of mineral resources in certain mineral areas in order to address the social, economic, technical, and environmental connected with small-scale mining activities.

The People's Small-scale Mining Program shall include the following features: