Plan to create PMRB in Leyte shelved – Loreto

TACLOBAN CITY – The plan to create a Provincial Mining Regulatory Board in Leyte was set aside by the provincial government as there was no immediate need for it, according to Board Member and majority floor leader Carlo Loreto.
The absence of small-mining operators in the province of Leyte was one of the reasons why the creation of the board was set aside by the provincial government as explained by Loreto.

Loreto added that the board somehow “does not make sense” as the provincial governor’s only job was to affix his signature in the application of permit of small scale mining operators.

Loreto is the author the Environmental Code of Leyte, which is one of basis of the provincial board when they insisted that mining operators in the province should also seek for approval from the provincial board if they plan to conduct mining operation in the areas covered by Leyte province.

Loreto added that aside from the creation of the Environmental Code, the provincial government also created an office that oversees the activities of the environment in territorial jurisdiction of the province called the Provincial Environment Office.

Small-scale mining had long been subject to criticism as they are not totally regulated.

This operation is rampant in Samar area as reported by the MGB, which is why the Association of Responsible Miners in Region 8 through its president Vicente Lao proposed for the activation of the PMRB.

Lao, who is also the president of Mt. Sinai Mining Exploration and Development Corp., said that activating the PMRB is important as it represents everyone from large scale and small scale mining companies, non-government organizations, the religious sector and the provincial governor.

It is chaired by the regional director of MGB, and approval of application must be recommended by the board. That is the time the governor will approve the small scale mining permit.

He added once application for small scale mining is approved, their operation must only be done in areas identified by the MGB as “Minahang Bayan”.