DENR approves two mining projects

Mining activities in the country received a much-needed boost with the recent approval by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of two mining projects in Ilocos Norte and Oriental Mindoro.

DENR Secretary Antonio Cerilles issued an operating agreement by and between Marble Mining Exploration Corp. (MMEC) and Ilocos Norte Mining Co. Inc. (INMCI) and the mineral production and sharing agreement of Aglubang Mining Corp. (AMC).

Cerilles said the firms have fully complied with the requirements, among which was the approval and certification from the National Commission on Indigenous People.

Under the operating agreement, INMCI, was given the right to possess, occupy, use and enjoy the 1,285 hectares of mineral area at Batac, Espiritu, New Era and Pinili, Ilocos Norte.

At the same time, INMCI is given the right to explore, develop and operate the mineral area for production and for marketing the mineral products. INMCI is undertaking the mining project with Universal Cement Corp. of Taiwan.

AMC, meanwhile, was given an MPSA to explore, develop and utilize certain nickel and associated minerals existing in its 2,291-hectare mineral area at Victoria, Occidental Mindoro.

AMC president Henry Fernandez said that with the approval of the MPSA, his company will continue exploration activities in the area in accordance with the two-year exploration work program.

"The main purpose of the work program, Fernandez said, "is to delineate nickeliferous laterite deposit within the applied area. The exploration work program has a total budget of P10.6 million while our environmental work program has a budget of P1.1 million."

The area to be explored by AMC was initially explored by Crew Minerals Philippines Inc. The MPSA converts the exploration permit acquired earlier by AMC by virute of the deed of assignment entered into with Crew Minerals Phils. last July 14.