Gov’t earns P27-M as Diwalwal share

DAVAO CITY — The government has so far earned P27 million from mining operations at the gold-rush site at Mt. Diwalwal in Monkayo, Compostela Valley, a year after an 85-15 sharing scheme with miners’ cooperatives was enforced.

"Since mining permits were issued, the government share as of October this year has reached P27 million," Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Eliza Gozun said.

Gozun said at least two percent of the amount went to excise taxes, one percent to the Indigenous People’s Fund, and P400,000 to the municipal government of Monkayo.

Under the sharing scheme, the government gets 15 percent of the gold ore, and the miners the remaining 85 percent.

The scheme was implemented last year after the government issued mining permits to at least eight cooperatives with over 7,000 members.

President Arroyo has put the Natural Resources and Mining Development Corp. (NRMDC) in charge of mining operations at Mt. Diwalwal.

"For every 100 sacks of gold ore, the government gets 15 sacks. The NRMDC takes care of transporting the produce for processing," Gozun said.