A total of 82 mining firms have also applied for mining permits at the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA), 42 of which are asking for exploration permits.
Surigao del Norte topped the list with 16 applications, followed by Agusan del Sur with 12, Agusan del Norte with nine, and Surigao del Sur with five.
In its 2005 Status of Mining Industry of Caraga Region Report, the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau claimed to have approved 31 mineral production sharing agreement permits and nine exploration permits. More applications are coming in to get the nod of the agency tasked to implement laws for the mining industry.
To date, Caraga region has 17 medium- and large-scale mines — seven are in operation, four are conducting explorations and two will open soon, while four were temporarily shutdown.
The active mines were Taganito Mining Corp., which was owned by the family of former President Joseph Estrada’s Executive Secretary Zamora; Hinatuan Mining, also owned by the Zamoras; Cagdianao Mining Corp.; KROMINCO Inc.; Pacific Cement Phils. Inc.; Pacific Nickel Phils., owned by the Cortes family; and the PhilSaga Mining Corp. in Agusan del Sur.
Those that were temporarily shutdown were Manila Mining Corp., which operates a gold mining project in Placer, Surigao del Norte; All Acacia Resources; Velore Mining Corp.; and Crau Minerals Corp., all of which were reportedly experiencing labor unrest and fiscal problems.
Meanwhile, mining companies conducting explorations in the Caraga region were Southern Agusan Gold Mining Exploration Corp., MiniMax Mineral Explo Corp., Silangan Mindanao Mining Corp., and JCG Resources Inc, formerly SURICON-Greenstone.
Soon to operate nickel, gold and chromite ore extractions are QNI-Clarence T. Pimentel Resources Inc. in Surigao del Sur and Claver Mineral Development Corp.
Before leaving for the Vatican, President Arroyo visited Philnico nickel mining site and nickel refinery plant in Nonoc Island.
In 1986, Philnico’s mother firm, the Marinduque Mining Company declared bankruptcy due to low nickel prices and demand and labor unrest.
Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers and Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra told The STAR they are happy with the President’s support for the revival of Philnico mines.
Mineral prospects in Caraga include gold, copper, chromite and nickel, all found in the region’s four provinces.