Paje signs mining IRR revisions

MANILA, Philippines - The revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to Executive Order 79 – or the new mining policy – was signed yesterday by Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

Final revisions were made on Sections 3, 7 and 9 of the IRR. The original IRR was supposed to take effect on Sept. 29 but was suspended on Sept. 28.

Section 3 of the IRR now defines an expired mining tenement as a lapsed mining contract of 25-50 years “… if the parties concerned fail to agree on the terms of the renewal pursuant to Sections 32 and 38 of Republic Act No. 7942, the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and other pertinent laws.”

The revised Section 7 prohibits the issuance of new mining permits until a law rationalizing the revenue sharing scheme between the government and mining firms have taken effect.

This section was reworded to allow the expansion of mining areas where failure to expand would cause “economic dislocation.”

Taken into consideration in rewording Section 7 was the concern of cement companies that may experience production shortfall if they would not be able to expand their quarry areas.

Amendment No. 3 covers Section 9:  “[T]he grant of mining rights and mining tenements over areas with known and verified mineral resources and reserves, including those owned by the government and all expired tenements, shall be undertaken through competitive bidding.

The revision to Section 9 states that mining contracts will be renewed ‘’subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations at the time of renewal.’’

Malacanang, however, maintained that there would still be no automatic renewal of mining permits after the first 25 years of operations.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau Leo Jasareno said the revisions in the IRR are final.