Bicol Region’s Metallic Production Increased by 48.52%
(A Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No.-V 2016 Year-Ender Review)

The mining industry plays a very important role in the country’s economic development. Likewise, it contributes to the country's foreign-exchange earnings through exports.

One of the Regions that is well-endowed in terms of mineral resources is the Bicol Region. With its long history and experience in mining, it has demonstrated its very rich potential for gold, copper, guano, rock phosphate, marble, silver, lead, manganese, chromite, nickel and other metallic minerals.

For 2016, the Metallic production value of mining in the Bicol Region has increased by 48.52%, from 9.267Billion in 2015 to 13.76Billion in 2016. Gold production has a growth rate of 47.95% with a quantity of 6,414.26 kg valued at 13.57Billion. Silver has increased production this year at 102.37% with a quantity of 7,430.00 kg valued at 198.13Million.

Production of Non-Metallic minerals including aggregates, bentonite, boulder, earth fill, limestone, perlite, pumice, sand and gravel, shale clay and white clay reached 41.88% growth rate with a total value of 142.44 Million.

Furthermore, the industry provides additional revenues for the government through taxes and fees paid on mining and other related activities. For CY 2016, the highest tax payer is the Masbate Gold Project, the lone operating metallic mine in Aroroy, Masbate which amounted to Php460.50 Million followed by Ibalong Resources Development Corporation, a non-metallic mine located at Palanog, Camalig Albay, which amounted to Php176.40 Million; Sand and Gravel permits issued by the LGU-Albay amounted to Php43.56Million; Rapu-Rapu Minerals, Inc. which amounted to Php4.02Million and UBS Marketing in Lamba/Maslog, Legazpi City with Php0.19 Million.

In terms of job generation, the total average workforce of Metallic and Non-Metallic mines for 2016 was at 1,962 and 1,182, respectively. (source: MGB-V MMD-Mineral Economics)