LEGAZPI CITY – RD Guillermo A. Molina, Jr. IV, Chairman of the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) - Camarines Norte together with USec. Marvel C. Clavecilla, Presidential Adviser for Bicol Affairs has awarded Small Scale Mining Contracts to Lexington (Lexington) Small Scale Miners Association Inc., and Magkamatao (Magkamatao) Small Scale Miners Association as represented by Mr. Paolo Mario S. Martelino and Mr. Noel O. Lantin last January 28, 2021 at the Provincial Capitol, Daet, Camarines Norte.

Lexington has an area of five (5) hectares within the 26.43 hectares declared “Minahang Bayan” located in Sitio Maning, Barangay Casalugan, Camarines Norte while Magkamatao has a mining site of 20 hectares in Barangay Malaya, Labo, Camarines Norte.

Taken during the awarding ceremony of Small Scale Mining Contract to Lexington Small Scale Miners Association, Inc. (left photo) and Magkamatao Small Scale Miners Association (right photo) together with other PMRB-Camarines Norte members last January 29, 2021.

These Contracts allow them to extract and dispose minerals within the small scale mining area provided that the ore produced shall not be exceed fifty thousand (50,000) metric tons annually and shall be processed in a custom mill. Further, these Contracts shall be for a period of two (2) years renewable for like periods but not to exceed a total term of six (6) years, subject to verification by the Board as long as the contractor complies with the provisions set forth in R.A. No 7076, or its revised implementing rules and regulations.

These grants are pursuant to DENR Administrative Order no. 2015-03, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 7076 which allows the small scale miners to operate in an area established by the government dubbed as “Minahang Bayan”. This will open doors for golden opportunities to all small scale miners in the Region to promote, develop, protect and rationalize responsible mining activities.