The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has issued United Paragon Mining Corp. (UPM) an exploration permit for its Camarines Norte property.
In a disclosure to the Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Aug. 28, UPM said that it has received the exploration permit which was issued by DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) last Aug. 20.
UPM has exclusive rights to operate on Camarines Minerals, Inc.’s 395-hectare property in Longos, Paracale, in Camarines Norte through an operating agreement.
“In 2016, UPM amended its application to conform to DENR-MGB’s policy on meridional blocking thus expanding the applied area from 395 hectares to 580.272 hectares,” the company said.
“However, in the same year, DENR Secretary Gina Lopez issued a memorandum order that covered the extensive audit of all mines as well as the moratorium on new mining projects.”
The moratorium halted the acceptances, processing and approval of all exploration for metallic and non-metallic minerals.
It was only last July when it was lifted under President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s order to improve the competitiveness of the mining industry despite threatening to “shut down” all mining operations due to environmental degradation. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

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