SMALL-SCALE MINERS in Loakan, Itogon are the first in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to formalize their livelihood through a contract signing with the government last May 2. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s (MGB) CAR office, in a statement, said the small-scale mining contract was signed with the Loakan Itogon Pocket Miners Association (LIPMA) after they completed all requirements. A Minahang Bayan area was declared in Loakan in January this year. Local government officials, led by Benguet Gov. Cresencio C. Pacalso and Itogon Mayor Victorio T. Palangdan, lauded the awarding of contract and marked it as “a moment to be proud of when small-scale miners could operate under the wings of the nation’s laws.” MGB-CAR Regional Director Fay W. Apil challenged LIPMA members “to strictly adhere to the conditions of the contract and prove that small-scale miners can practice responsible mining.”

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