Davao City-Local government officials demand that they be informed of big mining activities in their area and that they get a correct share of mining revenue.
During the recently held mining forum, local chief executives called on mining companies to get an endorsement from the provincial government even before mining exploration begins.
Addressing the recently held Mining Consultative Forum, Compostela Valley provincial governor Arturo Uy wanted to get a clear inventory of mining companies operating in his province.
“We just passed an ordinance, just recently, to see to it that any big mining applicant which would apply exploration, should first get an endorsement from the province, and should present their physical plans of what they want to do,” he said in an interview.
Giving her reaction to mining issues, Davao Oriental governor Corazon Malanyaon said some big mining companies seemed to have no courtesy of even telling the provincial government of their presence in the area.
“In Mandaya, we normally say to our neighbor, ‘Hello! How are you? Could we pass through your backyard,” she said.
She said that practically all mineral areas in her province had been applied for exploration but she had not been informed and mining companies were not getting in touch with her.
Meanwhile, both governors Uy and Malanyaon are looking at getting equitable share of revenues from the mining industry which they said had not been turning in enough income to the coffers of local governments.
Uy said the provincial government would get fees from big mining companies “if that is legal for us to impose.”
He said he was dismayed with the meager revenue that the provincial government had been getting from the mining industry.
In his presentation, Uy revealed that the Provincial Accounting and Treasurer’s Office only got 1.3 million pesos of revenue in 2007 and 1.04 million pesos as of August 2008 from mining, and sand and gravel industries.
Over the last eight years, the highest revenue it got from the same industries was 1.83 million pesos in 2006.
Malanyaon said she would see to it that “the interests of the LGU are guaranteed as well as its privileges and rights.”
“What is due our people shall be given our people,” she said.
She wanted her constituents to enjoy the benefit of getting employed in the mining industry which she expected to spur economic development, without compromising the environment.
On the other hand, receiving measly revenue share from the mining industry came out as the common sentiments among LGU representatives to the Mining Consultative Forum.
In presenting results of the Governance, Peace and Order workshop done during the forum, Arnulfo Lantaya of Pantukan said “LGUs don’t get equitable share from the national coffers on time.”
He said his workshop group was in favor of the proposal for the LGUs to keep 40 percent of the mineral revenue while the 60 percent goes to the national coffers.
Aside from pushing for an increase in internal revenue allotment (IRA) of LGUs with mining industries, the group also required mining investors to establish a local satellite office. (PIA)
