BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The central office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) ordered its regional offices to continue to uphold the provisions of related mining laws amidst ordinances and resolutions issued by local government units imposing a moratorium on large-scale mining operations in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

In a memorandum circulated to the MGB offices nationwide, it cited the basis for such position such as Section 2, Article XII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which provides that all mineral resources are owned by the State and that their exploration, development and utilization shall be under its full control and supervision.

Moreover, Section 8 of Republic Act 7942 or the New Philippine Mining Act provides that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall be the primary agency for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the State’s mineral resources while Section 9 of the same law mandates the MGB to have direct control in the administration and disposition of mineral lands and resources.

It also cited the Supreme Court (SC) ruling in 1994 in the case of Magtajas versus Price Properties which ruled that municipal governments as mere agents of the national government, cannot enact ordinances that contravene a statute. (Dexter A. See)

Solon Assures Protection of Hundred Islands

PANGASINAN, Philippines – Representative Jesus “Boying” Celeste of this province’s 1st District who is a member of the House Committee of Tourism and Environment wants an investigation into reported structures on the coast of Hundred Islands in Alaminos City to protect the national park.

Celeste said reports had reached him that some prominent people in the city owned the structures and may be illegal.

He said that since Hundred Islands is a national park, such structures are not supposed to be there and the city government of Alaminos should be responsible to keep that area clear of any illegal structures.

Celeste said he already has a list of prominent people in the city who reportedly own the structures sighted by environment officials. (Leizle Basa Iñigo)

Scholarships Up for 1,000 Poor Youth

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – A total of 1,000 poor but deserving students in the city’s 128 barangays were identified as the beneficiaries of an educational financial assistance program devised to help indigent individuals achieve a higher degree of education.

Rep. Bernardo M. Vergara, who continued the scholarship program crafted by former Rep. and now Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, said each student stands to receive a maximum of P7,000 per semester as financial assistance in order to allow them to continue going to school despite their status.

However, the veteran lawmaker explained the financial assistance to the indigent students will be directly paid to the school where they are enrolled to cover bulk of their tuition and miscellaneous fees so that they will not be tempted in using the same for other purposes which might compromise their studies.

The beneficiaries of the educational financial assistance program are bonafide residents of the city’s Barangays and registered voters either in the regular roster or in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) with a minimum grade of 80 percent for each subject that they have enrolled in the semester preceding the current semester. (Dexter A. See)