Applicability of Mineral Agreements
- Any Qualified Person may apply for a Mineral Agreement to conduct large-scale quarry operations.
- This application is subject to the provisions outlined in Chapter VI of the implementing rules and regulations of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
Limits on Final Mining Area Size During Operation
- Final mining areas for large-scale quarry operations are capped based on the type of resource and the nature of the entity conducting operations:
- Sand and gravel:
- Individual: 20 hectares
- Corporation/Partnership/Association/Cooperative: 50 hectares
- Marble, granite, and construction aggregates:
- Individual: 50 hectares
- Corporation/Partnership/Association/Cooperative: 100 hectares
- Cement raw materials (limestone, shale):
- Individual: 500 hectares
- Corporation/Partnership/Association/Cooperative: 1,000 hectares
- Sand and gravel:
- Operations during the Development, Construction, and Operating Period must be mechanized.
Conditions on Final Mining Areas
- Multiple final mining areas may be declared or filed within the applied or contract area by the mining applicant or Contractor.
- For sand and gravel, approval from any two Sanggunian bodies through formal Resolution is required for each additional final mining area.
- Each final mining area must be documented through:
- Declaration of Mining Project Feasibility
- Mining Project Feasibility Study
- Development/Utilization Work Program
- Application for survey
Aggregate Area Limitations
- The combined total of all final mining areas under Mineral Agreements held by a Contractor, including areas covered by pending Mineral Agreement applications, must not exceed limits set forth in Section 33 of DAO No. 96-40, as amended.
Definition of Final Mining Area
- A final mining area refers to the contract area or a portion thereof.
- This area should be properly delineated and surveyed by the mining applicant/Contractor.
- It is intended for development and actual quarrying or mining operations, including sites allocated for support or ancillary facilities.
Effective Date
- This administrative order became effective immediately upon adoption on 25 July 2000.
Signatory Authority
- The order was signed by Secretary Antonio H. Cerilles, reflecting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (DENR) enforcement authority in mining regulations.