Guidelines on Quarry and Sand Permits in LAHAR areas

Special Quarry Permit: 1 meridional block (5" longitude x 10" latitude), about 4.5 hectares.
Industrial Sand and Gravel Permit: 4 meridional blocks (~~18 hectares), minimum 2 blocks (~~9 hectares).
Commercial Sand and Gravel Permit: up to 5 hectares or equivalent meridional blocks; may use technical descriptions for irregular titled land but must not exceed area limits.

Special Quarry and Industrial Sand and Gravel Permits filed at Regional Office (MGB RO III) in 5 copies.
Fees: P10 filing, P500 processing, P20 under P.D. 1856 (amended).
Secretary may increase fees for national interest/public welfare.
Commercial Sand and Gravel Permits filed with Provincial/City Mining Regulatory Board (P/CMRB) with fees prescribed by the Board.

Survey plan by licensed Geodetic Engineer.
Area clearance or landowner consent.
Certification from NRDC confirming area within quarry zone and free of conflicts.
Quarry Operational Plan signed by licensed Mining Engineer or Geologist and approved by NRDC.
Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) or commitment to secure before permit approval.
Proof of technical competence of personnel conducting activity.
Corporate documents certified by SEC or relevant agency for entities.
Additional requirements for Industrial/Commercial permits include:
- Location map showing geographic coordinates.
- Work Program signed by licensed Mining Engineer/Geologist.
- Other supporting documents requested by authorities.
No acceptance without complete compliance.

Regional Office or P/CMRB must transmit location map within 15 working days to relevant agencies.
Applicant must secure area clearance/consent from concerned agencies within 30 working days.
Area clearance cannot be unreasonably denied without legal/technical basis.
In multi-jurisdictional applications, coordination between Regional Offices is required.
Appeals of denied clearances may go to the Office of the Secretary.
Regional Office confirms area availability using control maps within 15 working days.
Partial exclusions made if areas are not open for mining.
Conflict resolution efforts must be exerted by officials.
Applications inside mineral reservations exempted from area clearance requirement.

Regional Office issues Notice of Application within 15 working days of receipt.
Applicant must post Notice within 15 working days; posting is for 2 consecutive weeks on bulletin boards of Regional Office, PENRO/CENRO, and local government units.
Notice must contain applicant details, permit duration, area, geographic coordinates, and location map.
Certification of posting compliance required within 30 calendar days after posting.
Adverse claims/protests/oppositions must be filed within 30 calendar days from posting.
Panel of Arbitrators resolves claims within 5 working days of final resolution.
No permit approval without compliance and resolution of claims.

Regional Office technical personnel conduct field verification upon payment of P1,000/man/day (minimum P3,000) to confirm quarry material volume and survey accuracy.

Regional Office forwards Special Quarry Permit for final evaluation and approval at MGB Central Office within 30 calendar days of evaluation.
Permit holders must register within 15 working days after notice.
Registration requires payment of P100 filing fee and P10 under P.D. 1856 (amended).
Regional Office releases permit after registration.
Sand and Gravel Permit approval and registration governed by Section 77 of DAO 96-40.
Failure to register permit on time may result in cancellation.

Regional Office may issue temporary permits for immediate operation when regular permits are pending due to lack of ECC or non-posting of Notice but all other requirements are met.
Applicant must post surety bond for potential damages.
Temporary permits valid for up to 3 months and renewable until regular permit issuance.

Declaration of any part as unconstitutional/invalid shall not affect the remainder of the Order.