The Negros Occidental One-Stop-Shop Governor’s Permit for Quarry, Sand and Gravel Operations opened at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City Feb. 1.
The one-stop-shop was established for easier and more efficient processing and securing of permits pertaining to environmental regulatory services in the province.
The legal basis for the issuance of a Governor’s Permit includes Republic Act (RA) 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, RA 7076 or People’s Small Scale Mining Act of 1991, Ordinance No. 2023-001 or the Provincial Mining Ordinance of 2022 of the province of Negros Occidental, provincial executive orders, and Provincial Mining Regulatory Board resolutions, the Capitol said in a press release.
Section 5 of Ordinance 2023-001 states that, “No person, natural or juridical, shall be allowed to take and dispose of minerals from public waters, public, and private lands, unless authorized under a permit issued by the Provincial Governor in accordance with this Ordinance”.
Among the types of permits issued are industrial sand and gravel, commercial sand and gravel, exclusive sand and gravel, private gratuitous, government gratuitous, quarry, guano commercial, guano gratuitous, gemstone gathering, special permit, and small-scale mining.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the one-stop-shop at the third floor of the mall, together with Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, Provincial Environment Management Officer Atty. Julie Ann Bedrio, PENRO Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, and Ayala Malls general manager Maria Sharon Ciocon.
Also in attendance were Engr. Lucius Sucgang of the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board, Engr. Leoncio Jamora Jr. of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee, Negros Occidental Miners/Permittees Association Inc. president Emmanuel Sabay Sr., provincial consultant Engr. Leo Van Juguan, Engr. Ronald Villamora of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee, and Engr. Errol Fuentes of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, among others. ||
