Dugayo, Jona Myka Q.

2019-0085
Natural Resources and Environmental Law

REACTION PAPER FOR RA 7942 OR THE PHILIPPINE MINING ACT OF 1995

Our discussion was about Republic Act No 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of
1995. The said law was enacted on March 3, 1995.
I’ve learned that all mineral resources in public and private lands within the territory
and exclusive economic zone of the Republic of the Philippines belongs to the State
including its exploration, development, utilization, and processing thereof shall be under
its full control and supervision. The State may also directly undertake such activities or
enter into mineral agreements with contractors.
Like the other environmental laws, the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) is the primary government agency responsible for the conservation,
management, development, and proper use of the State's mineral resources including
those in reservations, watershed areas, and lands of the public domain.
The scope of the said law was also discussed. It includes the exploration,
development, utilization and processing of all mineral resources excluding ancestral lands
without consent of indigenous cultural communities, military and government
reservations, areas covered by valid and existing mining rates and others. Later on, this
was amended by Executive Order No. 79 series of 2012 which included the protected
areas as categorized and established under Republic Act 7942’s National Integrated
Protected Areas System under RA No. 7586.
Several documentary requirements and agreements were also discussed such as
Exploration Permits, Mineral Agreements and Financial or Technical Assistance
Agreements. We were also able to discuss the stages of mining operation which is – a)
Exploration; b) Development; c) Production; and d) Final Mine Rehabilitation and
Decommissioning.

A video of the Coral Bay Nickel Corporation in Rio Tuba, Bataraza Palawan was
also showed. Thi mining company champions practicing of several environmental best
practices which aim to preserve our natural mining resources, and the community around
them as well.
Of the 30 million hectares of the country, 14.546 million hectares have actually
mining potential. Of this, only 170,000 or 0.567% are currently being utilized. It is truly
fascinating how the Philippines has this extremely vast mineral resources.