Catarman, Northern Samar – Aimed at empowering the provincial and city mining regulatory board (P/CPMRB), local government units (LGU) and the Interior and Local Government (DILG) desk officers, a two-day Minerals Development Council Pilot Capability Building Seminar Workshop for the provincial and city Mining Re4gulatory Board was held last December 13-14, 2006 at the Mabini Social Hall in Malacanang in Manila.

Atty. Eduardo Potot, Provincial legal officer of Northern Samar, was among the 11 lectures from all over the country during the gathering.

The two-day activity, which was attended by some 80 participants representing Regions 1 to 13, was aimed at regulating small scale mining operations, implementing environmental laws, and ensuring the collection of revenues for the local government units.

In a letter received by Atty. Potot from Undersecretary Soledad De Castro, MDC Executive Director, it said that with Potot’s expertise and actual experience of managing the PMRB in Northern Samar, it is worth sharing to other provinces all over the country to Strengthen Responsible Small Scale Mining operations and promote its benefit to the local community.

For this, Northern Samar was topped by the Minerals Development Council in sharing experiences particularly on “Apprehending Illegal Miners and the Passive Cooperation in the Public Prosecution of Violators Engaging in Illegal Activities of Quarrying Sand and Gravel and Small Scale Mining,” which was the topic of Potot’s lecture.

Speaking before the participants, which included those from large scale mining companies and small scale miners, Potot cited the comprehensive provisions of RA 7942 also known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 which does not only protect the environment but also enhances and maximizes the revenue collection based on our mineral resources, particularly sand and gravel.

It is also affective in colleting more resources of revenues rather than in the collection of main taxes as provided for in the Local Government Code, he explained.

Potot said that based on their overall assessment during the event, provincial and city mining regulatory boards must encouraged those small scale miners to form themselves into cooperatives as the main target of RA 7076, which is an act establishing Small Scale Mining groups, for them to avail of opportunities and grants from the government and to augment the revenue resources of LGUs.

He said the PMRB in Northern Samar is not just a mere creation but from the environment and natural resources department rules and laws. He even mentioned the honorarium their group is receiving and it is under the guidelines of the management and budget-department, he explained.

The provincial leadership of Governor Raul Daza has been lauded by the Minerals Development Council for extending its full support and for the continued display of its political will.