These are: Pintatagan Small Scale Mining Producer Cooperative, Development Community Mineral Livelihood Association, Maligdao Small Scale Miners and Producers Association, RD 5M Small Scale Mining Association Inc., and Tagpura Small-Scale Mining Cooperative.
The five small-scale mining tenements have mining claims of 339 hectares. Four of these Minahan Bayan are located in Davao Oriental with Tagpura the lone MB located in Davao de Oro province.
Aside from the five listed Minahan Bayan with clearances. There are nine locally declared Minahan Bayan still awaiting the DENR Secretary’s clearance.
Atty. Brenice Ann Gendeve-Castillo, Chief of the Mine Management Division, Mines and Geosciences Bureau-XI (MGB-XI) says the nine tenements, though locally cleared, would still wait for the DENR Secretary Raphael Lotilla’s approval.
Sec. Lotilla was appointed as DENR Secretary after previous Secretary Maria Cristina Yulo Loyzaga tendered her resignation on May 22, 2025.
“Nag back to zero tayo we have to appraise again Secretary but I believe as discussions sa mancom (management committee) the Secretary would want to see technicalities and everything concerning the locally declared and thoroughly evaluated ng MGB central so that they would be able to provide necessary clearance,” Castillo said during the third quarter meeting of the Inter-Agency Subcommittee on Gold Trading.
She said they are hopeful of getting the Secretary’s clearance for the nine locally declared small-scale tenements.
Minahan Bayan are specific areas designated for legal, responsible and regulated small-scale mining operations in accordance with Republic Act 7076 or the People’s Small Scale Mining Act of 1991. (PIA/RGA)