Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) is an advocacy group and a people's movement

that upholds the rights of the present and future Filipinos against the
persisting injustices related to large-scale mining.

The term "tigil-minaN (stop mining) does not reflect the stand of totally
going against (to prohibit or ban) all kinds of mining. What ATM is referring
to, is stopping the policy regime on large-scale mining being adopted
by the Arroyo administration and the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources {DENR}, which irrationally exploits mineral resources
undermining the {real value of land' (where minerals are found) to
Filipinos and promoting purely foreign-controlled and export-oriented
mining industry, that does more harm than good in addressing the fiscal
-

problems, poverty situation, environmental and other socio-political

concerns in our country.

ATM, formed in 2004, is a coalition of organizations and individuals from

mining-affected communities, NGOs, POs, church-based organizations
and academic institutions, that decided to disengage from the series of
consultations convened by the DENR regarding the revitalization of the
mining industry through the aggressive promotion of large-scale mining
in the country.
Much like the Bantay Mina coalition in the 1990s and the Peoples' Call
presented at the Dapitan Initiative in 2002, ATM serves as a watchdog
that actively engages and challenges the Government, international
finance corporations/institutions, multinational mining corporations
and other key players to expose their wrongdoings and failures of the
laws and policies, their implementation a"nd the practices involved in the
mining industry.

Owing to the country's rich mineral deposits, Artisanal and Small-Scale

Mining (ASM) has become one of the biggest and most important sectors
in the country. It is estimated that the sector supports at least one million
of the country's population, or one in every 90 Filipinos. In the past 5 years,
the small-scale gold mining sector produced about 80% of the country's
annual gold supply, with the majority of production concentrated in
Benguet, Camarines Norte, Compostela Valley and different regions of
Mindanao.
Yet despite the huge economic projections
and the sheer number of people and
organizations involved, the ASM sector
remains a highly unregulated industry.
Many small-scale mining operations
remain unregistered and decentralized.
Demanding procedures, registration costs,
and/or lack of support from the government
dissuade many small-scale miners and
operators to seek legal accreditation.
Traditional vs gold-rush mining

Republic Act 7076 (RA 7076) or the People's Small-Scale Mining Act of
1991 defines "small-scale mining" as mining activities which rely heavily
on manual labor, and do not use explosives or heavy mining equipment.
Philippine mining laws do not make a distinction between "artisanal" and
((small-scale" mining.
However, existing literature on mining often differentiates small
scale gold miners as either ((traditional" or "gold-rush" miners. The
said particularities can be attributed to how these groups developed.
The People's Mining Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining in the Philippines

Traditional gold mining employs {{chemical-free" methods, heavily relies

on manual labor and is carried out by poor communities or indigenous
peoples group for collective benefit. Meanwhile, gold-rush mining is done
by individuals attracted to profit.
But an overlap on the characteristics of these two groups now exists since
the value system in many indigenous communities has changed over
time. Many subsistence small-scale miners are also already utilizing new
technologies, heavy equipment and toxic chemicals.
Key Players in ASM

There is a power hierarchy in an ASM

community dictated by financial
capacity, level of skills and access
that exist in an ASM community. In
an ordinary gold-rush community,
tunnel owners and financiers are the
ones who get the biggest chunk of the
profit. Skilled miners or abanteros are
the ones who are directly involved in
extracting the ore from the earth while
low-skilled miners or atraseros perform
the packing and hauling of ore. Women are sometimes designated to other
duties such as ore and sack washers. Other actors in an ASM community
are the ore transporters and drivers, and processing plant owners and
workers who all directly benefit in the mining operations.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is the sole mandated buyer of the
gold produced by small-scale mining. However unregistered gold traders
exist in many cities and towns that have ASM operations, offering better
rates because of non-payment of required taxes. The black market has
so successfully cornered the gold market from ASM that in 2013, the BSP
was not able to purchase a single gram of gold.
Small-scale mining permits are given by the Provincial/City Mining
Regulatory Board (P/CMRB) and Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR).
Issues and Concerns

The lack of access to safety awareness and training, adequate safety

equipment, and health care and other social benefits expose small-scale
2

Alyansa Tigil Mina

mining workers to higher risks and poorer work conditions than workers
in large-scale mining. Miners are also exposed to regular mine accidents
such as falling objects, suffocation from chemical fumes, crushing injuries,
erosion, and others. Additionally, women miners are exposed to sexual
violence and abuse and child labor exists in many ASM operations.
The rampant use of mercury and cy an ide in gold ASM operations also
endangers the health and safety of miners and their families. In fact, the
ASM sector releases 70 metric tons of mercury annually, making it the
single largest emitter of mercury pollution in the country.

Since ASM is an extractive industry, its impact to the physical environment

is unavoidable. ASM also encourages money laundering, localized
price inflation and social and political resistance to other development
programs. Social disturbance and increase in different cases of prostitution
and violence were also documented in ASM communities.
Even the conflicting laws governing the ASM sector especially on the
authoritative rights to issue mining permits have caused confusion and
conflict between the DENR and local government units of mineral-rich
provinces and cities. LGUs insist that they have the power to issue mining
permits under the "local autonomy" provision of the Local Government
Code of the Philippines. Meanwhile the DENR insists that the People's
Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991 and the recently-issued Executive Order
No. 79 by President Benigno Aquino III mandates that all small-scale
mining operations should only be done
inside
DENR-approved
"Minahang
Bayan" and be subjected to national
government monitoring.
However, many small-scale miners
suspect that DENR officials are intent on
limiting their operations to Minahang
Bayan areas in order to remove them
from their existing operations so that the
government can award it to large-scale
mining operations.
ASM groups in Benguet and Compostela
Valley also complained that their
applications for Minahang Bayan have
been turned down in favour of large-

The People's Mining Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal and Smal l-scale Mining in the P h i l ippines

:3

scale mining applications. Even in a declared "mineral reserve" such as

Diwalwal in Compostela Valley, large-scale mining corporations were
allowed to operate.
Cases of large-scale mining corporations and foreign investors financing
small-scale mining operations in Cagayan, Cordillera, and Mindanao were
also documented.
Emerging good practices

Practices of mercury-free and cyanide-free methods of processing gold

were already documented in some ASM communities in Cordillera. The
Benguet Federation of Small-scale Mining Association aims to phase
out the use of mercury in all ASM operations in the province by 2015.
Meanwhile, indigenous small-scale miners from Pasil and Balbalan of
Kalinga province have also expressed that they will eliminate the use of
mercury in their operations.
The gold-rich province of Compostela Valley is also the first to adopt the
Extractive Industry Transparent Initiative (IETI), a global policy that aims to
implement a transparncy initiative on extractive industries particularly
on mining.

The ASM sector is undeniably a very critical industry in the Philippines

because it provides a source of livelihood to thousands of Filipino
families. However as an extractive industry controlled by capitalists and
local lords, ASM contributes significantly to environmental degradation
4

Alyansa T i g i l Mina

and pollution, conflict and social unrest, corruption, resistance to local

development programs, and exposes a greater number of community
members to dangers and toxic harm.
In the past decades, the numbers of gold-rush areas have been expanding
and their operations have increased, employing heavy equipment and
explosives and 24-hours operations. In Compostela Valley, a single tunnel
sometimes employs more than 500 workers. Even distinctions between
traditional and gold-rush ASM are already blurred since even indigenous
communities practicing artisanal mining already use explosives and toxic
chemicals.
However, despite the huge percentage of a local population depending
on it; it is hard to see the actual contribution of the ASM sector to local
poverty alleviation.
In some gold-rush sites visited for this paper, financiers and tunnel
owners are mostly "migrant" investors. Most of the skilled miners are also
brought by the financier or tunnel owners. Low-paying jobs with minimal
responsibilities were given to local residents such as ore packing, hauling
and sack washing. LGUs imposed taxes, but this is unregulated since most
of ASM operations are not even registered.
But is it clear that those who are in power such as the political and wealthy
families greatly benefits from this chaotic state of the ASM sector. Some
politicians and armed groups regularly receive contributions from ASM
operations.

Meanwhile the actual contribution of the ASM sector to national

development is even murkier and more difficult to calculate since almost
all the gold produced by this sector goes to the black market and not to
the country's reserve.
With the lack of national registration and implementing mechanisms
compensation}
the general public will be the one to shoulder the costs of addressing
and mitigating the hazards brought by this sector, such as the clean-up
of contaminated sites and healthcare support for affected residents and
workers.
to ensure the collection of environmental damages and

Recommendations

The DENR's bias in favor of large-scale mining corporations, along with

the ineptness and lack of political will of its regional and field offices,
may have contributed to the failure to mainstream the ASM sector and
discourage many small-scale miners to register their operations. Local
politicians and armed groups benefiting from existing set-up further
aggravate the situation.

Alyansa Tigil Mina

These
illegal
Artisanal
and
Small-Scale
Mining
operations create problems
in terms of difficulty in:
monitoring
environmental
providing
compliance,
necessary
technical
and
technological support, and
ensuring workers proper
access to healthcare, training
and other social services.
The national government
must show the people that it will uphold the law and public interest. All
mining operations, whether large-scale or small-scale, in environmentally
critical areas and {{no-go mining" zones, should be closed down.
The DENR and concerned P/CMRB should immediately conduct an
inventory of all existing ASM operations and pending applications
for Minahang Bayan sites should be settled within six months. All
unregistered ASM activities outside of declared Minahang Bayan areas
after the six-month deadline should be closed down.
In addition, the Congress should enact a new {{Artisanal and Small-Scale
Mining Law" that will promote a responsible, sustainable and equitable
people's mining sector. {{Artisanal" mining should be made distinct from
{{small-scale" mining.
The use of explosives, heavy equipment and toxic chemicals should be
banned and all {{artisanal" mining must be limited to tribal areas such
as I/Minahang Katutubo./I Meanwhile, small-scale mining must be strictly
regulated in Minahang Bayan. Small-scale mining operations should
have an extraction quota and be subjected to stricter regulations such as
compliance to existing environmental and pollution control, monitoring
systems, and social acceptability.
No mining, large-scale or small-scale, should use toxic chemicals or be
implemented inside {{no-mining" zones.
The Aquino administration should also mobilize the Bureau of Internal
Revenue, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police and
Department of Interior and Local Government to end the illegal market of
gold and mercury trade.
The People's Mi ning Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal and Small-scale Min i ng in the Philippi nes

I. INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND

The Philippines is endowed with rich natural resources and abundant

metallic mineral deposits. In terms of occurrence per unit area, the
country ranks third in gold, fourth in copper, fifth in nickel and sixth in
chromite globally.l
ORE

Reserves in Million MT

Gold
Copper
Nickel
Chromium
Iron
Aluminium

(200S)

3,056
2,968
953
18
410
292

Table 1. Philippine Ore Reserves. Source: 8012011

Gold and copper mineralizations are mostly found in Central Cordillera

and many parts of Mindanao while major nickel mineralizations are found
in Palawan and Surigao,2
Because of the country's rich mineral deposits, mining has been in
e)(istence since time immemorial. Metallurgy has been an important
communal activity of the country's early inhabitants. Pre-Spanish gold
jewelleries and accessories were excavated by archaeologists in different
tribal burial grounds and sites of former sultanate kingdoms.
Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) remains a vital economic activity
and source of income for many Filipinos living in rural and remote
The People's M i n i n g Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal and Smal l -scale M i n i n g in the Ph i l ippines

communities. There is no official government data at the time of this

. writing, but it is estimated that the sector supports at least one million of
the country's population or one in every 90 Filipinos. It is also estimated
that the sector generates or supports at least 20,000 formal and informal
small enterprises and businesses.3
Small-scale miners in the country include individuals and family groups
doing mining at subsistence level or as a business. It is estimated that
of the total number of those engaged in small-scale mining in the
country, 75% are in subsistence mining, 15% are small individual or family
businesses and 10% are established commercial firms.4
Gold remains the most valuable and most mined metallic mineral in the
Philippines. Small-scale gold mining occurs in more than 30 provinces and
provides a significant source of livelihood to 200,000 to 300,000 miners,
which includes 18,000 women and children.s
For the past five years, the small-scale gold mining sector has been
producing an average of 30 tonnes or about 80% of the country's
annual gold supply.6 Majority of the country's gold production comes
from Benguet, Camarines Norte, Compostela Valley and other parts of
Mindanao.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This report aims to provide members of Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) an

introduction to and a glimpse of the existing artisanal and small-scale
mining sector in the country, analyse conflicting issues and concerns
surrounding the sector, and provide
recommendations on how to deal with
these issues and concerns.
METHODOLOGIES USED

Data mentioned in this report were

extracted and analyzed from existing
literature, studies and researches made
by different government agencies, the
academe and non-government institutions.
This report also cites interviews and
information from published news articles
and journals made by different media
organizations.
10

Alyansa Tigil Mina

Information was also gathered first-hand from interviews with key

individuals actively participating or engaged in small-scale mining
activities in different areas of the country.
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Due to logistical and financial

limitations, only a few ASM
communities were visited
for this report. Hence this
paper only provides a brief
look into the situation of
the ASM sector and does
not attempt to provide a
analysis
comprehensive
of all issues surrounding
the state of artisanal and
small-scale mining. Further
studies are needed to expand
particular aspects or concerns
mentioned in this report.
Recognizing previously-stated
limitations, only two sites
were visited for the making of this paper, but both sites were selected to
provide differing insights into dissimilar situations and conditions. One
site, located in Itogon, Benguet, hosts artisanal gold mining operations
relying heavily on manual labor and done by Ibaloi and Kankaney
indigenous groups. These mining lands are subject to patents claimed
by an American transnational corporation. The other target area is a
gold-rush site inside a protected area and watershed in Nabunturan,
Compostela Valley, where mining operations use heavy equipment.
II. DEFINITION OF ARTISINAL AND SMALL-SCALE

The definition of artisanal and small-scale mining varies from country to

country because different criteria or parameters are used. For decades,
experts have worked to devise definitions of artisanal and small-scale
mining but have been unable to reach a consensus.7
Some countries such as Ethiopia and Brazil have made distinctions
between artisanal and small-scale mining. Generally, countries that
The People's Mining Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining in the Ph i l i p pines

11

12

Alyansa Tigil Mina

have ASM within its borders define artisanal mining as informal, non
mechanized extraction activities carried out manually by individuals or
groups. Small-scale mining however has some' mechanization and has
identified production levels.
However this distinction is not relevant to the Philippines. Republic Act
7076 (RA 7076) or the People's Small-scale Mining Act of 1991 defined
"small-scale miningH as mining activities which rely heavily on manual
labor, using simple implement and methods and do not use explosives or
heavy mining equipment.
The existing legal definition of small-scale mining has been a subject of
criticism from many small-scale mining federations and groups in the
country. For instance, subsistence gold miners in Benguet and some parts
of Compostela Valley use explosives and/or heavy machines for digging
and hauling, and technically, are not considered as small-scale miners
under RA 7076.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR-MGB) estimates that there are 2,000-3,000
companies with small-scale mining operations nationwide.8 ln the regions
of Cordillera and Davao, some small scale miners organize themselves
into associations, cooperatives and/or federations.
Despite the huge economic projections and the sheer number of people
and organizations involved, the ASM sector remains a highly unregulated
industry. Many small-scale mining operations remain unregistered and
decentralized. Demanding procedures, registration costs and/or lack of
support from the government dissuade many small-scale miners and
operators to seek legal accreditation.
III. TRADITIONAL vs. GOLD-RUSH MINING

RA 7076 defines small-scale miners as any Filipino citizen or company

that voluntarily formed a cooperative and is duly licensed by the DENR
to engage in the extraction or removal of orebearing materials from the
ground.9
However, existing literature often differentiate small-scale gold miners
at least, as either traditional or gold-rush miners. The said particularities
can be attributed to how these groups developed while for others, the
classification is more rooted in the differences in its economic, social and
cultural dimensions.
The People's Mining Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal and Smal l-scale Mining in the P h i l ippines

13

Traditional gold mining

chemical-free
employs
methods
and
heavily
relies on manual labor. It is
carried out by communities
or members of indigenous
peoples group for coiiective
benefit. Mining activities
with rituals and family
participation
members'
been
observed.
have
the
of
Knowledge
extraction and processing
has been handed down
from generation to generation through oral tradition.
Meanwhile, gold-rush mining is done by any person or group. It is, mostly
undertaken by individuals attracted to the value of gold and stories of
quick wealth. There is no existing communal sharing. Miners use toxic
chemicals such as cyanide and mercury and heavy equipment to maximize
operations and profit gain.
However, an overlap on the characteristics of these two groups exists
since value systems in many indigenous communities have changed
over time. Many subsistence small-scale miners are already utilizing
new technologies and equipment. For example, indigenous artisanal
miners on tribal-proclaimed "Minahang Katutubo" sites in Kalinga and
Compostela Vall-ey use toxic chemicals such as mercury to process ore.
Even Dumagat folks conducting river panning activities inside the Kaliwa
Kanan Watershed use mercury in their operations.
IV. KEY PLAYERS IN ASM

Small-scale mining permits are issued by the Provincial/City Mining

Regulatory Board (P/CMRB). The board is composed of representative/s
from MGB (chair), the governor or city mayor (vice-chair), the ASM and
large-scale mining sectors, and from non-government organizations. The
DENR also issues ore-extraction permits to registered small-scale mining
organizations and cooperatives.

14

Alyansa Tigil Mina

In traditional ASM gold sites in Benguet, monetary profit from mining

operations are equally shared by mine workers. In some areas, Ifsagaok",
'
in which tunnel owners and miners divide the profits from the mine
between all members of the community, is still practiced. Elders, women
and children are prioritized,lO
For gold-rush ASM areas where mines are viewed as a purely-for-business
venture, various key players exist with different levels of benefits from
the mining operations.
In a T'boli mining community in South Cotabato, Mindanao, the key
players include land and tunnel owners, financiers, skilled miners or
abanteros, ordinary miners or atraseros {ore packers and haulersL ore and
sacks washers {commonly women and young workersL ore transporters
{haba/-haba/ drivers or horse ownersL processing plant workers and gold
traders.ll
The abanteros are usually the ones with the knowledge, skills and
capability to engage financiers. Financiers initially provide funds and also
engage with venture capitalists to expand site operations. In some cases,
land owners can be both financiers and tunnel owners. A few abanteros
who have been successful in mining now act as financiers and tunnel
owners. Some have even managed to operate processing plants.12
There are also cases where local officials and regulators are involved
in small-scale mining operations either as tunnel owners, land owners,
financiers and/or gold buyers. Many public officials in Compostela
Valley and Davao del Sur amassed their wealth from small-scale mining
operations.

The People's M i n i n g Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal a n d Small-scale M i n i ng in the Philippines

15

Meanwhile, licensed gold traders purchase gold produced by ASM

operations and subsequently sell these to the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas (BSP), the sole mandated buyer of gold produced by small-scale
miners. BSP's current gold buying stations include the Mint and Refinery
Operations Department in Quezon City and its offices in Baguio, Naga,
Davao and Zamboanga City.
However, the selling of gold to the BSP must conform to strict conditions
. set by the bank. Due to difficulties encountered by most small-scale
miners in meeting the BSP's standards and the physical distance of its
gold buying centers, miners usually sell their gold to independent gold
buyers. In addition, the imposition of creditable withholding tax of 5%
and an excise tax of 2% in April 2012 by Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
further discouraged gold miners and traders to sell their gold to BSP.
In a media interview with BSP Assistant Governor Manuel Torres, the
official said as much as 95% of gold traded in the Philippines is now
made through the black market.13 In Compostela Valley, 60% of the gold
produced is believed to be diverted into the black market while in Benguet,
sources say that 40% of its gold are traded outside BSP's control.14
For this year, zero gold buys have been recorded by the central bank! 15
Women are also largely seen in the mining industry especially in the ASM
sector. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), 3.5 to 4
million women are engaged in mining activities around the world and
11.5 to 13 million are small-scale miners.16
v. ISSUES AND CONCERNS
A. OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS AND ACCIDENTS

The lack of occupational and safety standards for ASM workers such as
safety regulations, safety awareness, training, access to adequate safety
equipment and healthcare, are evident in the two sites that were visited.
This leads to higher health risks and poorer working conditions for miners
working on ASM operations compared to those involved in large-scale
mining.
The rampant use of mercury and cyanide in gold ASM operations further
endangers the health and safety of miners and their families, especially
women and children. Mercury is one of the most toxic heavy metals
known to man. !t bio-accumulates in the food chain and persists in the
16

Alyansa Tigil Mina

environment. Mercury poisoning causes a wide range of serious health

problems from skin irritation, memory loss, tremors, brain damage,
serious birth defects and death.
The next most common chemical used by gold miners is cyanide. This
chemical has the ability to block oxygen transfer from the blood to the
tissues. Symptoms of cyanide poisoning include rapid breathing, tremors,
convulsion and even immediate death.
Small-scale miners are also exposed to other occupational and health
hazards. According to the Institute on Occupational Health and Safety
Development of the Philippines (IOHSAD), the leading types of accidents
in mines are: getting hit by falling objects, suffocation from chemical
fumes, crushing injuries, erosion, poisoning, explosions and being buried
or trapped. Additionally, women workers are exposed to sexual violence
and abuse.I7
In June 10, 2013, a miner in Pantukan, Compostela Valley named Franol
Joy Larafio died when a portion of tunnel where he was working collapsed.
The accident area was the same site where a major landslide occurred
two years ago and buried a community of small-scale miners killing more
than 30 people.18
The ILO reported that the occupational fatality rate in small-scale mining
in developing countries is 90 times higher than in developed countries.I9
B. ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND POLLUTION

The ASM sector in the Philippines releases 70 metric tons of mercury

annually, making it the single largest emitter of mercury pollution in the
country.20
Since 2002, mercury use in ASM gold
mining has been recorded in at least ten
provinces: Benguet, Camarines Norte,
Negros Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte,
Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, Agusan del
Norte, Agusan del SUi Surigao del Norte and
Davao del Norte. There are also accounts of
mercury use among small-scale miners in
Abra, Kalinga, Apayao, Oriental Mindoro,
Compostela Valley, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya
and South Cotabat021, as well as in the
Mountain Province, Quezon, and Rizal.
The People's Mining Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal and Smal l-scale Mining in the P h i l ippines

17

Since ASM is an extractive industry, its impact to the physical environment

is unavoidable. The construction of tunnels may cause destabilization,
erosions, landslides, and siltation. Tailings and mine wastes are commonly
disposed into bodies of water. The demand for timber for tunnel supports
also contributes to the denudation of forests.
In the gold-rich town of Tampakan, South Cotabato, smal!-sca!e miners
are utilizing hydraulic or sluice mining operations, a method that employs
high-pressure water jets to dislodge or move sediments. Sluice mining,
locally called banlas, is an environmentally destructive method and
banned by the Provincial Government of South Cotabato.22
ASM sites keep on expanding. For example, since ore reserves in Mt.
Diwata in Compostela Valley is depleting rapidly, tunnel financiers and
miners are looking for new sites and are expanding the geographic reach
of their operations. New ASM sites have been reported in watershed
areas of the nearby towns of Maragusan, New Bataan, and Nabunturan.
The overall impact of small-scale mining activities in the country is very
hard to measure because of the lack of environmental monitoring, the
wide geographical distribution of operations and the non-existent official
records on the true number of ASM operations.
Most D ENR regional and provincial offices remain inept and lack the
political will to penalize violators, thus reducing their enforcement
functions to mere issuances of cease-and-desist orders.
C. SOCIAL ISSUES

Child labor is prevalent in many small-scale mining operations. In a

2002 study conducted by IOHSAD in small-scale mining sites in Paracale,
Camarines Norte, it was found that children were exposed to extremely
dangerous working conditions and to toxic substances, and have very
limited access to welfare, health, and safety facilities. Some of the children
were involved in actual underground mining while others were involved
in the processing and carrying of ores.
Women work unofficially or are found at the lowest end of the sector's
hierarchy. Their work usually involves panning, filling up of measuring
boxes, and transporting and processing of ores. Since ore processing
requires a lot of dexterity, this task is commonly assigned to women while
men perform ore extraction, milling and panning.23

18

Alyansa Tigil Mina

Social unrest and local violence have also been documented in many
ASM communities in Compostela Valley. Meanwhile the rising cases of
prostitution and child trafficking in Daplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay were
being attributed to the illegal mining trade.24
D. CONFLICTING lEGISLATIONS

Two overarching laws govern the ASM sector in the country: Republic
Act 7076 and the Presidential Decree No. 1988 titled ((Establishing
Small-scale Mining as a New Dimension in Mineral Development" issued
during the Marcos regime. However, conflicting provisions in these two
laws especially on the authoritative entity for issuing mining permits has
resulted in confusion and in some cases, political and social mayhem in
mineral-rich provinces.2s
On June 22, 2011, the Department of Justice issued Opinion No. 29 series
of 2011 stating that RA 7076 has already repealed PO 1988, thus limiting
the power of provincial governors and city mayors to unilaterally approve
mining permits. Under the said legal opinion, all small-scale miners
seeking a permit to operate must organize themselves into cooperatives
and they will only be allowed to mine in areas declared as People's SmallThe People's Mining Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal and Smal l-scale Mining in the P h i l ippines

19

scale Mining Areas or Minahang Bayan. In addition, all mining activities

will be under national government monitoring.
Executive Order No. 79 issued by President Benigno Aquino III also
validated RA 7076 and limited small-scale mining activities to areas
declared as Minahang Bayan areas. The same EO 79 also identified as
((no-go" mining zones the country's major tourism development areas
which includes Benguet, Camarines provinces and Compostela Valley the three major gold producing provinces!
Executive Order 79

Executive Order 79 was issued by President Benigno Aquino III in July

6, 2012 to help revitalize, yet again, a mining industry that is already
plagued by criticism and opposition from different sectors. The EO
aims to address conflicting legislative provisions from PD 1988, RA
7076 and the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, otherwise known as
Republic Act 7942.
The salient points of the said EO as relevant to the ASM sector are
the following:

Areas closed to mining applications or ((no-go" mining zones: 1)

prohibited areas under Sec 19 of RA 7942, 2) protected areas
under NIPAS Law, 3) prime agricultural lands and those covered
by Comprehensive Agrarian Law, 4) tourism areas identified
under the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP), and 5)
other critical areas and island ecosystems;
Small-scale mining activities shall be undertaken only in declared
People's Small-Scale Mining Areas or ((Minahang Bayan";
Operationalization of P/CMRBS in every provinces or cities;
Small-scale mining shall not be applicable for metallic minerals
except gold, silver and chromite;
Use of mercury shall be strictly prohibited; and
Training and capacity-building measures for ASM cooperatives
shall be conducted by concerned government agencies.

According to MGB, Minahang Boyan areas are located in the following:

Barangays Diat, Biasong and Boringot and Barangay Napnapan in
Pantukan; Hinopoan and Suraban in Nabunturan; and in Tandik, Panuraon
20

Alyansa Tigil Mina

and Lumangga of Maco. These three municipalities are located in

Compostela Valley. A Minahang Bayan was also established in Barangay
Punta Litaw in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental.26
Also, the gold-rich area of Diwalwal in Monkayo, Compostela Valley was
declared a ({mineral reservation" in 2002. The gold-rush area, discovered
in early 80's! now hosts more than 10,000 small-scale miners.
However, many local government units insist by virtue of the ({local
autonomy" provision of the Local Government Code of 1991, that small
scale mining permits should be approved by the Local Mining Board,
hence by the Office of the Governor or City Mayor.
In a ruling issued by the Supreme Court (SC} on April 29, 2013, the high
court en banc recognized the role of the LGUs in issuing small-scale
mining contracts, but confirmed that their power is not absolute; hence
the contracts are still subject to the supervision and control of the DENR.27
E. LARGE -SCALE VS. S M ALL SCALE MINING

Issued policies by the DENR and existing legal instruments catering more
in favor of large-scale mining industries/corporations may have hindered
the development and mainstreaming of small-scale mining sector. In
some provinces, overlapping permits issued by different agencies have
caused confusion and fuelled local conflicts between miners.
Many small-scale miners also believe that some officials use the Minahang
Bayan provision of the law to remove them from their current operational
sites, paving the entry of large-scale mining corporations.
ASM groups also complained that most of their applications are being
turned down by the DENR-MGB.
The ASM sectoral group Save Pantukan Alliance- filed a petition in 2007
to declare the areas of Diat, Biasong and Boringot as Minahang Katutubo
and the areas of Panganason, Gumayan and Lumanggang as Minahang
Bayan. According to the group, they have completed the application
requirements but decided to withdraw their application because i\tiGB
is requiring them to acquire consent from the Nationwide Development
Corp. (Nadecor), a large-scale mining company which has an existing
mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) in the said areas.28
Aside from Nadecor, foreign mining firms operating in Pantukan are:
Napnapan Miner Resource and Corporation (4,912 hectares); Blue
22

Alyansa Tigil Mina

Mountain Exploration Mining (1,600 hectares);

Lion Share Mining Company (4,000 hectares);
Southern Horizon (2,000 hectares); and Russel
Mines and Minerals, Inc. (1,656 hectares).
In Benguet, patents issued by the former
Commonwealth government to American
mining companies are still recognized by
the national government thus rendering all
applications to declare community/indigenous
mining sites in the province as Minahang Bayan moot. In 2004, small
scale miners in Bakun filed a petition and asked the DENR to award to
them 30 hectares of mining land as Minahang Bayan. Up to this day, the
department has not acted on their petition.
Hundreds of small-scale miners in Diwalwal staged a massive protest
in 2012 to demand assurance that the local government will not evict
them in favor of large-scale mining companies that were granted permit
to operate inside the 729 hectares Minahang Bayan. Some of the large
scale mining companies allowed to operate in Diwalwal are Nationwide
Development Corp., Russel Mines and St. Augustine Copper and Gold.29
In Paracale, Camarines Norte, the lease contract awarded by DENR to
United Paragon Mining Corporation (UPMC} overlaps with existing ASM
areas.
There are also reports of large-scale mining corporations utilizing small
scale mining operations to their advantage. In Itogon, some miners
confirmed that Benguet Corporation used to finance some of the tunnels
being operated by the small-scale miners.
Reports of foreign investors such as Chinese mining companies are also
utilizing small-scale mining groups as fronts to operate illegally in the
country.3D
VI.

GOOD

_ "-- 'L....

"'. THE VALUE CHAIN

Good practices in small-scale mining operations exist in some ASM sites,

especially in Cordillera.
Since 1991, the Benguet Federation of Small Scale Miners Associations has
been promoting the use of "mercury-free" methods for processing gold.
The federation, which is composed of 75 small scale mining associations

The People's M i n i n g Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal and Smal l-scale M i n i n g in the P h i l ippi nes

23

and cooperatives with 30,000 members, is also aiming to phase-out

mercury use in all ASM operations in Benguet by 2015.
Practices of mercury-free and cyanide-free methods for processing gold
were also reported in some ASM operations in Mountain Province and
Kalinga.
Participating small-scale miners in the recent Kalinga Provincial Summit
on Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining expressed their commitment to
eliminate the use of mercury.31 Held on June 3-4, 2013 in Tabuk, Kalinga,
most of the summit's participating miners came from the towns of
Balbalan and Pasil.
Similarly, small-scale mining participants of the ASM Conference held on
November 15-16, 2012 in Ateneo de Davao recognized that their sector
contributes to the creation of environmental hazards and have expressed
willingness to be assisted and to work with proper authorities.
The Workers Cooperative of Emerald Mountain, a mining association
turned cooperative in Barangay Kias, Baguio City, also employs other
model practices for ASM, such as but are not limited to: imposition of
strict regulations on the number of tunnels, strict regulation against minor
workers inside the tunnels, ID system for workers, allocation of a special
fund for emergencies and disaster response and organizing regular health
check-ups for their members.
In Nabunturan, Compostela Valley, the local government designated
20-hectares to Minerals Processing Zone and banned the construction of
bull mills, crashers and processing plants outside of this zone. All plants
are also required to have their own tailings pond and treatment facilities.
This effort is an initiative of the LGU to regulate pollution. Inside the-zone,
common dumping areas for treated tailings were also identified.
Compostela Valley is also the first province to adopt the Extractive Industry
Transparent Initiative (IETI), a global initiative that require companies to
publish the taxes and fees they are paying while the local government
units are also mandated to disclose the amounts that they are receiving
from the industries.32
VII.

"'-1I"-"."--U"

The artisanal and small-scale mining sector is undeniably a very critical

industry in the Philippines because it provides a source of livelihood to
4

Alyansa Tigil Mina

thousands of Filipino families, mostly belonging to poor and marginalized

communities.
However, like all extractive industries controlled by capitalists and local
lords, ASM contributes significantly to environmental degradation and
pollution, conflict and social unrest, corruption and resistance to local
development programs, and exposes a greater number of community
members to dangers and toxic harm, especially women and children.
In the past decades, the numbers of gold-rush areas kept on expanding
creating massive concern on the environmental and social impact of this
sector.
Many gold-rush small-scale mining operations in Compostela Valley and
Camarines Norte can already be characterized as large-scale operation
since miners used heavy equipment such as backhoe and electric drills
and extraction operations are done 24-hours a day. A single tunnel also
employs more than 500 workers. Meanwhile, distinctions between
traditional and gold-rush ASM are already blurred since even subsistent
indigenous communities practicing artisanal mining are already using
explosives and toxic chemicals thus contaminating critical ecosystems,
watersheds, ancestral lands, and important key biodiversity areas (KBAs) .
Yes, the small-scale sector provides income and livelihood to many, but
does its benefits really outweigh its impacts? Does the sector really
contribute to poverty alleviation and fuel local economic growth?
The Peo p le's Mining Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal and Smal l-scale Mining in the P h i l i p p ines

25

Due to the decentralized and heterogeneous nature of this sector, there

are no black and white answers to these questions. Cases vary from one
province to another, from one ASM community to the next.
In the small-scale areas visited in Nabunturan and New Bataan (both in
Compostela VaileyL most of the financiers are migrants who came from
other provinces such as Davao del Norte, Davao City and Cebu. Tunnel
miners and security guards are also migrants brought by their respective
financiers and owners. Thus jobs with minimal income such as packing
and hauling ores are given to local residents. In New Bataan, a hauler
may earn P300 daily, barely enough to sustain their family expenses for
the day.
In Barangay Virac, Itogon, most of the small-scale miners are former
workers or relatives of former employees of Benguet Corporation, the
transnational corporation once operating in the area. Since most of them
are already living in the said ared for more than 20 years, they are already
registered as residents of said barangay.
LGUs sometimes earn from the ASM sector by imposing taxes, sometimes
in fixed amounts per bag of harvested ore. But because this is an
unregulated industry, collected taxes are just based on the declaration of
ASM associations and/or tunnel owners.
26

Alyansa Tig i l Mina

It is hard to deny the fact that one of the glaring reasons why small-scale
operations thrive in many provinces is because those who are in power
benefits from this sector. Political families and prominent groups thrive
from venturing into small-scale mining operations.
In one media interview, Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy admitted
that during the 2010 campaign period, he received a donation of P20
million pesos from one mining site alone.33 Also one tunnel owner in
Nabunturan that was interviewed for this paper also confirmed that they
regularly pay {{revolutionary tax" to members of the Communist Party of
the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA).
In the context of national development, it is difficult to assess how much
is the sector's contribution, if any, can be linked to national progress since
the ASM sector's major production goes to the black market, rather than
the country's mineral reserve inventory. BSP recorded an unprecedented
zero gold buys for 2013 and it shows that almost all small-scale miners in
the country cater the black market to sell their goods. In 2008, the DENR
reported that at least 3 million metric tons of various mineral ores were
illegally shipped out of the country to China alone.
With the lack of official registration,
monitoring and similar systems to ensure
the collection of environmental damages and
compensation, in the end, it will eventually be
the general public who will shoulder the huge
costs of addressing and mitigating the hazards
brought by small-scale mining sector, such
as the clean-up of contaminated sites and
healthcare support for affected residents.
VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS
A. REGULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW

Both the national and local government units should be held responsible
for the chaotic state and lack of regulation of small-scale mining activities
in many parts of the country.
The DENR's central bias in favor of large-scale mining corporations,
along with the ineptness and lack of political will of its regional and field
offices, may have contributed to the failure to mainstream the small-scale

The People's Mining Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining in the Philippines

27

mining sector and discourage many small-scale miners to register their

operations. Meanwhile, local politicians and armed groups benefiting
from existing set-up further aggravate the situation.
These illegal artisanal and
small-scale mining operations
create problems in terms
of difficulty in: monitoring
environmental
compliance,
providing necessary technical
and technological support,
and ensuring workers proper
access to healthcare, training
and other social services.
The national government,
through the DENR, must show
the people that it will uphold
the law and public interest. All
mining operations, whether
large-scale and small-scale,
existing in environmentally
critical areas, inside ({no-go
mining" zones or in violation of
NIPAS Law, IPRA Law and other laws should be closed down immediately.
The DENR, with the concerned P/CMRB, should immediately conduct
an inventory of all existing small-scale mining activities. Pending
applications by small-scale mining groups or associations for declaration
of Minahang Bayan sites should be settled within six months, provided
these applications are not in areas closed for mining operations. All
unregistered ASM activities outside of declared SSM areas after the six
months deadline should be closed down.
LGUs should designate centralized mineral processing zones for artisanal
and small-scale mining operations, as well as ensure that proper tailings
ponds and treatment facilities are in place. Mine waste should be treated
and disposed of properly and in full compliance with existing laws.
Furthermore, all provinces with existing mining operations should adopt
the Extractive Industry Transparent Initiative ( IETI) to ensure transparency
and accountability of all stakeholders involved in this extractive industry.

28

Alyansa Tigil Mina

B. CURBING THE UNDERGROUND TRADE

President Aquino expressed a strong commitment to curb illegal trade

in the country by getting rid of corruption at the Bureau of Customs.
Yet the sale and trade of illegal gold and other minerals are happening
right under law enforcers' noses. Not only is the country losing millions
of pesos in taxes but it is also losing its gold and mineral reserves to the
black market at alarming rates.
Gold buyers abound in major cities near mineral-rich provinces such as
Baguio City, Tagum City, Davao City, and they should be closely monitored.
Many of non-registered gold sales between owners and local buyers to
independent non-BSP buyers happen in public gatherings and expositions
hosted in major hotels and centers. According to Department of Finance
(DOF), these gatherings are even advertised in newspapers of general
circulation.34
The use of mercury for artisanal and small-scale mining operations should
be strictly prohibited and trade of mercury should also be stopped. Gold
sellers who continue to cater the underground market to avoid payment
of tax should be apprehended. As BIR Commissioner Kim Henares
mentioned in a mdia interview, the 7% tax imposed on gold sales is
relatively smal1.35
The Aquino administration should mobilize the BIR, National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG)
to end the illegal market of gold and
mercury trade.
C. POLICY DEVELOPMENT

While the Executive branch is doing its

job on regulating the current chaotic
ASM sector, the Congress should enact
a new "Artisanal and Small-scale Mining
Law" that wi!! repeal the existing
conflicting provisions of existing laws.
A responsible, sustainable and equally
shared people's mining sector must
be promoted by the government.
Artisanal mining should be made
distinct from Small-scale mining.
The People's Mining Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal and Smal l-scale Mining in the P h i l i ppines

29

The use of explosives, heavy equipment, and toxic chemicals should be

banned and all artisanal mining should be limited to tribal or locally
declared areas such as Minahang Katutubo. Further sectoral support
must be provided for artisanal mining since it is mostly poor families
and indigenous groups who depend on this activity for daily sustenance.
Support must be provided to ensure that their operations will not pose
cn\lirf"'lnrY'Icnt-:lI
-:lnrl
'-IIVII"""IIIII,-,.",UI UII\..4

ho

l+h

i ... I" ...

...
..
11\.:.01\.1111..)",,).

Small-scale mining must be strictly regulated in People's Small Scale

Mining Areas or Minahang Bayan. No mining, large-scale and small-scale,
should use toxic chemicals and be implemented inside "no-go mining"
zones. SSM operations should also have an extraction quota and be
subjected to stricter regulations such as compliance to existing Philippine
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System, pollution control,
monitoring systems, and social acceptability.

30

Alyansa Tigil Mina

P h i l i p p i n e B o a rd of I nvest m e nts, The Philippines Miner a l Potenti a l, J u n e 2 1, 200 1 .

I bid

Ed m u n d Bugnosen, Country Case Study on Artis anal Sm a ll Scale Mining: Philippine,

200 2 .

4
5

Ibid.
Enviro n m e nt al M a n agement B u re a u - Department of Enviro n m e nt a n d N a t u ra l
Resou rces, N a tion a l Str a tegic Plan for the Phase-out of Mercury i n Artis a n a l and

Sm a ll-sc ale Gold Mining in the Philippines 2011-2021.

6

I bi d .

Center for Deve l o p ment Stu d ies - U n iversity of Wa les Swa nsea, N ove m b e r 2004,

Livelihoods and Policy in the Artis anal and Sm a ll-sc ale Mining Sector - An Overview.
8

Al ave Kri sti ne L., P h i l i p p i n e D a i ly I n q u i re r, Government to clip LGUs power to Gr ant

Section 3c of Re p u b l i c Act 7076 or Peo p le's S m a l l -sca l e M i n i ng Act of 199 1 .

10

The Altern ative Foru m for Rese a rc h i n M i n d a no, Ba ntay Kita Occas i o n a l P a p e r

Mining Permits, 26 Au gust 2 0 1 1.

Se ries N o . 2 0 1 2-02, A B ackground Study o n the Sm all-Sc ale Mining Oper a tions in

Benguet and South Cotabato and their Imp act on Econom the Environment and
the Community.
11

I bi d .

12

Ibid.

13

Lucas, D a x i m L. P h i l i p p i n e Da i ly I n q u i re r, Smugglers now control 95% of Philippine

gold tra de, 19 Nove m b e r 2012. http ://b usiness . i n q u i re r. n et/93838/s m u gglers-n ow
control-9 5-of- p h i l i p p i ne-go l d-tra d e .
14

Environ m e nt al M a n agement B u re a u - Department of Environ ment a n d Natu ra l

Reso u rces, N a tion al Str a tegic Plan for the Ph ase-out of Mercury i n Artis an a l and

Sm all-sc ale Gold Mining in the Philippines 2011-2021.

15

M agtu l is, Prinz P. P h i l i p p i ne Daily I n q u i rer, New t ax rules hinder BSP gold purch ases,
6 M ay 2 0 1 3 . http ://www. p h i lsta r. co m/b u s i n ess/2013/05/06/9 3 8 705/new-tax-ru l e
h i n d e rs-bsp-go l d - p u rchases

16

Lu, J i n ky Le i l a n ie, J o u r n a l of Wome n's I nternati o n a l Stu d ies Vol 13, Occup ation al

He alth and S afety in Sm all Sc ale Mining: Focus on Women Workers in the
Philippines, 3 J u l y 2012.
17
18

I bi d .
Lim, Fri nsto n L . , P h i l i p p i n e D a i ly I n q u i re r, Com Val mining tunnel coll a pse: 1 de ad,

1 rescued, J u n e 12, 2013. http ://newsinfo . i n q u i re r. n et/425343/comva l-m i n i ng

t u n ne l-co l l a pse- l-d ead- l-rescued
19

I LO News, Sm a ll-sc ale mining on the incre ase in developing countries, 17 M ay 1999.
htt p ://www. i l o . o rg/gl o b a l/a bout-the-i l o/newsroo m/n ews/WCMS_OO7929/l an g-
e n/i ndex . ht m

20

Enviro n mental M a n agement B u re a u - Department o f Enviro n ment a n d Natu ra i

Res o u rces, N a tion al Str a tegic Pl an for the Phase-out of Mercury i n Artis an a l and

Sm all-scale Gold Mining in the Philippines 2011-2021.

21

B a n Toxi cs, The Price of Gold: Mercury Use a n d Current Issues Surrounding Artis an a l

22

S a r m i e nto, Bo ng, S . S u nSta r Davao, Sm all-sc ale miners eye oper ation i n Ta mpakan,

a n d Sm all-Sc ale Gold Mining i n the Philippines, Dece m b e r 2010.

16 Fe b r u a ry 2 0 1 2 . http ://www.su nstar. co m . ph/davao/loca l-n ews/2012/02/16/
s m a l l-sca !e-m i n e rs-eye-operati o n -ta m p a ka n -206384

The People's Mining Sector: A Review and Analysis of Artisanal and Small-scale Mi n i ng i n the P h i l ippines

31

23

Lu, J i n ky Le i l a n i e, J o u r n a l of Women's I nternati o n a l Stu d ies Vo l 13, Occup ation a l

He alth a n d S afety i n Sm all Sc ale Mining: Focus o n Women Workers i n the

Philippines, 3 J u l y 2 0 1 2 .
24

J a c i nto AI, G MA N ews O n l i n e, I l l ega l m i n i ng b reeds c h i l d l a bor, p rostituti o n i n

D i p l a h a n, 2 1 M a rch 2 0 1 0 . http ://www.gm a n etwo rk.co m/n ews/story/186685/
news/regio ns/i I l ega I-m i n i ng-breeds-ch i I d - I a bor-prostituti o n-i n-d i pi a ha n

25

J i m e n o, J a i l e e n F . P h i l i pp i n e Center f o r I nvestigative J o u rna l ism, Mining

M ayhem Triggers Eco-dis aster in Zamb a les, 18 August 2009 . http ://pcij . o rg/
b log/2009/08/18/m i n i ng-mayh e m -triggers-eco-d isaster-i n-za m b a les
26

B S I G l ob a l Reso u rces, MGB scours for more "Min ahang B ay an", J u ly 1 2, 2 0 1 2 .

http ://www. bsigl o ba l resou rces. net/2012/07/mgb-scou rs-for- m o re-m i n a h a ng
baya n . ht m l

27

Torres-Tu pas, Tetch, P h i l i p p i n e D a i ly I nq u i re r, LG U power ove r s m a l l-sca l e m i n i n g

l i m ited, says SC, 29 A p r i l 2 0 1 3 . http ://n ews i nfo . i n q u i re r. n et/3 9 9 3 2 1/lgu-power
over-s m a l l-sca l e- m i n i ng-l i m ited-says-sc

28

B S I G l ob a l Reso u rces, MGB scours for more "Min ahang B ay an", 1 2 J u ly 2 0 1 2 .

http ://www. bsigl oba l resou rces. net/2012/07/mgb-scou rs-for- m o re-m i n a h a n g
baya n . ht m l

29

P h i l i p p i n e N ews Age n cy, Sm a ll-sc ale miners occupy Compostel a Valley bridge to

dem and assur ances, 18 M ay 2012. http ://www. i ntera ksyo n . co m/a rti c l e/32 2 5 2/
s m a l l-sca le-m i n e rs-occu py-com poste l a -va l l ey-bridge-to-d e m a n d-ass u ra n ces
30

P h i l i p p i n e Daily I n q u i re r, MGB warns sm a ll-sc ale mines used as 'fronts', 14 J u ly

2 0 1 1 . http ://news i nfo . i n q u i rer.net/23789/mgb-wa rns-sm a l l -sca l e- m i n es-used-as
% E2%80%98fronts%E2%80%99

31

N ewsd esk, Ka l i nga s m a l l-sca l e m i n e rs vow t o e l i m i nate u s e o f m e rcu ry, 5 J u ne 2013.

http ://newsdes k . a si a/ka l i nga-s m a l l -sca l e- m i n e rs-vow-to-e l i m i nate-use-of-mercu ry/

32

Oca m po, Vas D. M i n d a n a o Tim es, Transparency i n P H mining urged, 2 6 August

2013 . http ://www. m i n d a n a oti m es. net/tra n s pa rency-i n-ph-m i n i n g-i n d ustry-u rged/

33

Ra p p l e r.com, Sm a ll-scale Mining mining: A 3-decades industry th a t kills, 5 J a n u a ry

2 0 1 2 . http ://www. ra p p l e r. co m/nation/698-s m a l l-sca l e - m i n i ng-a-3-deca d e - i n d ustry
that- k i l l s

34

Dela Pena, Zi n n i a B . P h i l i p p i n e Sta r, Seller of gold, other precious metals to p ay taxes

in advance, 24 A p r i l 2 0 1 3 . http ://www. p h i lsta r. co m/bu s i n ess/2013/04/24/934108/

se l l e rs-go ld-ot h e r- p recious-meta ls-pay-taxes-adva nce
35

D o m i ngo, Ro n n e l W . P h i l i pp i n e D a i l y I n q u i rer, Gold seller p aying less t ax th an they

should-BIR, 14 Nove m ber 2012. http ://b u s i n ess . i n q u i re r. n et/9 2798/ b i r-chi efo p poses-gol d -tax-suspe ns i 0 n-says-tra d e rs-payi ng-I ess-tax-th a n -th ey-s h o u I d

32

Alyansa Tigil Mina

ATM National Secretariat

c/o HAR I BON Office, 2/F Santos and Sons B u i l d i ng
# 973 Aurora B lvd . corner Dapdap St. ,

Anonas, C u bao , Quezon C ity 1 1 09 P h i l i pp i n es

Tel . : +63 (02) 434 .46.42 lac 2 7
Fax: + 6 3 (02) 434 .46.96

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