The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it shall boost the potential of the mining sector to support the country’s economic growth and development under the Marcos administration.
In the 48th Philippine Business Conference and Expo hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry held on October 19 in Manila, DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Atty. Jonas R. Leones, in a speech delivered on behalf of Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, bared the Department’s plans for the mining industry.
Leones said the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has initially identified approximately 9 (nine) million hectares as potential mineral areas, although he said “it will not just be a business-as-usual scenario as it was in the pre-moratorium times but rather, it will be better business.”
He highlighted that out of the nine million hectares of potential mineral areas, only less than 3% are awarded as mining contracts.
