Gov’t loses P200 M in Mt. Diwalwal sharing scheme

DAVAO CITY — The government has lost close to P200 million in revenues from the mining operations at the goldrush site in Mt. Diwalwal, Monkayo, Compostela Valley since the 85-15 percent sharing scheme was implemented in September 2002.

The government projected to earn at least P120,000 a day or P22 million in six months from the sharing scheme that was supposed to allow miners to get 85 percent of the gold ore production.

Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes said the government is losing in this venture because the National Resources and Development Corp. (NRDC) lacks personnel to attend to the details of the operations in the mining sites.

Is there anyone surprised that the government cannot adequately monitor and control a single major mining site? Anyone at all?

Rapu-Rapu’s local execs now want Lafayette to stay

RAPU-RAPU, Albay — After vowing to drive Lafayette Philippines Inc. out of this island town late last year, local officials are now singing a different tune.

In a surprising turnaround, the municipal council yesterday asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to allow the Australian mining firm to stay and extract Rapu-Rapu’s mineral resources.

A council resolution, passed on May 8 and signed by eight of 10 members, was submitted by Councilor Marino Barranda Jr. to Environment Secretary Angelo T. Reyes yesterday.

“Surprise turnaround”? Not if you look for the rationale:

…the company had agreed to sign a memorandum of agreement with the municipal government for the remittance of real estate taxes to the municipality despite its exemption from paying the taxes by virtue of a certification from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.
“This will be on a yearly basis. We will pay them a portion — maybe at least half — of what we would have been otherwise exempt from paying,” corporate lawyer Bayani Agabin said.

Sudden funds can turn anything around.