MGB and DA in Region 6 signed a MOA for the joint validation of Strategic Agricultural and Fisheries Development Zones (SAFDZs)

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. 6 (MGB RO-6) and the Department of Agriculture Regional Office No. 6 (DA RO-6) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the two agencies to jointly conduct the validation of Strategic Agricultural and Fisheries Development Zones (SAFDZs) in the region.

 

According to the MGB RO-6 Regional Director Leo Van V. Juguan, the MOA was signed by him and Regional Executive Director Roy M. Abaya of the Department of Agriculture Regional Office No. 6 on March 14, 2016 after a series of coordinative meetings between the two agencies.

 

RD Juguan further cited that the move to forge a formal agreement between the two agencies is based on two major policies – Republic Act No. 8435 or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997 and Executive Order No. 79 (EO 79) issued in July 2012 by President Benigno S. Aquino III which provides for reforms in the minerals sector to ensure environmental protection and responsible mining in the utilization of the country’s mineral resources.

 

In EO 79, prime agricultural lands including plantations and areas devoted to valuable crops, and strategic agriculture and fisheries development zones are specified as areas closed to mining applications.

 

To validate the previously-identified SAFDZs pursuant to the AFMA, the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) through its Technical Working Group on Environmental Protection and Legislation directed the joint validation of SAFDZs by the DA and MGB.

 

Pursuant to this, MGB Director Leo L. Jasareno issued a memorandum in April 2015 directing the MGB Regional Offices to conduct a joint validation of the SAFDZs with their regional counterparts in the Department of Agriculture.

 

The MGB and DA MOA specified agreements in the conduct of the joint validation of the SAFDZs, namely:  1. That all river systems where Sand and Gravel (SAG) are extracted shall be excluded from the SAFDZs; 2.  Slope terrain with 18% and above with mining projects and existing mining applications shall be excised from the SAFDZs; 3.  That all presently cultivated-productive crops shall be retained for SAFDZAs; and 4.  Only new applications shall be subjected for joint ground validation by MGB RO 6 and DA RO 6 while for existing applications and mining contracts/permits, MGB will provide the DA of the areas covered by the same.  (LAA, MGB RO-6)

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