A meeting was conducted last Februray 9, 2016 at MGB-13 Training Center to address the Barangay Resolution No. 2015-09 from Barangay Lawigan, Tubay, Agusan del Norte. A resolution inquiring the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office No. XIII of the present and actual location of ore extraction of Agata Mining Ventures, Inc. (AMVI). It was presided by RD Alilo C. Ensomo, Jr. and attended by DENR PENRO Bello Udarbe and CENRO Barlou M. Aparte of Tubay Anthony B. Quijano – AMVI General Manager and staff, Hon. Jimmy L. Beray – Vice Mayor of Tubay, and a Councilor, Punong Barangay Nilo G. Mordeno and barangay council of Lawigan, Punong Barangay Dante C. Mandam and barangay council of Tinigbasan, Tubay, Agusan del Norte, and the MGB-13 technical and support staff.
AMVI only indicated Brgy. Tinigbasan of Tubay as the place of removal/extraction in the BIR Form No. 2200-M. In this effect, the aforesaid barangay will solely received the Share from the National Wealth, excise tax paid by AMVI of their shipments in year 2014-2015. The matter was contested by Barangay Lawigan claiming that the actual area of extraction of AMVI is within their area. MGB-13 conducted an actual ground survey last October 21, 2015 in AMVI mining area with the following findings:
PIT No. |
AREA (ha.) |
LOCATION IN TUBAY, |
1 |
6.167 |
Tinigbasan & Lawigan |
2 |
24.905 |
Tinigbasan & Lawigan |
3 |
36.385 |
Lawigan |
4 |
21.899 |
Lawigan |
5 |
31.827 |
Lawigan (planned pit or no extraction) |
6 |
56.421 |
Tinigbasan (planned pit or no extraction) |
TOTAL |
177.624 |
During the meeting, the two (2) barangays were asked to come up with a sharing agreement on Pit no. 1 and 2. However, the barangay officials of Tinigbasan suggested, which the body also agreed, that they will discuss the matter further together with the barangay officials of Lawigan in their choice of place and time without other group or political interventions. The barangay should have an agreement on or before March 2016 to conform to the DBM deadline.