The Central Visayas regional office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau has recently issued a special order reorganizing the Bohol Provincial Mining Regulatory Board. The office of Governor Erico B. Aumentado received on January 22, a copy of the special order furnished by Bohol Environment Management Office Deputy Head Renato Villaber. In the special order dated January 10, 2008 that OIC MGB-7 Regional Director Roger de Dios issued Villaber has been assigned as the vice-chairman of the OIC MGB regional director. De Dios, who chairs the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB), enumerated in the special order, the new members of the board and its interim composition.

He also included the board's mandate in implementing applicable provisions of DENR Administrative Order 96-40 of 1996 amending DENR Administrative Order 95-23 of 1995, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 7942, DENR Administrative Order 34 of 1992, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 7076 and other laws, rules and regulations and circulars governing the administration and disposition of mineral resources. The reorganization is pursuant to the provisions of RA 7076 or the People's Small-Scale Mining Act of 1997 and RA 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and in accordance with their respective Implementing Rules and Regulations. Villaber, as the vice-chairman, represents the governor in the board. Other members of the board are Victor Bantol, a representative from the large-scale mining sector; Jeremias Tan, a representative from the small-scale mining sector; and one from the non-government organization.

Non-voting members are OIC Mining Operations Officer Raul Laput who serves as MGB-7 technical staff; Lawyer Gerardo Mahusay, MGB-7 legal staff; Engineer Edgardo Loquellano, MGB-7 technical staff or PMRB coordinator; Land Management Officer Abundio Remolador Jr., DENR/PENRO-Bohol technical staff; Senior Environmental Management Specialist Nestor Canda, DENR, EMB-7 (Bohol) technical Staff; Provincial Board (PB) Member Alfonso Damalerio II, the chairperson of the PB Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Protection; Flora Ragusta, sercretary or clerk who is part of the DENR/PENRO-Bohol Staff; and Christopher Fortich, staff from the local government unit which is the provincial government represented by BEMO.

The board shall hold a regular monthly meeting. But special meetings will be called any time when necessary, de Dios stated in the special order. It was also made clear in the special order that “the chairman shall preside all meetings of the board. However, in his absence, the vice-chairman or the duly authorized representative of the chairman, shall preside the meeting”. “Any other substitution of the membership in the board shall be considered a reorganization of the said board and shall necessarily require an amendment of this order,” de Dios also explained. The special order also serves to amend previous special orders, and remains in effect until amended or revoked by a subsequent order or until the DENR secretary issues a special order creating the board. (AV-PGMA)