There are 2 main laws directly governing small-scale mining:

I. PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1899

II. REPUBLIC ACT 7076 (PEOPLE’S SMALL-SCALE MINING ACT)

The following outlines a comparison of the features of the two abovementioned laws:

FEATURE RA 7076 PD 1899

1. Legal Document License: Issued to small-scale Permit: SSM Permit
Issuance miner and/or processor
qualified to enter into SSM
contract

SSM Contract: Issued to

2. Licensing
3. Registration
4. Identification,
Registration of SSM
Areas
5. SSM Contract
6. Size/Areas
registered small-scale miners
organized into a cooperative to
work in People’s SSM contract
area or “Minahang Bayan” and
declaration of the area as a
People’s SSM Area
Licensing is required to pursue No license is required
his occupation as small-scale
miner or processor
All persons undertaking SSM No registration is required
activities shall register as a
miner with the Provincial
Mining Regulatory Board
(PMRB)
Areas declared by PMRB No Provisions
subject to review by its
Secretary
Any of the following mode of SSM Permit
agreement
Not more than 20 hectares For mineral commodities
excluding gold panning or
sluicing and guano:
 Not to exceed 81
hectares in areas
covered by existing
mining rights, permits,
license, or exploration
permit
For mineral commodities
 Not to exceed 20
hectares
For gold panning and sluicing
  Not to exceed ½
hectares
For guano
 Not to exceed 8
hectares
7. Duration 2 years, renewable for the 2 years, renewable for the same
same period period
8. Number of Contracts Only one People’s SSM Contract For individuals, only 1 permit in
Allowed award at any time any one province

for partnership or corporation,

2 permits in any one province