The Philippine Mining Act and its effects on the local economy

The enactment of the Philippine Mining Act or Republic Act 7942 seeks to revitalize the mining industry and is a competitive advantage in the country’s bid to join the more progressive economies of Asia. This study involves the contributions of the Philippine Mining Act to the local economy. To respond to this, the researcher utilized the case study method. The Philippine Mining Act has vast effects on the local economy where it operates. Mineralized areas are found in places that are far-flung mountainous, mostly with no electricity, telecommunications, roads, schools, and other infrastructure to uplift almost backward lives. It was found that the operation of mining firms then brought a change to these rural areas. It brought the establishment and maintenance of community schools, hospitals, churches, and recreational facilities, open to the public whether or not they are mine employees, construction and maintenance of community access roads and bridges, establishment and maintenance of communications, waterworks, and electric power systems, development, and maintenance of community housing projects for mine employees and members of the community, establishment of training facilities for manpower development for mine employees and members of the community, establishment of livelihood industries for the dependents of the mine employees, and creation of self-sustaining income generating activities