Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (November 12) -- More than P2.2 million have been generated by host local government units from mining companies and contractors this year as they laid claims in various areas in the province.

In a report by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR)-Mines and GeoSciences Bureau(MGB), P2,280,315.70.000 have been paid by some 10 mining companies in the form of occupational fees after obtaining the necessary permits from the national as well as the host local government units.

The occupational fees came from the following mining companies whose exploration permits have been apoproved: FCF Minerals Corporation, MTL Philippines, Inc., Coolabah Mining Corporation, Oceana Gold Philippines(with 4 areas), Red Earth Mining Corporation and Lasseter Resource Corporation.

Nueva Vizcaya possesses the highest percentage of approved exploration permits of mining companies in Cagayan Valley at 63 percent, followed by Quirino province at 25 percent and Isabela and Cagayan provinces at both 6 percent.

These mining companies laid their claims in various areas located in the towns of Kasibu, Quezon, Bayombong, Bagabag, Bambang, Dupax del Norte, Kayapa, Aritao, Dupax del Sur, Solano, Villaverde, Sta. Fe and Diadi.

There are 7 companies whose exploration permits have been approved such as the Royalco Philippines, Inc., FCF Minerals Corporation, MTL Philippines, Inc., Coolabah Mining Corporation, Oceana Gold Philippines, Red Earth Mining Corporation and Lasseter Resource Corporation.

On the other hand, there are 14 companies whose mining applications are still being processed or studied. These are the Buena Suerte Mining Corporation, Oceana Gold Resource Corporation, Metex Mineral Resources Corporation, Occidental Mining Corporation, High Grade Rock Resources and Development Corporation, Sta. Barbara Metals and Minerals, ARC Pacific Resouces Croporation, Jun and Hyun Mining Corporation, Woggle Corporation, Laipao International Mining Corporation, Leverson Brothers Corporation and Titan Exploration and Development Corporation.

The mining companies in Nueva Vizcaya, the MGB report disclosed are targeting minerals or commodities such as gold, copper, manganese limestone, silica and molybdenum.

Mineral deposits in the province is classified as high grade in quality, according to MGB geologists.

Gold topped the priority deposits that the mining companies intend to extract followed by copper, manganese, molybdenum, limestone and silica.

On the exploration applications in Cagayan Valley, Cagayan province topped the highest percentage of applications at 57 percent followed by Nueva Vizcaya at 19 percent and the provinces of Isabela and Quirino at 20 and 4 percent respectively.