SECTION 1. Paragraph (1) of Section 6-A of Republic Act No. 1828, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
(1) The operator shall pay and guarantee payment to the government out of the gross annual receipts from all minerals, mineral and metal products, and by-products resulting from the operation, processing and disposition of mineral deposits, other than those of nickel, cobalt and iron, a royalty of not less than five per centum (5%) of the said gross annual receipts, F.O.B. points of export beginning with the end of the first year after the effective date of the contract: Provided, That the operator shall from January 1, 1980 to December 31, 1981. be exempt from all taxes, duties, fees and charges, both national and local, directly payable by it for any work or activity, equipment, machinery, materials, instruments, supplies, accessories, structures, buildings, lands improvement, and/or other properties directly connected with or needed and to be used or being used exclusively in the operation, other than those provided in this act and except income tax and those fees and charges that are imposed for work or services actually rendered to the operator: Provided, further. That the operator shall put in operation the area of areas covered by the contract within two (2) years from the effective date of the contract. Thereafter, penalties may be applied against the operator for failure to effect such production and/or reach certain levels of production within specific time periods, as may be agreed upon: Provided, finally, That exemptions from taxes shall not extend to taxes due from contractors personnel in their personnel capacities.