SEC. 3. State Ownership of Mineral Deposits. -All mineral deposits in public or private lands within the territorial limits of the Philippines whether found in, on, or under the surface of dry lands, beds of creeks, rivers, lakes, or other submerged lands within the territorial waters or on the continental shelf or its analogue in an archipelago seaward from the shores of the Philippines which are not under the jurisdiction of other countries, belong to the State, inalienably and imprescriptively, and the administration, disposition and exploitation thereof shall be governed by this Decree and by rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and other laws.
Minerals Excluded from Other Rights to Lands.
SEC. 4. Minerals Excluded from Other Rights to Lands. - The ownership or the right to use public or private lands whether exposed or submerged, for agricultural, logging, industrial, commercial, residential, petroleum exploration and/or exploitation purposes or for any purpose other than mining, does not include the ownership of, nor the right to develop, exploit or utilize, the mineral deposits found in, on or under the surface of such lands, except with respect to quarry resources as provided for in this Decree.
Mineral Deposits Open to Location and Lease.
SEC. 5. Mineral Deposits Open to Location and Lease. - Subject to any existing rights or reservations, all valuable mineral deposits in public land including timber or forest land as defined in Presidential Decree, No. 389, otherwise known as the Forestry Reform Code or in private land not closed to mining location, and the land in which they are found, shall be free and open to prospecting, occupation, location and lease.
