Preamble
WHEREAS, mineral production is a major support of the national economy, and therefore the intensified discovery, exploration, development and wise utilization of the country's mineral resources are urgently needed for national development; WHEREAS, the existence of large undeveloped mineral areas and the proliferation of small mining claims deter modern development of the country's mineral resources and urgently require well-planned exploration, development and systematic exploitation of mineral lands to accelerate production and to bolster the national economy; WHEREAS, effective and continuous mining operations require considerable outlays of capital and resources, and make it imperative that persons possessing the financial resources and technical skills for modern exploratory and development techniques be encouraged to undertake the exploration, development and exploitation of our mineral resources; WHEREAS, the foregoing objectives cannot be achieved within the shortest possible time without removing the deficiencies and limitations of existing laws and improving the same in order to provide for a modernized administration and disposition of mineral lands and to promote and encourage the development and exploitation thereof. NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby issue this Decree, revising Commonwealth Act No. 137 otherwise known as the Mining Act, as amended, as follows: TITLE AND DEFINITIONS OWNERSHIP OF MINERAL LANDS AND MINERAL DEPOSITS MINERAL RESERVATIONS LOCATION OF CLAIMS MINING RECORDERS, DISTRICTS AND REGIONS ANNUAL WORK OBLIGATIONS LEASE SURVEY OF MINING CLAIMS LEASE OF MINING CLAIMS PROTESTS, ADVERSE CLAIMS AND APPEALS FISCAL PROVISIONS AUXILIARY MINING RIGHTS MINES PERSONNEL, INSPECTION AND SAFETY QUARRY RESOURCES PENAL PROVISIONS GENERAL PROVISIONS TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS