Award of People's Small-scale Mining Contracts.
Section 9
SEC. 9. Award of People's Small-scale Mining Contracts. - A people's small-scale mining contract may be awarded by the Board to small-scale miners who have voluntarily organized and have duly registered with the appropriate government agency as an individual miner or cooperative: Provided, That only one (1) people's small-scale mining contract may be awarded at any one time to a small-scale mining contractor who shall start mining operations within one (1) year from the date of award: Provided, further, That priority shall be given to small-scale miners residing in the province or city where the small-scale mining area is located. Applications for a contract shall be subject to a reasonable fee to be paid to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office having Jurisdiction over the area.