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From Buisiness World Online
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?title=Gov%E2%80%99t%20eyes%20boost%20for%20mining&id=26290


Gov?t eyes boost for mining

THE BOARD OF INVESTMENTS (BoI) is considering a cosmetic change for mining in this year?s list of projects qualified for tax perks.

Mining is likely to be listed under "preferred activities" instead of being kept in its usual place in the "mandatory" chapter of the Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) to highlight the government?s interest in such ventures, BoI Executive Director Efren V. Leano said on Friday.

"The incentives will be the same," Mr. Leano clarified.

"But we want to show that we want to help mining investors, that we want to promote it. That?s what the board said in its last meeting."

This BoI policy direction will run counter to positions taken by a number of provinces -- South Cotabato and Romblon -- which recently enacted mining bans on top of a Mining and Geosciences Bureau decision in January to stop accepting license applications while an audit of existing projects is ongoing.

New mining projects could also be prohibited in the Eastern Visayas if a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources recommendation is heeded.

Mining was in the "mandatory list" of last year?s IPP as the Mining Act of 1995 compelled the BoI to grant incentives such as income tax holidays and the duty-free importation of equipment for projects involving the "exploration, development and utilization of mineral resources."

If mining is moved to the "preferred activities" list, it could join agriculture, creative industries, shipbuilding, mass housing, energy, infrastructure, research and development, green projects, tourism, strategic projects and public-private partnership projects, based on a draft IPP released for public consultation last month.

BoI managing head Cristino L. Panlilio has said the IPP could be submitted to Malaca?ang by Feb. 15. Mr. Leano, however, said the BoI could wait until specific guidelines are completed.