11/01/2026
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ARTA FLAGS BENGUET MAYOR OVER MINING PERMIT DELAYS, WARNS OF POSSIBLE CHARGES
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has placed a Benguet town mayor under scrutiny, warning that continued delays and inaction in the processing of mining-related permits may expose him to administrative sanctions under the Ease of Doing Business Act.
In a formal communication dated December 15, 2025, ARTA called out Mankayan Mayor Cesar Pasiwen over what it described as procedural lapses in handling mining matters in the municipality, particularly those involving Crescent Mining and Development Corporation. The agency stressed that failure to act on applications within legally prescribed timelines constitutes a violation of Republic Act No. 11032.
ARTA reminded the local chief executive that government offices are not afforded the luxury of inaction. Under the law, agencies must approve, deny, or formally act on applications within set processing periods. Prolonged silence, the agency emphasized, is a punishable offense.
โThe failure of an agency to act on an application within the prescribed period shall be deemed a violation of Republic Act No. 11032,โ ARTA said.
The warning comes against the backdrop of Mayor Pasiwenโs issuance of an executive order in October last year directing Crescent Mining and Development Corporation to immediately cease and desist from all mining-related operations in Barangays Bulalacao, Guinaoang, and nearby communities. Pasiwen said the cease-and-desist order (CDO) would remain in force until unresolved issues and community concerns are addressed.
The mayor has consistently framed the order as a reflection of his administrationโs commitment to safety, environmental protection, and social responsibility, citing reports of environmental risks and ongoing disputes tied to mining operations in the area. He has maintained that the welfare of residents and the protection of Mankayanโs natural resources take precedence.
ARTA, however, drew a clear line between regulatory authority and regulatory paralysis.
While clarifying that it does not approve or reject mining projects, ARTA stressed that discretion cannot be used as an excuse to indefinitely stall official action. Its mandate, the agency said, is to enforce compliance with statutory timelines and transparency requirementsโnot to supplant the substantive judgment of sectoral regulators.
Authority over mining projects, ARTA noted, remains with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and local government units, which are empowered to assess environmental compliance, social acceptability, and community concerns. But such authority, it warned, must be exercised within the bounds of the law.
Environmental and social issues, ARTA emphasized, must be resolved through formal, written decisions on record and not through prolonged silence or delay.
Governance analysts cautioned that continued inaction on mining permits not only deepens uncertainty for affected communities and investors but also exposes local officials to administrative liability. Under the Ease of Doing Business Act, responsible officers, including local chief executives, may face disciplinary action for unjustified delays.
Mayor Pasiwen has said the municipal government is preparing and will submit its response to ARTA within the prescribed period.
