PNOC EC Completes FPIC Process for COC 185 AND 186

PNOC Exploration Corporation (PNOC EC) successfully completed the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) Process for its Coal Operating Contracts (COC) 185 and 186 in Zamboanga Sibugay Province. The arduous three-year process, well managed and overseen by the Coal Exploration and Development and External Relations Departments, began in August of 2013 and was finally and successfully wrapped up in December of 2016.

PNOC EC obtained the free and prior informed consent of the concerned Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples upon the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on 15 December 2016, between PNOC EC, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and Leaders of the Indigenous Peoples living in the three municipalities covered in the project areas  The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) contains the conditions/requirements, benefits of agreeing parties as basis for the consent.

COC 185 covers areas of the municipalities of Buug and Malangas, while COC 186 covers areas of the municipalities of Imelda and Malangas. PNOC EC had to engage in meetings with each of the 69 barangays within the project areas as part of the FPIC Process.

The MOA shall serve as basis for the issuance of the Certification Precondition that authorizes PNOC EC to engage in exploration activities in COC 185 and 186.

FPIC MOA Signing Ceremony in Zamboanga Sibugay