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WHEREAS, to accelerate mineral production and bolster the national economy, well planned exploration and systematic development and exploitation of minerals and mineral lands is imperative;

WHEREAS, under the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 463, the President of the Philippines may release areas within existing forest reservations for mining purposes if found to be mineralized;

WHEREAS, in accordance with the aforesaid Decree and the implementing regulations, Mankayan Mineral Development Co., Inc., upon applications, was granted Prospecting Permit Nos. 312-123176 and 345-83177 by the Bureau of Forest Development, and Exploration Permit No. 52 (Amended) by the Bureau of Mines, covering certain areas of the Central Cordillera Forest Reservations;

WHEREAS, extensive exploration and drilling activities undertaken by Mankayan Mineral Development Co., and subsequently verified and confirmed by the Bureau of Mines, revealed that the areas embraced by Exploration Permit No. 52 (Amended) contain mineral deposits which may be commercially exploited;

WHEREAS, Mankayan Mineral Development Co., Inc., requests the exclusion of said areas from the Central Cordillera Forest Reservation;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order that an area within the Central Cordillera Forest Reservation established under Proclamation No. 217 dated February 16, 1929, be excluded from the operation of said Proclamation, and the development, exploitation and utilization of the minerals found therein is awarded to Mankapan Mineral Development Co., Inc., subject to existing rights, if any there be, and to existing policies, laws, rules and regulations pertinent thereto, and which area is more particularly described, as follows:

Beginning at a point marked "1" which is N. 71° 40 min. E., 1.715.94 meters from BLBM No. 1, Barrio of Suyoc, Municipality of Mankayan, Benguet with coordinates, Lat. 16849' 23.51 N. & Long. 120° 48 min. 04". 19E thence North, 1,700.00 metcrs to point "2" thence East, 140.00 meters to point "3" thence N. 18° 00 min. E., 841.19 m. to point "4"; thence East, 1,700.00 meters to point "5"; thence South, 2250,00 meters to point "6"; thence, West, 600.00 meters to point "7"; thence South, 550.00 meters to point "8". thence West, 1,500.00 meters to "9"; thence North, 300.00 meters to point "1", which is the point of beginning; containing an area of 533.4000 hectares more or less.

In case the mineral deposits found therein are not developed and exploited as is the purpose of this Decree, the area so excluded is hereby declared a mineral reservation, and the disposition thereof shall be governed by Presidential Decree No. 463 and the rules and regulations on the matter.

Done in the City of Manila this 12th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-seven.

			(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS President of the Philippines
	By the President:
	(Sgd.) JACOBO C. CLAVE
		Presidential Executive Assistant