MANILA, Philippines – Pinirmahan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. , araw ng Huwebes ang Republic Act (RA) 12253 o ang Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act sa isang seremonya sa Palasyo ng Malakanyang.
Layon nito na tiyakin ang equitable share ng mining revenues para sa gobyerno.
Sa isang keynote speech, sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos na ang pinasimpleng fiscal regime para sa large-scale mining ay maaaring mas makapagpalakas sa mining infrastructure at bigyan ang gobyerno ng ‘fair share’ mula sa extra profit.
“Around the world, the demand for minerals is surging. These minerals are needed to service the new technologies, for batteries, solar panels, other vital components of clean energy. Some even call these resources as the building blocks of a green and digital economy. We are blessed because the Philippines is resources in such resources,” ayon sa Pangulo.
“With the signing of the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act, we are putting into place a system that is fairer, that is clearer and more responsive to the needs of both our people and the environment,” dagdag na wika ni Pangulong Marcos.
Hangad ng RA 12253 na gawing simple at i-rationalize ang fiscal regime para sa large-scale metallic mining, habang pinanindigan ang ‘principles of transparency, accountability at good governance’ sa mining industry.
Sa paglagda sa batas, tinatantiya na ang epekto ng kita mula 2026 hanggang 2029 ay P25.08 billion sa kabuuan o may average na P6.26 billion taun-taon.
“Key salient features of the law include the imposition of a 5-tier, margin-based royalty at rates ranging from 1 percent to 5 percent on income from metallic mining operations outside mineral reservations, and a minimum royalty rate of 0.1 percent on gross output for mines below the margin threshold,” ayon sa ulat.
Ipinakilala rin ng bagong batas ang isang 5-tier, margin-based windfall profits tax sa mga rates mula 1% hanggang 10% sa kita mula sa metallic mining operations.
At upang malimitahan ang tax-deductible borrowing costs mula sa pagkakautang, nagpatupad ang RA 12253 ng isang 2:1 debt-to-equity ratio o thin capitalization rule na applicable sa related-party debt.
In-adopt naman ng bagong batas ang ring-fencing rule on a per-project basis para pigilan ang mga taxpayers mula sa ‘consolidating income at expenses” sa mining projects, sa gayon ang pagpapahinto ng mga kumpanya mula sa offsetting losses laban sa profits o tubo mula sa mas profitable projects.
Nilinaw din nito na ang applicable local business tax rate sa mining contractors ay 0.5 percent at pinananatili ang imposisyon ng 5% royalty para sa mga minahan sa loob ng mineral reservations; 25% corporate income tax; 4% excise tax; 1% (minimum) indigenous people royalty; at applicable withholding taxes.
Ang enhanced mining fiscal regime ay naglalayon na “improve governance by introducing transparency and accountability measures, such as the monitoring and auditing of mineral sales and exports, the public disclosure of mining data, and the establishment of a multi-stakeholder accountability group.”
“It seeks to reduce revenue leakages, maximize collections, and strengthen sector governance while protecting the environment and communities through natural capital accounting data under the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System,” ayon pa rin sa ulat.
Ang bagong fiscal regime ay nag-streamline sa disbursement ng local government unit shares mula sa mining taxes para tugunan ang pagkaantala.
Ayon sa batas, “around 10 percent of mining royalty from inside mineral reservations will be earmarked for the exploration by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Metals Industry Research and Development Center for the establishment of mineral valuation laboratories and facilities, and for the acquisition of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tools, funded from the retained BIR share of the Special Education Fund under Section 3 of RA 5447.” (KRIS JOSE)
