Published April 29, 2021, 12:12 AM After shepherding the enactment of new laws that would spur economic recovery, the Duterte administration lifted a nine-year moratorium on new mining projects with the recent issuance of Executive Order Number 130. EO No. 130 repealed Section 4 of EO No. 79 issued by then President Benigno Aquino III that prohibits the grant of mineral agreements “until a new legislation rationalizing existing revenue sharing schemes and mechanisms shall have taken effect.” The repealed regulation now reads as follows: “The government may enter into new mineral agreements, subject to compliance with (the) Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and other applicable laws, rules, and regulation.”