RE: Small scale permits Just my take on things;
I dont know the government wants to end small scale mining, I would think they want to bring it under some level of control ( creating a source of revenue,etc)
As to Tboli or corruption goes your guess would be as good as mine!
Political processes here in canada make glaciers look quick and nimble, and as I have suggested before po;itics is likeley a part of the reason for the delay in Cadans approvals,far likelier IMO than tboli or corruption.
The people in the phillipines do have real problems with environmental issues, NGOs, local politics, etc and I would think in time these issues will be sorted out, but it probably wont be done next week.
Love to be wrong about that tho
dave