By Brian Campued
“Mining should build communities, not burden them.”
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday declared that irresponsible mining operations will not be permitted in the country, stressing that revenues from the industry must directly benefit Filipinos.
During the opening of the Mining Philippines 2025 International Conference and Exhibition in Taguig City, Marcos pushed for strengthening transparency and accountability in the mining sector so the people can know how natural resources are being managed.
“Irresponsible mining has no place in our nation. We will strictly enforce the laws against practices that destroy forests, that poison rivers, that endanger lives,” he said.
The President underscored the importance of responsible mining in the administration’s thrust for a “responsible, inclusive, and climate-resilient mining” in the country.
The President emphasized that mining should also be sustainable and remain consistent with the country’s environmental commitments, including the Paris agreement on climate change and the Philippine Energy Plan.
He likewise urged mining operators to align their Social Development and Management Programs with national and global standards as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Under the Towards Sustainable Mining Program adopted by the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, industry leaders discuss ways to make the country a reliable source of critical materials for clean energy, fuel regional industrialization and generate jobs, and attract investments without compromising the environment.
The President noted various key reforms the government has implemented to streamline procedures and help attain a sustainable mining industry, including the Republic Act No. 12253 or the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act, as well as RA No. 11995 or the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Act.
“There is still much to be done. To fully attain the aspiration of this sector, we must continue to attract investors who share our values—those who respect our laws, those who respect our people, and those that respect our environment,” he said.
Further, Marcos said that “wealth from our soil” must bring tangible benefits to the people, such as schools, hospitals, roads, and other infrastructure projects that generate opportunities for Filipinos.
“Sustainability, after all, is measured by how many lives we uplift and how faithfully we guard the blessings of our land for the generations to come,” he said.
“As we continue to explore this field, may our operations remain underpinned by science, guided by sustainable goals, and anchored on shared interests,” the President added.
Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) continues to modernize its mining governance framework to make it more transparent, data-driven, and climate-responsive.
Lotilla noted that aside from the implementation of RA 12253, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is streamlining permitting processes and modernizing mineral resource data system, launching a government-led mineral mapping and inventory beginning 2026, aligning the social development and management plan of mining companies with the UN SDGs, strengthening indigenous peoples’ participation in equitable benefit sharing, and expanding the use of space-based monitoring to enhance mining and environmental compliances and transparency.
At the same time, he said that the MGB’s geohazard mapping continues to provide timely guidance to both national and local government units and communities in safeguarding lives and property from climate and disaster-related risks.
“We are building the foundation of the future: one where the stewardship of natural wealth becomes a defining pillar of national strength and unity,” the DENR chief said.
“Let us reaffirm that mining in the Philippines will be responsible, resilient, and responsive to both people and the planet.”
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