More PH mining opportunities pitched
The lead investment promotion agency of the Department of Trade and Industry assured foreign mining firms that there are still vast opportunities in the Philippines despite the newly announced 50-year moratorium on new mining licensing in Palawan.
Board of Investments (BOI) Executive Director for Industry Development Services Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa noted that Palawan is just one of the country’s three major nickel mining clusters, alongside Surigao and Zambales.
“Considering that we have 9 million hectares with mineral potential and only less than 3 percent have mining permits, we still have lots of areas that can be explored,” Halili-Dichosa told reporters on Monday, when asked about the impact of the new measure in Palawan.
The BOI led a Philippine delegation to the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada 2025 earlier this month, facilitating roundtable discussions and one-on-one meetings from March 2 to 6.
A key highlight of the mission was the government delegation’s engagement with four global leaders in mining, mineral processing as well as technical services for the mining, metallurgical, energy and infrastructure industries.
‘Strong interest’
Without identifying the companies, the BOI said these had indicated “strong” interest in the Philippines’ potential, citing promising opportunities to enhance the country’s critical minerals sector and strengthen its value chain.
The BOI said that the delegation had also engaged in deeper discussions with Canadian government agencies on potential joint activities and collaborations.
