Marcos to PH mine firms: Be responsible
President Marcos on Wednesday expressed his full support for the country’s mining industry—the second chief executive to do so since 1987—but warned that irresponsible operations would not be tolerated by his administration.
In his keynote speech during the Mining Philippines 2025 Conference and Exhibition, organized by the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines in Taguig City, the President said that every mining operation in the country must be consistent with international environmental commitments and should not endanger the lives of Filipinos in communities hosting these extractive businesses.
“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,” the President said.
“Mining should build communities, not burden them,” he added.
Mr. Marcos also stressed that mining revenues must bring tangible benefits to Filipinos.
“The wealth from our soil should translate into schools for our children, hospitals for families, and roads that link people with opportunities,” he said.
According to Mr. Marcos, his administration is strengthening transparency and accountability in the mining sector by passing key reform legislation, including the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act (Republic Act No. 12253) and the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Act (Republic Act No. 11995).
Economic potential
“The Filipino people deserve to know how their resources are being managed, for these are their treasures as much as they are the nation’s,” he said.
“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 added.
Post-Edsa, Mr. Marcos is the only second Philippine leader, next to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who served from 2001 to 2010, who fully supported the industry from the beginning of his term, recognizing its vast economic potential.
The late former President Benigno Aquino III’s term from 2010 to 2016 sought a more cautious approach to mining by pushing for more stringent regulations.
He issued Executive Order No. 79 in 2012, which imposed a moratorium in new mining agreements until a new revenue-sharing scheme legislation was passed by Congress, and banned mining in protected areas and prime agricultural lands.
Mr. Marcos’ predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was strongly critical of the mining industry in the first years of his term, backed by then Environment Secretary Gina Lopez who ordered the suspension of a number of mining firms across the country for different violations.
In 2021, however, Duterte issued Executive Order No. 130 which lifted the moratorium on new mining agreements. He rationalized his softened stance to boost government revenues amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mineral exports
Based on data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the country has 9 million hectares of land identified as having high-mineral potential. However, only about 9 percent of this, or around 793,000 ha, is covered by mining tenements.
As of September, there are 60 operating metallic mines, 61 nonmetallic mines, and 63 declared “Minahang Bayan,” or people’s small-scale mining area.
A total of 5,691 permits have been issued by local governments for small quarries and sand and gravel operations.
Based on records last year, exports of minerals and mineral products reached $7.38 billion (P431 billion). Gold, nickel ore and nickel products, and copper are the country’s top mineral exports.
The mining industry also paid a total of P33 billion in taxes, fees and royalties that it contributed to the economy, government records showed.
