Public outcry spurs Palawan’s mining moratorium
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—The recently passed ordinance by the Palawan Provincial Board (PB) imposing a moratorium on new mining operations in the province was largely driven by “people power,” according to key leaders of non-governmental (NGOs) organizations, civil society organizations(CSOs) and the Catholic Church here.
Lawyer Grizelda Mayo-Anda, Executive Director of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (Elac), acknowledged that while other factors, including the upcoming election, contributed to the decision, public pressure was the most decisive influence, prompting the PB to act.
“I think the primary factor was people power, which was manifested through the pastoral letter (of Catholic bishops in Palawan), the thousands of signatures, and social media posts—all of these were expressions of the people’s grievances, and to me, that was major,” Mayo-Anda told the Inquirer Thursday, a day after the ordinance was approved.
She added: “The shear line was also a contributing factor because the floods it caused sent a clear message. With the deforestation in Palawan—due to illegal logging, encroachment, and mining—the question is, will we continue to allow it? Nature has already spoken.”
In early February, Palawan experienced heavy rains brought by weather disturbances that flooded this city and several municipalities in the southern part of the province.
Mayo-Anda also noted that it took a considerable amount of time for the PB, especially the Committee on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, to act on the proposed ordinance.
She noted the PB’s action came months since the first call for a moratorium was made during the Provincial Stakeholders’ Congress on Mining and the Environment organized by the provincial government from April 24 to April 26, 2024.
Gov. Victorino Dennis Socrates delivered his State of the Province Address (Sopa) in September 2024, where he urged Board Members to prioritize the moratorium. The measure was filed two weeks after the Sopa.
The groups were opposing the full operations of new mining firms, mainly those of the some 67 entities with exploration permits across northern towns like Coron, Taytay, and Araceli, and southern municipalities such as Brooke’s Point, Rizal and Balabac.
These applications cover over 200,000 hectares, potentially adding to the 11 mining firms already operating in Palawan, whose Mineral Production Sharing Agreements span 29,430 ha.
Currently, the mining companies operating in Palawan are Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation, Coral Bay Nickel Corporation, Ipilan Nickel Corporation, Citinickel Mines and Development Corporation, Celestial Mining and Exploration Corporation, Macroasia Mining Corporation, Central Palawan Mining and Industrial Corporation, Pyramid Hill Mining and Industrial Corporation, and Palawan Star Mining Ventures Inc. They operate in the towns of Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, Sofronio Española, Narra, Quezon and Aborlan.
Signature campaign
“After the Sopa, three board members filed a proposed ordinance, but there was no action from the Committee on Environment. By November, we thought it was necessary to launch a signature campaign. Then, the bishops issued a pastoral letter in December,” Mayo-Anda said.
Mayo-Anda was referring to the joint pastoral letter issued on Dec. 1, 2024 by Bishop Socrates Mesiona of the Vicariate of Puerto Princesa and Bishop Broderick Pabillo and Bishop Emeritus Edgardo Juanich of the Vicariate of Taytay, which warned that while Palawan’s forests have suffered greatly from commercial logging in the past, the current threat posed by large-scale mining is “far graver.”
“I think it is important to record in history that the compelling reason this ordinance was passed was the people’s outcry. Because of the people power, expressed in various forms, the committee finally acted, and the ordinance was approved,” she added.
The campaign gathered more than 100,000 signatures throughout the province, which were submitted to the environment committee, prompting a hearing on Jan. 28.
Members of NGOs and CSOs diligently attended all the committee hearings in February, gathering inside the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and at the lobby of the provincial legislative building, until the ordinance was finally approved.
Fr. Roderick Caabay of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay also noted that public pressure pushed the PB to act on the ordinance.
“If we had not pressured them, I think this would not have happened, and the moratorium would not have been approved. Thankfully, the pressure may have deepened their understanding and commitment to the environment and the Palaweño people,” Caabay said.
‘Victory’
Antimining group Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) hailed the newly approved ordinance, calling it a “victory” achieved through the united efforts of communities, Indigenous Peoples, the Church, and youth groups.
ATM national coordinator Jaybee Garganera said the approval of the ordinance demonstrated the strong persistence of those opposing mining in the province.
“The ordinance is a clear legal expression of Palawan’s opposition to mining, which the PBBM (President Marcos Jr.) administration and the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) must fully respect. It reflects the lack of consent by stakeholders for mining contracts and operations in the region,” Garganera said.
