MINING
With an estimated US$ 1.4 trillion in mineral reserves, especially gold, copper, nickel, aluminum, and chromite, the mining potential of Philippines is one of largest in the world. According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the archipelago is second in the world in gold and third in copper resources. The country is ranked top five in the world for overall mineral reserves, covering an estimated nine million hectares, although less than 2% has received mining permits.
Background
The Philippine mining industry is fortunate to have, aside from the country's substantial mineral resources, a regulatory framework favorable and attractive to investment. After stagnating for almost a quarter century, the mining sector of the economy is making a comeback following a Supreme Court decision in 2005 affirming the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (RA 7942). [ Read This Chapter ]Recommendations
The prevalent external perceptions are of corruption, Church intervention on mining issues, and inconsistent policy. These perceptions deter new investors. [ Read This Chapter ]
News Updates
[OPINION] Split it
12 May, 2017 at 09:53
The acrimonious controversy over the role of Gina Lopez as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources brings to the forefront what I’ve long argued: that the DENR should be split.
CA rejects Gina Lopez as environment secretary
3 May, 2017 at 14:10
The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday, May 3, rejected the ad interim appointment of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez after 3 confirmation hearings.
Lopez bans open pit mining
2 May, 2017 at 15:30
Just a few days before her confirmation hearing, Environment Secretary Gina Lopez threw another shot at the mining industry after she issued an order banning all prospective open pit mines in the country.
Philippines Moves to Shut Mines Accused of...
2 May, 2017 at 12:00
The Philippine mining town of Claver is busy with bakeries, fruit stands, pool halls and karaoke bars. In the mountains nearby, bulldozers cling to treeless slopes, scooping out red soil and leaving gaping pits. On the horizon, cargo ships wait to bring nickel ore to China.
Would banning mining jeopardize our quality of...
29 March, 2017 at 10:15
Anti-mining groups proliferate these days. They want to ban mining because it is anti-environment. Do they really mean what they say?
Phl may stop exports of unprocessed minerals
9 March, 2017 at 13:00
The Philippines is likely to lose its tag as the world’s top nickel ore exporter as the government may halt the export of unprocessed minerals as part of efforts to revive the country’s iron and steel industry, an official from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said yesterday.
Gov’t starts review of mines closure
8 March, 2017 at 12:00
The review of the existing 28 mines ordered closed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is set to kick off today.
Common ground
21 February, 2017 at 17:00
A confrontation between the local mining industry and the government has been expected ever since President Duterte appointed antimining advocate Gina Lopez to head the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Council to review DENR closure of mining...
21 February, 2017 at 14:00
The government’s Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) is bent on subjecting to review the recent decision of Environment Secretary Regina Lopez to close down some mining firms and terminate existing government contracts with mining companies.
Mining council buckles down for review
21 February, 2017 at 13:00
The government is scrambling to contain spreading business concern over twin decisions by the Environment department earlier this month to cancel the permits of nearly a hundred mine projects
Mining firms warn of ‘a hundred Piatcos’
20 February, 2017 at 14:45
The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) on Friday warned the government it could be swamped with hundreds of millions of dollars in suits from mining companies whose operations had been ordered shut down by Environment Secretary Gina Lopez.
Minefield
20 February, 2017 at 12:48
Events of the last two weeks in the mining sector indicate just how much this has turned into a minefield for both the industry and the government. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced on Feb. 2
Multi-stakeholder review of mining firms ordered
13 February, 2017 at 16:38
A multi-stakeholder review on mining companies was decided late Thursday after a five-hour closed-door meeting of the inter-agency Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC).
Palace, Cabinet stop mine closures, suspension orders
10 February, 2017 at 14:59
Malacañang has put on hold the closure and suspension orders on 28 mines issued by Environment Secretary Gina Lopez purportedly to give way to due process.
Cabinet throws lifeline to miners
9 February, 2017 at 12:57
Beleaguered miners reeling from last week’s move by the Environment department to shut them down may have gotten a reprieve when the Cabinet on Tuesday…
Philippine metals industry fights Duterte over shutdown...
6 February, 2017 at 09:53
The Philippines metals industry has vowed to fight a clampdown by President Rodrigo Duterte’s government that would shut more than half the country’s mines and slash nickel ore shipments from the world’s largest exporter.
