A group of local residents clarified that it is not opposing a mining exploration in Kalinga province, explaining that what they are pushing for is responsible mining that includes assurance of a sustainable support system to the indigenous people in the area.

Victor Gumisa, head of the Balatoc Kalinga Tribe Inc. (BKTI), said reports of total rejection of the Batong Buhay Mining Project are false and misleading as he emphasized that that the statements being attributed to the Balatoc community do not represent the views of the recognized Indigenous People's organization (IPO), the Council of Elders, and majority of the Balatoc, Pasil people in Kalinga.

"The public deserves to know the truth. These statements are not supported by the recognized leadership of the Balatoc Tribe. They are false, misleading, and intended to create confusion regarding the legitimate aspirations of our people," Gumisa said.

The Batong Buhay project started in 1943 after the discovery of copper and gold deposits and after its operation stopped in the late 1960s, interests for the resumption of operation began.

The project site is located within the ancestral domain of the Balatoc tribe and according to Gumisa, the tribe has already exercised its priority rights over its ancestral domain, as recognized by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in 2008 and was granted the Certificate of Precondition (CP) covering the exploration area.

The Certificate of Precondition (CP), he said, gave them the authority and responsibility to determine the development of the mineral resources within Exploration Permit Application (EXPA) No. 79.

"The authority to decide the future development of our ancestral domain rests with BKTI and the recognized leadership of the Balatoc Tribe—not with individuals pursuing their own personal interests," said Gumisa.

And according to him, the BKTI leadership, together with the majority of tribal elders, have expressed their full support for the responsible development of the Batong Buhay Mine and nominated Metals Exploration as its preferred mining partner.

Gumisa, however, emphasized that the partnership includes crafting and implementation of a model designed to ensure that Indigenous Peoples become genuine stakeholders in the project.

Under the proposed Joint Venture arrangement, the Balatoc tribe will receive a 20-percent equity stake in the operating company and representation on its Board of Directors.

The partnership plan is described as a pioneering model in the Philippine mining industry since for the first time, an indigenous community will become a major mining operation partner rather than simply receiving royalties.

The initial agreement includes construction of the long-awaited ₱100-million access road to Balatoc; healthcare facilities and medical services; scholarship programs for local students; employment and livelihood opportunities; and, infrastructure development.

Gumisa also expressed concern that opposition to the project appears to be driven by vested interests seeking to preserve existing illegal mining activities in the area.

"If these efforts succeed in preventing the responsible development of Batong Buhay, it will not be the ordinary people of Balatoc who benefit. Instead, poverty will continue while only a few individuals involved in illegal operations profit from our natural resources,” he said.