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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Philippines secures Canadian investments, energy cooperation during Marcos visit

Philippines secures Canadian investments, energy cooperation during Marcos visit

Published Jul 4, 2026 06:17 am

At A Glance

  • President Marcos secured fresh Canadian investments and cooperation agreements in mining, critical minerals, and clean energy during his official visit to Canada.
  • Canadian mining firm B2Gold committed new investments and expanded exploration activities in the Philippines, including a solar expansion project in Masbate.
  • The Philippines and Canada also signed a joint declaration to strengthen cooperation on energy security, critical minerals, and resilient supply chains.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. meets with executives of B2Gold Corporation and Filminera Resources Corporation in Vancouver on the sidelines of his Official Visit to Canada on July 3, 2026, to discuss the companies' planned investments of approximately $14 million for the solar plant expansion at the Masbate Gold Project and ongoing exploration programs. (PCO)
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. meets with executives of B2Gold Corporation and Filminera Resources Corporation in Vancouver on the sidelines of his Official Visit to Canada on July 3, 2026, to discuss the companies' planned investments of approximately $14 million for the solar plant expansion at the Masbate Gold Project and ongoing exploration programs. (PCO)

President Marcos has secured fresh Canadian investments and deeper cooperation in mining, critical minerals, and clean energy during his official visit to Vancouver, as the Philippines pushes to position itself as a major player in the global energy transition.

On the sidelines of his visit on Friday, July 3, Marcos met with executives of Canadian mining giant B2Gold Corporation and Filminera Resources Corporation to discuss around $14 million worth of planned investments for the expansion of a solar power facility and continuing exploration activities at the Masbate Gold Project.

The President also received a letter from B2Gold committing, subject to further agreement between the parties, to provide technical and exploration expertise to identify opportunities to extend the life of the Masbate mine.

B2Gold officials likewise updated Marcos on new exploration initiatives through the B2Gold Philippines Exploration Office, which the company established following what it described as its positive experience operating in the country and its continued confidence in the Philippine mining sector.

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the Masbate Gold Project generated more than P10 billion in taxes for local and national governments in 2025 alone.

The project also helped transform the municipality of Aroroy from a fourth-class municipality into a first-class municipality while supporting infrastructure projects, scholarship programs, and training opportunities for residents.

Energy, critical minerals cooperation

The Philippines and Canada also signed a Joint Declaration on Energy and Natural Resources Cooperation aimed at strengthening energy security and building resilient supply chains.

The agreement was signed following a high-level dialogue led by Marcos and attended by government officials and industry leaders from both countries.

Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the discussions focused on mining, critical minerals, and energy cooperation, as well as efforts to position the Philippines as a sustainable and socially responsible hub for mineral processing.

The administration is banking on the country's large nickel and copper reserves to attract Canadian investments in mineral processing, environmentally sustainable extraction technologies, and renewable energy integration.

The initiative also seeks to institutionalize stronger corporate social responsibility practices to ensure mining communities directly benefit from resource development projects.

Strategic role in clean energy transition

Malacañang said the growing demand for critical minerals presents significant opportunities for the Philippines as countries shift toward cleaner sources of energy and digital technologies.

Nickel, copper, and other critical minerals are key components in electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy technologies, semiconductors, energy storage systems, and advanced electronics.

The President earlier identified mining, critical minerals, and renewable energy among the priority areas for cooperation between the Philippines and Canada as both countries elevated ties to a strategic partnership during his visit.

Marcos is currently in Canada for his official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Carney, the first by a Philippine president in a decade.

Related Tags

President Marcos Bongbong Marcos PH-Canada invest in PH mining energy cooperation
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