Marcos sets framework for critical minerals industry, reorganizes mining council
At A Glance
- President Marcos has established a national policy framework for developing the country's critical minerals industry.
- The policy seeks to promote domestic processing and value-added activities instead of relying mainly on the export of raw minerals.
- Executive Order No. 122 also reorganizes the Mining Industry Coordinating Council and streamlines mining permitting.
President Marcos has established a national policy framework aimed at developing the Philippines' critical minerals industry and strengthening government coordination in the mining sector.
Under Executive Order (EO) No. 122, the government will pursue the exploration, development, processing, and utilization of critical minerals while promoting investments and technologies that can add greater value to the country's mineral resources.
The order identifies state ownership of mineral resources as a guiding principle and calls for their responsible development while ensuring environmental protection and the rights of affected communities.
It also directs the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), to implement a national exploration and mineral reservation program to identify potentially significant mineral deposits.
The policy seeks to encourage downstream industries that process critical minerals into higher-value products, including materials for advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, batteries, electronics, and other emerging technologies.
It also calls for incentives, infrastructure support, public-private partnerships, and other measures to encourage investments in mineral processing and related industries.
To facilitate investments, the order directs the government to streamline mining-related requirements through a virtual one-stop shop and establish simultaneous processing of permits, clearances, and other approvals.
The streamlined system is intended to reduce processing time while maintaining environmental, social, and other safeguards required under existing laws.
The order also calls for the declaration of areas as mineral reservations when warranted, subject to DENR-MGB assessment and compliance with applicable laws governing mining and mineral resources.
Executive Order No. 122 further reorganizes the Mining Industry Coordinating Council, with the DENR and the Department of Finance serving as co-chairpersons and various government agencies represented as members.
The reorganized council will coordinate government policies on mining, review regulatory and environmental concerns, and recommend measures to improve the development of the critical minerals industry.
The order also directs the government to establish partnerships with foreign governments, financial institutions, and other stakeholders while ensuring that critical mineral development remains consistent with national economic, social, and environmental objectives.