A ‘pivotal’ new framework for the Philippine critical minerals industry could put the country in a stronger position to attract investments in the sector, as economies worldwide race to secure these minerals crucial to advanced technologies, according to a coalition of nickel mining firms.
‘At a time when countries around the world are competing to secure critical minerals, investments, technologies, and supply chains, the President has sent a clear signal that the Philippines intends not only to participate in this global opportunity, but to compete for it,’ the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) said in a statement on Tuesday.
‘The global race for critical minerals is already underway. The Philippines has the resources, the global interest is here, and we now have an even stronger national policy direction,’ the group added.
PNIA was referring to President Marcos’ Executive Order No. 122, which establishes a national policy framework for the critical minerals industry and seeks to advance the exploration, development, processing and utilization of the country’s mineral resources, including through higher-value industries.
Nickel is among the Philippines’ most abundant mineral resources.
In 2025, the US International Trade Administration reported that the Philippines was the world’s largest exporter of nickel ore and the second-largest producer.
For PNIA, which represents companies accounting for about 74 percent of Philippine nickel production, a key provision of the EO is the designation of all critical mineral projects as national priority projects.
‘This is a major shift in perspective. It recognizes that our mineral resources are not simply commodities to extract, but strategic national assets that can support industrialization, infrastructure, energy security, digital transformation, and the clean energy transition,’ it said.
The Department of Finance (DOF) is also banking on the government’s new critical minerals framework to spur investments in manufacturing and value-added processing as the Philippines seeks to move beyond raw mineral extraction and exports.
EO 122 directs government agencies to pursue the exploration, development, processing and utilization of critical minerals, while encouraging investments in higher-value products.
It also provides for the development of side-stream industries, including energy, water supply, transport and logistics, as well as critical mineral recovery and recycling.
‘Our goal is to build industries around our mineral resources-processing, manufacturing, and other value-adding activities that create jobs, attract investments, and generate greater value for the Philippine economy,’ said Finance Secretary Frederick Go.
Go will serve as co-chairperson, along with the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, of the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), which was also reorganized under EO 122.
The MICC is mandated to align government policies and review regulatory concerns.
‘As co-chair of the MICC and head of the Economic Development Committee (EDCom), we will work with our partners to ensure that our policies support the responsible development of the critical minerals industry, while encouraging more investments and greater value creation for the Philippine economy,’ Go said.
The EO also provides for the accelerated disposition and privatization of government-owned critical mineral mining assets through the Privatization and Management Office, which is under the DOF.