WHILE the Philippine Nickel Industry Association welcomed Executive Order 122 as ‘a pivotal step in advancing the Philippines’ critical minerals industry and strengthening the country’s position in an increasingly competitive global market,’ mining-affected communities slammed President Marcos for an alleged ‘overly optimistic’ view of the critical minerals industry.
‘PNIA thanks President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for this decisive and forward-looking policy direction. 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,’ PNIA said in a statement.
PNIA joined the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) in welcoming Marcos’ latest policy supporting the mining industry.
In a statement, PNIA said the declaration of all critical mineral projects as national priority projects is very significant.
‘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.’
Moreover, PNIA said that it also puts government-industry partnership in its proper context. Responsible mining is not solely a private-sector undertaking. It is a national development endeavor in which government and industry have distinct but complementary responsibilities. Government provides the policy direction, standards, safeguards, and enabling environment; industry brings investment, technology, expertise, and execution. The greater value comes when both work toward the same national objective.
The Executive Order also advances reforms that PNIA sys it has consistently advocated, including stronger inter-agency coordination, streamlined and digitalized permitting, and more predictable processes. The directive to establish a virtual one-stop shop and enable simultaneous rather than sequential processing is particularly encouraging.
‘For investors, strong policy direction builds confidence, but consistent implementation sustains it. The Executive Order therefore sends an important signal to the global investment community. The task now is to translate that direction into faster, clearer, and more predictable processes on the ground,’ the group said.
PNIA, likewise, welcomed the strengthened role of the Mining Industry Coordinating Council. Its mandate to review regulatory gaps, address barriers to investment, monitor implementation, and regularly convene government provides an important institutional platform to sustain coordination and reform over the long term.
‘These directions strongly complement the objectives of PNIA’s Nickel Initiative, which has consistently brought government, industry, and other stakeholders together to identify practical reforms that can strengthen Philippine mining competitiveness. The progress we are seeing demonstrates what sustained government-industry dialogue can achieve. The challenge now is to build on that progress and move with greater speed and coordination.’
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. Our shared task is to convert this moment into responsible investments, stronger industries, quality jobs, and lasting prosperity for Filipinos.
At the same time, the anti-mining group Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) expressed its indignation on Monday over EO 122 that is said promotes ‘sustainable mining,’ which has been debunked as a concept.
ATM in a statement said the emphasis on privatization and expansion of mineral lands is a direct threat to food and water security and poses health risks to affected communities. We completely reject the provision declaring ‘relinquished, expired and cancelled’ mining contracts to be converted into mineral lands.
Moreover, the group said that local autonomy is given little value, virtually dismissing the expressed provisions of laws on local government’s role in the approval of mining contracts.
Worse, the group said that transparency and accountability are not given enough attention when they should precisely be highlighted given that political dynasties, including the President’s cousin and family, are direct beneficial owners of mining companies.
‘If this is not checked, mining contracts will be the next corruption nexus. Related to this, there is no mention of the Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative [EITI] and its important work,’ ATM said.
The group said that while the MICC is strengthened, ‘it still utterly lacks civil society participation while ensuring private sector participation.’ It even ensures that MICC’s work is aligned with FPIC guidelines, but does not recognize that the Indigenous Peoples’ sector strongly rejects these revised FPIC guidelines, it said.
ATM said a mine audit is absolutely absent when this should be a requisite to determine the application of the EO’s other provisions, such as privatization of mining assets and declaration of mineral reservations.