Priority Programs No.

7942, otherwise known as the “Philippine Mining Act of 1995,” and it’s
Implementing Rules and Regulations.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is the agency directly in charge of the
administration and disposition of the country’s mineral lands and mineral resources.
MGB envisions a minerals industry that is not only prosperous but also socially,
economically, and environmentally sustainable, with broad community and political
support while positively and progressively assisting in the government's program on
poverty alleviation and contributing to the general economic well-being of the 3. Mine Rehabilitation Program
nation.
The Mine Rehabilitation Program is a flagship program of the MGB dealing with the
rehabilitation and remediation of abandoned mines, and the preparation of
Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the abandoned mines in the country. It
I. OPERATIONS envisions to implement the Environmental Management Plans for all abandoned
mines in the country and transform abandoned mines and mined-out areas into land
uses beneficial to communities and the environment. The MGB commissioned the
preparation of EMPs through the conduct of a series of studies and risk assessments
Program 1: Mineral Resources Enforcement and Regulatory Program for the remaining structures and facilities, as well as formulation of the most
appropriate rehabilitation strategies for the abandoned mines in the country. The
Sub-Program: Mineral Regulation Services program is looking forward to the implementation of rehabilitation efforts until such
time that the project will be turned over to respective local government units for
The Program executes the mandate of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), monitoring and maintenance.
consistent with the provisions of Republic Act No. 7942, the “Philippine Mining Act of
1995”, an act instituting a new system of mineral resources exploration,
development, utilization and conservation. The act provides for the authority of
DENR through MGB on the direct administration and disposition of mineral lands and Program 2: Mineral Resources and Geosciences Development Program
mineral. This program is also in support of Executive Order No. 79 re:
Institutionalizing and Implementing Reforms in the Philippine Mining Sector and Sub-Program: Mineral Resources Development
Providing Policies and Guidelines to Ensure Environmental Protection and
Responsible Mining in the Utilization of Mineral Resources, issued in 2012. Expected The objectives of the Program are attained thru the generation of geologic data vital
beneficiaries include the mining industry, national government agencies, local in the development of mineral resources; land use classification, planning and
government units, host and neighboring communities, civil society organizations, development; groundwater resource management; geohazard zonation; solid waste
and other stakeholders. disposal sites; and environmental protection and regulation. It consists of two
strategies, namely: Geologic Survey and Exploration, and Mineral Reservation.

The program has the following strategies:

1. Geologic Survey and Exploration

A. Land
1. Mineral Investment Promotion Program
The Geologic Survey and Exploration aims to generate geo-scientific information and
This involves the issuance of mining permits and contracts to qualified persons consists of five (5) major components:
pursuant to the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. The implementation of the National
Small-Scale Mining Program pursuant to Republic Act No. 7076 is also another 1. Data compilation and collation;
component which has the objective of rationalizing small-scale mining activities thru 2. Data generation through air-photo interpretation and other remote sensing
the declaration of Peoples Small-Scale Mining Areas, operationalization of techniques;
Provincial/City Mining Regulatory Boards, and assistance to small-scale miners. 3. Field geological mapping and survey, which will involve geological sampling
and analysis;
4. Interpretation and analysis of data; and
5. Generation of reports and production of the geological maps at the scale of
2. Mining Industry Development Program 1:50,000.

This ensures that the exploration, development, and utilization of the country’s
mineral resources are undertaken responsibly and in compliance with the laws, rules
and regulations. It involves the monitoring and audit of all mining/mineral B. Offshore
processing operations to ascertain the compliance of mining
contractors/permittees/permit holders with the terms and conditions of its The “Geological Studies and Marine Mineral Exploration of Philippine Seas” is a
contracts/permits, as well as their compliance with the safety and health, project that will conduct research and exploration in order to determine the
environmental, and social development and management provisions of Republic Act economic potential of the marine areas in the Philippines. In particular, the
fundamental purpose of the research is to assess the coastal and offshore mineral
resources, with particular emphasis on placer deposits. With this exploration work, The Groundwater Resource and Vulnerability Assessment Program of the Mines and
delineation of inferred resources within the country’s coast and territorial waters is Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is conducted to determine the availability of groundwater
expected. The mineral resources that will be sought are gold and other base metals, resources and the threats to depletion and contamination.
rare earth elements (REEs), and other non-metallic and aggregate deposits. In the
process, mapping of the seafloor to identify the different geologic undersea It covers two main aspects: the resource assessment component and the
topographic and tectonic features and to assess the sedimentary character of the vulnerability component. The program shall cover a regional assessment (per
sand and gravel resources and other associated minerals will be conducted. The province for 2016-2018) of 82 provinces (including NCR) nationwide and a detailed
project will be conducted in areas adjacent to the Philippine Rise, Celebes Sea, and assessment (in 1:50,000 scale) of 91 cities/municipalities in 2019, 50
West Philippine Sea. cities/municipalities in 2020; 53 cities/municipalities in 2021 and 50
cities/municipalities for 2022. As of 2018, 76 provinces were completed for
groundwater resource assessment. In terms of the regional scale, the program shall
generate a 1:250,000 scale groundwater availability map. The Program will integrate
climate change impacts in some critical areas that will be identified during the
assessment, such as changes in sea level which might affect groundwater resources
in the coastal areas, and the effect of the reduction in the recharge of the
groundwater due to drought.
2. Mineral Reservation Program
In compliance with Section 19.4 of DAO 2005-10 (Implementing Rules and
The Mineral Reservation Program (MRP) aims to manage and promote existing Regulation of Republic Act No 9275 or the Clean Water Act of 2004), the
mineral reservation areas and declare new mineral reservation areas. Additional groundwater vulnerability assessment component was implemented starting in 2020
revenues to the government thru payment of royalties (Chapter II, Section 5 of with three (3) pilot watershed areas covered. This component generates a 1:250,000
Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, and scale groundwater vulnerability map which serves as guide in the protection of
Chapter Ill, Section 9 of Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2010-21) that groundwater sources from contamination.
are imposed on mining operations within the mineral reservations will contribute to
the economy of the country. This is equivalent to 5% of the gross revenues of the Mining in the Philippines:
mining operations therein. The MRP has four (4) major activities, namely: (1)
Management and Promotion of Existing Mineral Reservations; (2) Establishment of a new chapter
New Mineral Reservations; (3) Research and Development/Special Projects; and (4)
Advance Exploration. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s landslide election a year ago has opened a new
chapter in the Philippine mining sector. Unlike previous administrations’ resistance
to mining, the Marcos Jr Administration has prioritised the revitalisation of the mining
sector. The reason is simple. The Administration has determined that mining holds
OO3: Adaptive Capacities of Human Communities and Natural Systems Improved the greatest potential to be a key driver in the Philippines’ economic recovery
following the pandemic. A prosperous mining sector will also secure the country’s
long-term growth. This is good news for Australian mining equipment, technology
and services (METS) providers. There are strong supply opportunities across the
Program 1: Geological Risk Reduction and Resiliency Program
entire mining value chain.
Sub-Program: Geological Assessment for Risk Reduction and Resiliency

This program intends to capacitate communities in their adaptation to geologic

Untapped mineral resources waiting to be explored
hazards and provide them critical data on groundwater resources. The program has
two (2) components, namely:

1. Geohazard Assessment

The National Geohazards Assessment and Mapping Program (NGAMP) has thrived at
the forefront of the country’s disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM)
endeavors for over a decade and a half. The program aims to prevent and mitigate
the adverse impacts of the disasters by identifying areas in the country that are
susceptible to different geologic hazards, particularly rain-induced landslide, flood,
coastal and karst hazards and provide vital information to various stakeholders.

2. Groundwater Resource Assessment

The Philippines is one of the world’s most richly endowed mineral resources Mabilo gold/copper project - RTG Mining is the international partner in this project,
countries. It is estimated to have about $1 trillion worth of untapped copper, gold, located in Camarines Norte. Feasibility studies and drilling are complete. Financial
nickel, zinc and silver reserves. Only 5% of these reserves have been explored, and discussions are ongoing.
3% are covered by mining contracts. The Philippines’ mining industry is rebounding
thanks to the Marcos Jr Administration’s mining policies. Metal production increased
almost 32% in 2022 compared to the year before. Total export value for 2020–2022
was US$18.7 billion or 8.51% of the country’s total exports. The Administration Mankayan gold/copper mine - IDM International is the international partner in this
wants mining in the Philippines to adhere to responsible and sustainable mining project located in Benguet. Two drilling holes have been completed, with a total 62
practices. It wants to strike a balance between protecting the environment, technical holes drilled.
benefiting local communities and supporting the government’s socioeconomic
agenda. It is especially keen to rehabilitate mined-out areas and undertake
progressive rehabilitation. These developments send a welcome signal to potential
Mining exhibitions in the Philippines
investors and businesses interested in the country’s vast resources at a time when
mineral prices are high and demand for critical minerals is strong. There are 56 There are 2 major mining exhibitions in the Philippines this year.
operating metallic mines and 7 processing plants or smelters in the Philippines (see
Tables 1 and 2 below). The Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of I. Mining Philippines International Conference and Exhibition, Manila, 19–20
Environment and Natural Resources predicts there could be another 190 mining September 2023. Register for the pre-conference networking function on 18
projects in the next 4 years. September 2023.
II. Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association, Baguio, 14–17
November 2023.
Mining projects in the Philippines

Below are some major mining projects under development and construction. These DENR studies possible lifting of ban on open-pit mining
projects offer significant opportunities in prospecting, exploration, extraction,
refining and processing, and rehabilitation.

There are also broader opportunities in: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is still studying the
possible lifting of the ban on open-pit mining, Malacañang said on Thursday.
 geological surface mapping and sampling Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that Executive Order No. 130,
 geophysical measurements and geochemical analysis signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 14, does not include a lifting of the ban
 whole-of-mine design on open-pit mining. In November 2017, Duterte said he agreed with the open-pit
 engineering, procurement, construction and management mining ban given the environmental damage it causes. Duterte, in his third State-of-
 mine closure and rehabilitation. the-Nation Address (SONA) on July 23, 2018, also warned the mining industry not to
destroy the environment, saying environmental protection is one of his
government’s priorities. “To the mining industry, I say this once again and maybe for
Silangan project in Surigao del Norte -Silangan Mindanao Mining Co., Inc, a the las t time, do not destroy the environment or compromise our resources; repair
subsidiary of Philex Mine, is developing this underground mine. An In-Phase Mine what you have mismanaged,” Duterte said. Open-pit mining is allowed under
Plan feasibility study was completed in January 2020. Mining is expected to start in Philippine law, but Duterte has rejected previous recommendations to lift the ban.
March 2025. The Philippines is the world’s biggest supplier of nickel ore and also among the top
producers of copper and gold. - Azer Parrocha
Tampakan copper/gold mine - This mine by Sagittarius Mines, Inc (SMI) is a national
government priority project. It is located between the towns of Tampakan, South
Cotabato and Kiblawan, Davao del Sur in southern Mindanao. The project is the
largest untapped minefield in Southeast Asia. It is estimated to contain 15 million
tons of copper and 17.6 million tons of gold.

King-king copper-gold project - St Augustine Gold & Copper Ltd is developing the
King-king Copper-Gold Project in Davao de Oro. It is expected to recover 3.16B
pounds of copper and 5.43M ounces of gold over its 25-year mine and process life.
The Environmental Impact Statement and Assessment are underway.