MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has issued a stern warning to mining companies that continue to flout environmental and social responsibility standards, saying his administration will not hesitate to act against destructive operations.
“Irresponsible mining has no place in our nation. We will strictly enforce the laws against practices that destroy forests, that poison rivers, that endanger lives,” Marcos declared during the opening of the Mining Philippines 2025: International Conference and Exhibition in Taguig City.
Marcos stressed that the government’s approach to mining must balance development and sustainability, ensuring that the industry contributes to national progress without harming people or ecosystems.
“Mining should build communities, not burden them,” he said. “We must power the future without endangering the earth that sustains us.”
The President said his administration is determined to align all mining operations with the country’s international environmental obligations, including the Paris Agreement and the Philippine Energy Plan. He emphasized that mining revenues must directly improve the lives of Filipinos through better public services and infrastructure.
“The wealth from our soil should translate into schools for our children, hospitals for families, and roads that link people with opportunities,” he said.
Marcos also underscored transparency and accountability in the management of mining revenues, noting that “the Filipino people deserve to know how their resources are being managed, for these are their treasures as much as they are the nation’s.”
To strengthen governance and ensure a fairer distribution of mining proceeds, the President signed the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act. The new law eliminates tax distinctions between mining agreements and introduces a five-tier, margin-based royalty system ranging from 1% to 5% for operations outside mineral reservations, with a minimum 0.1% royalty for low-margin mines.
Marcos said these reforms aim to demonstrate that “mining and sustainability can coexist” — but only if the industry operates with integrity, foresight, and a genuine commitment to national development./PN
