(Photo from Mining Philippines Facebook)
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is pushing for a greater Philippine role in global critical minerals supply chains, citing the country’s rich deposits of nickel, copper, and other resources essential to electric vehicles, battery production, and renewable energy technologies.
In a keynote message delivered by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna at the Mining Philippines 2026 International Conference and Exhibition in Pasay City on Tuesday, Marcos emphasized the country’s potential to expand its participation in the global minerals industry.
The President said his administration aims to develop a more industrialized Philippines by responsibly utilizing natural resources while ensuring that economic benefits reach Filipino communities.
“By bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and investors, this conference provides a venue for exchanging ideas, forging partnerships, and identifying practical ways to strengthen our minerals sectors,” Marcos said.
He highlighted the Philippines’ growing partnerships with the United States, Canada, Australia, and Sweden in strengthening secure and reliable mineral supply chains.
“Our engagements with the United States, Canada, Australia, and Sweden reflect the growing importance of our country in building secure and reliable mineral supply chains,” he added.
Under Executive Order No. 122, the government is pursuing the development of the downstream minerals industry to encourage domestic processing, strengthen local industries, and generate employment opportunities.
Marcos said the DENR is identifying areas suitable for responsible mineral development while implementing measures to protect communities and the environment.
The administration is also working to establish a more transparent and predictable regulatory framework to attract responsible investments in the mining sector.
He cited DENR Administrative Order No. 2025-17, which establishes an enhanced fiscal regime for mining, as part of efforts to provide clearer investment guidelines while ensuring the government receives a fair share of revenues from mineral resources.
The President also pointed to streamlined mining application procedures aimed at improving regulatory efficiency and providing greater certainty to investors.
However, Marcos stressed that mining development must balance economic growth with environmental protection and the welfare of affected communities.
“Our mineral resources are finite. The progress they help create must endure,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cuna reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to building a competitive, responsible, and sustainable mining industry.
“Together, let us help turn our natural wealth into lasting progress and our shared aspirations into opportunities that future generations can build upon,” Cuna said.
Marcos also acknowledged the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, the event organizer, for its contributions to mining policy development, including efforts supporting the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
He likewise recognized the chamber’s involvement in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, which promotes accountability and transparency in the management of revenues from the extractive sector.
The administration maintained that responsible mineral development should support industrial growth, create jobs, and deliver long-term benefits to Filipinos while safeguarding the country’s natural resources.
