By Adrian Kenneth Halili | The Philippine Star | August 26, 2026 12:00am

This photo taken on February 25, 2017 shows an aerial shot of the mining site of Cagdianao Mining Corporation (CMC) in Cagdianao town in Dinagat island. AFP / Erwin Mascarinas

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s nickel miners are calling for better coordination with the government to attract investments, amid the country’s push to strengthen its critical minerals sector.

The Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) said the mining industry and government must work together toward the same national objective, as it expressed support for a national framework to advance the mining industry.

“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,” the group said.

It said government must provide policy direction, standards, safeguards and an enabling environment, while the industry brings investments, technology, expertise and execution.

The statement comes following the creation of a unified policy framework for developing the critical minerals industry through Executive Order 122, as the country seeks to increase its contribution to rising global demand for green energy materials and digital infrastructure.

“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.

Under the EO, the government was tasked to streamline the regulatory requirements for new mining projects, encourage more local downstream processing of minerals and reorganize the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC).

PNIA noted that the establishment of a virtual one-stop shop and the enabling of simultaneous processing could encourage more mineral projects.

The group said the recent policy builds up investor confidence, noting that sustained implementation remains crucial.

It added that the next step is to translate the policy direction into faster, clearer and more predictable processes on the ground.

Nickel miners also noted that the EO’s declaration that all critical mineral projects are national priority projects was a major shift in the government’s 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,” the group said.

Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Frederick Go said the Department of Finance, a co-chair of the MICC, will work with its partners to ensure that the government’s policies support the development of mining, while also boosting investments.

“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,” Go added.

Source: The Philippine Star

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