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Church, green groups demand halt on new mining projects in the Philippines

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Environmental and church groups gather in Manila to demand a nationwide moratorium on new mining projects, advocating for a mineral-efficient, 1.5C-aligned energy transition in the Philippines, Oct. 18. Photo supplied

Church and pro-environmental groups launched a campaign on Friday urging the Philippine government to ban new mines and pursue mineral-efficient energy transition pathways.

Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, vice-president of Caritas Philippines, renewed the call for a nationwide mining moratorium, recalling the tragic landslides in a Mindanao mining town earlier this year. 

“Caritas Philippines [has] called for a national moratorium on mining. We reiterate this demand. We believe in a full renewable energy transition for the Philippines. We also believe, as is backed by science, that it needs not come at the expense of people and ecological justice,” he said.

The coalition of environmental groups, energy transition advocates, and mining community members raised concerns over the increased mining activities in the country, allegedly backed by authorities and industry to support the shift to clean energy. 

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that global demand for transition minerals could increase sixfold as decarbonization efforts continue.

Engr. Joshua Lopez, Senior Policy Analyst of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED), highlighted that the Philippines has enough renewable energy potential to achieve a 100% transition aligned with the 1.5C climate goal. 

“Our analyses show that mineral requirements for it can already be met without opening new mines,” he said, adding that “this is especially when we do away with promotion of private over public transportation development, and continued preference for centralized power systems.”

CEED’s analysis indicates that to reach 100% renewable energy generation, the Philippines would need 1,376 kilotons of copper and 29.5 kilotons of nickel. 

These amounts could be met within 4.6 years for copper and just over a month for nickel, based on production levels during the 2012 mining moratorium period. 

“Instead of promoting more extraction that would bring destruction to our remaining watersheds, vulnerable communities, and overall climate resilience, the Philippine government must advance a mineral-efficient, regenerative energy transition. A ban on new mines should be the order of the day,” Lopez said.

The call followed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other agencies’ reaffirmation of their commitment to a sustainable and vibrant mining industry during a forum organized by the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines.

Dr. Cielo Magno, President of Bantay Kita and former Undersecretary of the Department of Finance, criticized the government’s focus on expediting mining application processes, warning that prioritizing efficiency could harm communities. 

“Such is also the case for the new mining framework being put forward by the administration, which in effect brings a decrease in tax revenue from the mining sector. This, in a manner that is not data-driven, and is instead based largely on the interests of an extremely opaque industry,” Magno said.

The coalition expressed alarm that expanding the mining sector contradicts the country’s urgent need to address climate risks, noting that the Philippines, ranked as the most at-risk country for disasters in the 2024 World Risk Index, faces increasing climate vulnerabilities.

Sanlakas Secretary General Atty. Aaron Pedrosa stressed the need for policies that protect natural resources and communities instead of supporting extractive industries. 

“A vibrant mining sector may boost economic figures temporarily, but the long-term consequences on communities and the environment are irreversible. We need sustainable and people-centered energy solutions that do not come at the expense of our ecosystems,” he said.

Rene Pamplona of the Convergence of Initiatives for Environmental Justice (CIEJ) also voiced support for the affected communities, particularly those in Mindanao, noting that Indigenous and rural areas have suffered the most from mining’s destructive legacy. 

“Communities in Mindanao and other mining-affected regions have borne the brunt of mining’s destructive legacy. We cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes under the guise of an energy transition,” he remarked.

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