President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed an executive order to boost critical-mineral exploration and mining across approximately 9 million hectares of land in the Philippines, prompting concerns about impacts on forests, ancestral lands, and Indigenous community rights.
- Executive Order No. 122 covers 30% of the country's land area as potential mining zones.
- Mining projects may overlap with over half of existing Indigenous ancestral domains.
- Concerns raised about rushed permit processes and insufficient community consultation.
What happened
On August 18, 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 122 to establish a national framework for accelerating the development of the Philippines’ critical-minerals industry. This policy covers about 9 million hectares—roughly 30% of the country’s land area—identified as prospective zones for mineral resources. The order directs government agencies to implement streamlined permitting through a virtual one-stop shop and promotes investment and downstream processing alongside sustainable mining practices.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is tasked with overseeing exploration and mineral reservations under this order. It aims to move permit applications faster by allowing local and national clearances to be processed simultaneously. However, the scale of the plan far exceeds the current approved mining projects, increasing the risk of environmental and social impacts.
Why it feels good
Increasing critical minerals production is seen as essential to supporting global clean energy transitions and local economic growth. By encouraging responsible mining with downstream processing, the Philippines hopes to add value to its natural resources while attracting investments that could lead to job creation and infrastructure development.
Efforts to modernize and simplify the permitting process may reduce bureaucratic delays, potentially enabling better regulatory oversight and promoting environmentally conscious mining technology. If implemented carefully, this approach could balance resource extraction with environmental sustainability and national development goals.
What to enjoy or watch next
Pay close attention to ongoing consultations between Indigenous communities, environmental groups, and the government. Free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) remains a critical issue, as many Indigenous peoples express concerns about insufficient time and information to assess mining impacts. The response from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be vital for transparency and community trust.
Environmental monitoring and reports on mining operations in ancestral domains, especially in sensitive forested areas like Palawan, will be important to track. Watch for how policies address overlapping claims and whether safeguards effectively mitigate ecological damage while respecting Indigenous rights.