Philippines’ critical minerals push sparks Indigenous and environmental concerns
The Philippines has launched a new national framework to accelerate critical mineral mining, covering 9 million hectares of land. Environmental and Indigenous rights groups have raised concerns regarding the potential impact on ancestral domains and ecosystems.
Why it matters
The policy balances the global demand for minerals needed for the green energy transition against the rights of local Indigenous communities.
https://eb.news/JIwz5PmyQVGA Copy By Keith Anthony Fabro, Mongabay.com 4 minute read Sept. 7, 2026 The Philippines is moving to accelerate critical-mineral development across millions of hectares of land, raising concerns that expanded mining and faster permitting could put pressure on forests, ancestral domains, and Indigenous communities’ ability to give or withhold consent.
In an executive order signed on 18 August, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. established a national framework for developing the country’s critical-minerals industry. The order identifies at least 9 million hectares (22 million acres) of prospective areas that could host mineral resources, and calls for policies that promote downstream processing, investment, and “responsible and sustainable mining practices.”
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