Marcos: PH should invest in infra to process local minerals

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Wednesday that the Philippines should invest in infrastructure that will allow the processing of minerals locally.

Marcos made the remark during the 2023 Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award Ceremonial Awarding. He said this as the world transitions to clean energy and that the demand for critical minerals is surging.

''To truly harness this potential, we must invest in the infrastructure and the technology required to process these minerals domestically,'' Marcos said.

''And at the same time, it is imperative that we adopt mining practices that prioritize the environment, to ensure that our extraction processes are clean, efficient, and restore the land that has been mined,'' he added.

Marcos said the signing of the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System or PENCAS Act in May 2024 further emphasized the government's dedication to sustainable resource management.

''This landmark legislation ensures that a robust system is in place to quantify and to integrate the value of our country’s natural assets into national economic planning and decision-making,'' Marcos said.

''This will enable us to better balance economic gains with environmental protection and guarantee that the true cost of resource extraction is accounted for,'' he added.

He said the Philippine government continues to refine and enhance mining policies to reflect these priorities.

''We plan to boost local value addition through mineral processing, strengthen environmental safeguards, and ensure that communities are genuine beneficiaries of the wealth generated from mining operations,'' Marcos said.

Marcos led the awarding ceremony for the 2023 PMIEA in Malacañang, where he cited the event as a celebration of the mining firms’ commitment and responsibility.

“This ceremony is a celebration of your commitment and your responsibility. It is a tribute to those who see mining as a profound opportunity to uplift communities and ensure environmental sustainability for generations to come,” the President said.

In 2023, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) opened the nominations for the 2023 PMIEA.

Marcos said at least 35 companies under Surface Mining Operation, Quarry Operation, and Mineral Processing categories vied for the recognition. A total of 13 mining and mineral processing companies stood out as recipients of the 2023 PMIEA.

These include:

Surface mining operations category

• Cagdianao Mining Corporation
• CTP Construction and Mining Corporation
• Eramen Minerals, Inc.
• Hinatuan Mining Corporation - Tagana-an Nickel Project
• FCF Minerals Corporation
• Zambales Diversified Metals Corporation
• Taganito Mining Corporation

Quarry operations category:

• Republic Cement & Building Materials, Inc. - Batangas
• Eagle Cement Corporation
• Helix Resources and Development Corporation
• Republic Cement & Building Materials, Inc. - Teresa

Mineral processing category:

• Coral Bay Nickel Corporation
• Philippine Mining Service Corporation - Alcoy Plant.

— Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News