Mining Technical Paper and Policy Note: Review of the Philippine Large-Scale Metallic Mines




The mining industry plays a huge role in stimulating the national economy and contributing to the country’s socioeconomic development. With the opportunities and risks it poses to people and the environment in the medium and long term, the industry needs to be scrutinized, reviewed, and monitored. In 2012, the Philippine government issued Executive Order (EO) No. 79 to institutionalize and implement reforms in the mining sector. The Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), an inter-agency body, was created to assess and review all mining operations concerning their compliance with existing laws and regulations. It also reviews mining-related laws, rules, and regulations, and provides corresponding policy recommendations to improve their effectiveness and relevance.

Pursuant to Section 3 of EO 79, the MICC has implemented a multi-stakeholder review on the performance of existing mining operations from February 2018 to December 2020. The review was conducted in two phases and covered a total of 45 large-scale metallic mining operations. A total of 29 local experts were engaged to undertake the review in ensuring that it is objective and based on facts and science.

The Technical Paper is designed to present the technical perspective of mining based on the results of the MICC review, particularly on the legal, technical, social, economic, and environmental aspects. It also highlights the good mining industry practices and those that need improvement. The Policy Note, on the other hand, provides an overview of the Philippine mining sector from a policy perspective, highlighting key challenges and reforms necessary to develop and better regulate the sector.

Source: Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environment Staff




Department of Finance