Marcos urges passage of bill to rationalize Philippine mining regime

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. renewed his call for the passage of a bill to rationalize the Philippine mining regime during the 2023 Philippine Mineral Industry Environmental Award ceremony at Malacañang Palace on Wednesday.

Marcos emphasized that the proposed measure is crucial for creating a fair and equitable environment in the mining industry, while also stressing the need for the DENR to enforce strict safety and environmental standards.

The President highlighted his administration's goals of fostering sustainability, boosting local value addition through mineral processing, strengthening environmental safeguards, and ensuring communities benefit from mining operations.

Marcos urged lawmakers to push for a simplified fiscal regime that includes a four-tier, margin-based royalty ranging from 1.5% to 5% on income from mining operations outside of mineral reservations.

The President also ordered the DENR to strengthen its regulatory capabilities and issued Administrative Order No. 2022-04, mandating biodiversity management in mining operations along with the establishment of a National Environment and Natural Resources Geospatial Database.

He congratulated 13 mining company awardees for their commitment to responsible practices in environmental protection, safety, health, and social development and encouraged them to share experiences to promote sustainable extraction techniques.