The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is preparing to evaluate 14 new mineral reservation areas by 2026, a move expected to unlock more value in the country’s PHP 170.1-billion mining industry.
The agency said three areas—Palawan, Camarines Norte, and Southwest Samar—are being lined up for declaration next year under its mineral resources development and geosciences program, Philstar reports.
DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones told a Senate committee hearing on environment, natural resources, and climate change that the mining sector currently covers 2.63% of the country’s land area, with 790,592 hectares under approved mining tenements.
“For 2026, we plan to conduct assessment in three areas, namely Palawan, Camarines Norte and Southwest Samar, for offshore critical and strategic minerals while continuing rigorous monitoring of mining rights to ensure sustained compliance,” Leones said at the Senate committee hearing on environment, natural resources and climate change.
He noted that a vast portion of the country’s mineral-rich lands remains untapped, offering opportunities for new exploration and development—provided these are managed responsibly. The Philippines is endowed with key metallic resources such as nickel, gold, copper, chromite and iron, alongside non-metallic deposits including limestone, marble, and silica.
The DENR also plans to conduct vulnerability assessments in 58 municipalities, hazard evaluations in 24 areas, groundwater studies in 50 sites, and physical vulnerability mapping in 96 locations by 2026.
To support the program, Leones also said the bureau’s operations center is now equipped with a dashboard that allows real-time monitoring of floods, landslides and incident reporting. He said this would allow authorities to respond more quickly to environmental risks tied to mining activities.
DENR Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, International Affairs and Climate Change Noralene Uy said the department is drafting a comprehensive policy on nature-based solutions. The measure will include incentives for private firms in sectors such as agriculture and mining to adopt greener practices.
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