The head of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) urged mining stakeholders to embrace a values-driven and community-focused approach to development during the 80th Philippine Mining Club Luncheon. He emphasized the need for sustainable mining that is grounded in trust and cultural respect.
In his keynote speech, Atty. Arthur Herman, Director of the NCIP’s Ancestral Domains Office, framed the discussion around a question he said continues to challenge both industry and government: “Is sustainable mining possible in the Philippine setting?”
Drawing from his personal background growing up in the mining town of Lepanto, Benguet, Herman said that responsible mining, specifically when coupled with long-term investments in education, healthcare, and local infrastructure, can lead to transformed lives and empowered communities.
“Sustainable mining is not just about output. It’s about compassion. It’s about people,” he said.
A key focus of Herman’s address was the recently approved revision of the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) guidelines. The current version of which is now awaiting final review by the Office of the President. These updates, he said, were designed to streamline the process while maintaining full respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
Notable changes include:
- Splitting the FPIC process for exploration and full-scale mining operations;
- Reducing the FPIC timeline to 40 days for exploration and 90 days for mining;
- Limiting consultations to only the affected communities, rather than entire ancestral domains.
“Indigenous peoples are not anti-development as many believe.” Herman said. “They are open to progress, to knowledge, to new technologies, and to responsible investments for as long as their lives are respected, their voices are heard, their decisions are considered, and their lives, lands, and cultures are protected.”
He emphasized that the NCIP acts not just as a regulatory body but as a bridge between Indigenous Peoples and the mining industry, helping foster partnerships grounded in transparency, customary law, and shared long-term benefits.
Herman ended his speech by emphasizing that the future of Philippine mining is in ancestral domains and that the key to this is mutual trust and respect.
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