Environment Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said the Marcos administration is accelerating policy reforms to position the Philippines as a responsible player in the global clean energy transition, especially through a more sustainable and value-adding mining industry. His remarks were delivered through a recorded message at the StratBase ADR Institute’s Pilipinas Conference in Makati City last November 21, as reported by Business Mirror.
Lotilla said the administration is pursuing a more integrated approach to mining governance. “In mining and minerals development, we are now implementing a suite of reforms that reflects a more integrated and future-focused governance approach,” he said. A new department order aligns social development and management programs with the UN Sustainable Development Goals to ensure that social impact is “meaningful, measurable, and tied to local needs.”
He noted that permitting rules under the Philippine Mining Act have also been streamlined to strengthen transparency and predictability. “These reforms reduce regulatory bottlenecks without compromising environmental standards,” Lotilla said, noting that responsible investments can now “move faster and farther.”
Environmental resilience, he said, must support economic resilience. Lotilla emphasized the need for cleaner energy systems, smarter urban development, and circular economic practices that reduce waste and decouple growth from environmental harm as the administration enters its second half.
The government aims to double mining’s contribution to GDP from 1% to 2% by 2028, a target Lotilla said “will not be achieved solely through extraction.” He stressed the need for downstream processing, value-added activities, and integration with clean energy and manufacturing supply chains.
A national critical minerals strategy forms part of this push. Lotilla said the Philippines is finalizing an executive order creating a framework for responsible exploration and processing of minerals such as nickel, cobalt, and copper, which are essential to batteries, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and digital technologies.
He added that the DENR is studying technologies that can extract additional value from mine tailings, including rare earth elements or construction-grade materials. “Our goal is not simply to mine more,” Lotilla said. “It is to mine better, process smarter, and govern with integrity.”
With the government pushing both policy modernization and circular-economy approaches, how do you see these reforms shaping the future of the Philippine mining sector?
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