The Catholic bishops of Palawan are urging a 25-year moratorium on mining in the province, citing environmental destruction and its detrimental effects on local communities.
Inquirer reported that in a pastoral letter released by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Bishops Socrates Mesiona and Broderick Pabillo of Puerto Princesa and Taytay, along with retired Bishop Edgardo Juanich, called for an immediate halt to new mining applications and expansions.
The pastoral letter framed the moratorium as a response to the plight of nature, farmers, fishermen, and indigenous peoples who have suffered from mining’s effects.
The bishops emphasized that mining in Palawan, often referred to as the country’s “last ecological frontier,” must be paused to allow for comprehensive studies and the establishment of protected areas, such as watersheds and old-growth forests.
They also suggested waiting until industries and technologies capable of processing minerals locally are developed, which could provide sustainable jobs and higher economic value for the extracted resources.
The pastoral letter stressed the importance of monitoring ongoing mining operations to ensure the restoration of damaged mountains and forests.
Palawan currently faces over 67 mining exploration permit applications, covering more than 200,000 hectares across Puerto Princesa and several municipalities, including Coron, Taytay, Roxas, and Brooke’s Point.
Active mining operations in the province span approximately 29,430 hectares.
The bishops described mining as unsustainable, citing its harmful impact on forests, wildlife, and the livelihoods of local communities. They also criticized the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and some officials for failing to enforce restoration measures in mining-damaged areas.
Local officials were urged by the bishops to pass laws implementing a mining moratorium, while Palawan residents were called to support the cause by signing a petition for a 25-year mining halt.
