AngMinero
  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Business
No Result
View All Result
AngMinero
  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Business
No Result
View All Result
AngMinero
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Palawan mining ban stands despite DILG advisory cited in Ipilan Nickel hearing –ELAC

AngMinero News by AngMinero News
October 1, 2025
in News
26 2
0
Didipio Mine Opens DMTG Scholarship for Mining and Geoscience Students
84
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Environmental lawyers maintain that Palawan’s mining moratorium remains in effect, despite a DILG advisory cited in a recent consultation that suggested otherwise. The advisory was referenced during a public hearing on Ipilan Nickel Corporation’s (INC) request to double its annual nickel output in Brooke’s Point.

INC is seeking approval to increase its annual output from 1.5 million to 3 million wet metric tons. The proposal was discussed at a September 20 public consultation convened by the Brooke’s Point Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Committee on Environment, Palawan News reports.

At the hearing, a representative from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) cited a letter signed by Undersecretary Romeo P. Benitez claiming that the moratorium was “not valid” or “walang bisa dahil labag sa Constitution.”

In response to the claim, the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) said that a DILG letter cannot invalidate a duly enacted ordinance.

“Only the courts can do that. Treating an executive letter as if it ‘voids’ the moratorium misleads the public and improperly tilts the playing field in a proceeding that should be neutral, evidence-based, and protective of communities and ecosystems,” it said.

ELAC also criticized the conduct of the consultation, citing “appeal to authority (without full text),” “framing by negation,” and “checkbox consultation” and said these tactics were used to shape the outcome.

“Presenting an advisory letter as a de facto nullification confuses citizens and pressures local bodies to act as if the moratorium were already dead—when it is not,” ELAC said.

As of September 29, ELAC said it had not obtained a copy of the DILG letter and clarified that its remarks were based solely on how the letter was described during the proceedings.

Together with the Save Palawan Movement, the group called on the DILG to publicly clarify the advisory’s nature and release its full text. They also urged both provincial and local governments to reaffirm that the moratorium remains in effect pending any court ruling, and asked the Brooke’s Point Sangguniang Bayan to reset the process with accurate legal framing, full disclosure of documents, and an independent cumulative-impact assessment before considering any production increases.

ELAC stressed that clarity in law and transparency in process are essential in decisions with irreversible environmental consequences.

“Palawan’s forests and watersheds are the island’s life support system. When the process is bent—even subtly—people living beside rivers, farms, and coasts pay the price first,” the group said.

Follow Ang Minero on Facebook and LinkedIn for more updates.

Tags: Brooke’s Point consultationDILG advisory controversyELAC legal responseenvironmental law Philippinesipilan nickel corporationmining policy debatenickel mining expansionPalawan environmental protectionPalawan mining moratoriumSave Palawan Movement

Related Posts

DENR sets public scoping for proposed Mapawa Gold Project in Surigao del Norte
News

DENR sets public scoping for proposed Mapawa Gold Project in Surigao del Norte

October 28, 2025
De Lima urges House probe into alleged illegal mining in Nueva Vizcaya
News

De Lima urges House probe into alleged illegal mining in Nueva Vizcaya

October 28, 2025
Investors show interest in Philex’s Silangan mine ahead of 2026 launch
News

Investors show interest in Philex’s Silangan mine ahead of 2026 launch

October 27, 2025
President Marcos urges sustainable, law-abiding mining investments in PH
News

President Marcos urges sustainable, law-abiding mining investments in PH

October 27, 2025
Chamber of Mines says reforms can revive PH mining exports
News

Chamber of Mines says reforms can revive PH mining exports

October 27, 2025
FNI legal team earns top honors at 2025 ALB Philippine Law Awards
News

FNI legal team earns top honors at 2025 ALB Philippine Law Awards

October 16, 2025

FEATURED POST

DENR sets public scoping for proposed Mapawa Gold Project in Surigao del Norte

DENR sets public scoping for proposed Mapawa Gold Project in Surigao del Norte

October 28, 2025
De Lima urges House probe into alleged illegal mining in Nueva Vizcaya

De Lima urges House probe into alleged illegal mining in Nueva Vizcaya

October 28, 2025
Investors show interest in Philex’s Silangan mine ahead of 2026 launch

Investors show interest in Philex’s Silangan mine ahead of 2026 launch

October 27, 2025
President Marcos urges sustainable, law-abiding mining investments in PH

President Marcos urges sustainable, law-abiding mining investments in PH

October 27, 2025

EDITOR PICK'S

DENR sets public scoping for proposed Mapawa Gold Project in Surigao del Norte

October 28, 2025

De Lima urges House probe into alleged illegal mining in Nueva Vizcaya

October 28, 2025

Investors show interest in Philex’s Silangan mine ahead of 2026 launch

October 27, 2025

President Marcos urges sustainable, law-abiding mining investments in PH

October 27, 2025

Chamber of Mines says reforms can revive PH mining exports

October 27, 2025

SMPC declares PHP1.25 special cash dividend, total 2025 payout at PHP13.8B

October 20, 2025

FNI legal team earns top honors at 2025 ALB Philippine Law Awards

October 16, 2025

Recent News

DENR sets public scoping for proposed Mapawa Gold Project in Surigao del Norte

DENR sets public scoping for proposed Mapawa Gold Project in Surigao del Norte

October 28, 2025
De Lima urges House probe into alleged illegal mining in Nueva Vizcaya

De Lima urges House probe into alleged illegal mining in Nueva Vizcaya

October 28, 2025

Category

  • Business
  • Features
  • News
  • Uncategorized

Follow us

  • Setup menu at Appearance » Menus and assign menu to Footer Navigation

© 2025 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result

© 2025 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In