Palawan officials enforce 50-year mining ban in environmental push

Palawan is imposing a 50-year moratorium on endorsing small- and large-scale mining applications following the unanimous approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) in a special session on March 5.

The Philippine Information Agency said that the moratorium, which applies to exploration permits, mining agreements, and financial or technical partnerships, also bars the expansion of existing mining operations into new areas.

SP member Nieves Rosento, one of the ordinance’s authors, credited collective efforts for advancing the moratorium, emphasizing its role in preserving Palawan’s natural beauty.

The ordinance, first filed in October 2024, advanced to its final reading on February 26 after four committee hearings facilitated by the Committee on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.

Amendments to the ordinance included the possibility of extending the moratorium’s duration and the creation of a monitoring council to oversee its implementation.

Palawan Governor Dennis Socrates said his decision to back the moratorium was influenced by insights shared at a mining summit in April 2024.

The Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), which has advocated for a mining moratorium in Palawan for three decades, will continue investigating mining-related complaints in the province.

There are currently 11 mining applications in Palawan, including three in Bataraza, four in Brooke’s Point, two in Narra, and two in Quezon.

The Catholic Church in Palawan encouraged voters to consider candidates’ environmental positions in the upcoming midterm elections. In December, Palawan’s bishops issued three pastoral letters supporting the moratorium.

The SP said implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the ordinance would follow its approval.

The ordinance requires mining firms seeking to operate in Palawan to obtain at least two endorsements from barangay, municipal, or provincial authorities to secure a Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) clearance from the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD).

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) requires the SEP clearance before issuing an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), which is mandatory for mining permits.

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