Ordinance on 50-Year Mining Moratorium in Palawan Hailed
Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) hailed the 50-year moratorium on endorsement of new mining applications approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Palawan today as it congratulated the various communities, Indigenous Peoples, the church and youth groups for their role in the passage of the provincial ordinance.
Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator said “the approval of the moratorium is a victory for all those who have strongly resisted mining in Palawan. Without their persistent lobby and protest actions, the 50-year moratorium on mining would not have been possible.”
Atty. Grizelda “Gerthie” Mayo-Anda, Executive-Director of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), considered the ordinance as a “historical step towards protecting the remaining forests and natural resources of Palawan and upholding the rights of citizens, IPs, farmers, fisherfolk and other sectors, particularly the right to a safe and healthy environment.”
According to Atty. Mayo-Anda, then proposed ordinance was pushed since 2024 through a Pastoral Letter by the Bishops of Palawan, followed by a signature petition by Save Palawan Movement and other environment groups and non-government organizations (NGOs).
“The ordinance is a clear legal expression of Palawan’s opposition to mining, which the PBBM administration and the DENR must fully respect. It reflects the lack of consent by stakeholders for mining contracts and operations in the region,” Garganera said. “We hope this would pave the way for a total halt to mining operations in the region.”
Meanwhile, Vic Colili, Councilor of Brooke’s Point, Palawan, clarified that the moratorium applies only to new mining applications. “Bagama’t may moratorium ordinance, saklaw lang nito ang mga bagong applications. Lahat ng mga existing applications bago ang ordinansya ay patuloy na papayagan ang operasyon. Gayunpaman, mababawasan pa rin ang banta sa pagkasira ng kalikasan at kagubatan ng Palawan,” he said. (Although there is a moratorium ordinance, this only covers new applications. All existing applications before the ordinance will still be allowed to operate. Nevertheless, the destruction to the environment and forests of Palawan will be reduced.”
Councilor Colili underscored the need to be vigilant in monitoring existing mining operations in terms of their compliance to the terms and conditions of their Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) and Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP). “Anumang mga paglabag ay maaring maging dahilan ng suspension o kaya cancellation ng kanilang permit,” he said. (Any violation could be a reason for the suspension or cancellation of their permit.”
“Kaya mahalaga na ang mga lokal opisyal ng Palawan ay maging mapagbantay at manindigan at huwag maging sunod-sunuran sa dikta ng mga pulitikong may kinalaman sa mining o di kaya nagmamay-ari ng minahan. Kailangan natin ng mga matitino at makakalikasang politiko na mamahala sa Palawan,” he said. (Therefore, it is important that the local officials of Palawan be vigilant and principled, and not merely follow the dictates of politicians with links to mining or own mining companies. We need decent ang pro-environment politicians to govern Palawan.”
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