President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Executive Order 122, establishing a unified national policy framework to develop the Philippines' critical minerals industry and strengthen its role in global clean energy and advanced technology supply chains.
The order, signed on August 21, also reorganises the Mining Industry Coordinating Council to drive strategic growth in the sector. According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the Philippines has identified at least 9 million hectares of highly prospective areas with potential mineral resources.
EO 122 shifts the country's strategy beyond exporting raw ore toward developing integrated processing and manufacturing ecosystems, with downstream refining, battery production and side-stream industries eligible for incentives under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act. Domestic processing plants will also be given priority access to mineral ores at fair market prices.
The order establishes environmental, social and cultural safeguards, requiring sustainable mining practices and prioritising the well-being of host communities. It also enforces a "Use It or Lose It" policy, under which noncompliant or dormant mining tenements may be cancelled.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau are directed to streamline permit processing within six months and establish a fully digital Virtual One-Stop Shop platform within one year. The reorganized Mining Industry Coordinating Council, co-chaired by the environment and finance secretaries, is required to submit a comprehensive industry work plan to the Office of the President within 90 days.
The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines has expressed full support for the order, saying its emphasis on policy stability, regulatory consistency and transparency would help create a predictable investment environment for exploration, mine development and mineral processing.
