Philippines: Palawan under attack for 'critical minerals'
Food poverty in Italy, the ActionAid report
25 July 2025
Afternoon nap: tips for a restorative break
9 August 2025
With the global energy transition, demand for 'critical minerals' such as nickel, cobalt and copper has exploded, driven mainly by the electric vehicle market. Philippines Palawan, the world's leading nickel ore exporter and second-largest producer after Indonesia, are at the center of this race. Together, the two countries account for 60% of global supply, with China as the largest buyer (over $1 billion in nickel imported in 2023).
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. aims to make mining a pillar of the national economy, and announces reforms to speed up permits and attract investment. The Philippines holds mineral reserves estimated at $1.000 trillion, but only 3% are exploited. However, this growth comes at a high cost to indigenous communities and the environment.
The impact of mining on indigenous populations
Approximately 60% of mineral deposits are located in indigenous territories, many of which are legally recognized through ancestral domain certificates (CADC/T). A report by Global Witness and Kalikasan People's Environment Network reveals that over the past 30 years, a fifth of these lands have been affected by mining projects, with a territorial loss equivalent to the area of East Timor.
The Philippines is the most dangerous country in Asia for environmental defenders: a third of documented murders are related to mining. Communities resisting extraction face violence, intimidation and the lack of genuine consultation, despite the protections provided by the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (IPRA).
Palawan: A Natural Paradise Under Siege
Palawan, declared UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1990, it is a paradise of biodiversity threatened by mining expansion, after the violence perpetrated by the timber industry and that palm oil. After lifting of the national ban on new concessions for mining launched in 2021, companies have intensified their activities, often violating environmental laws and the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of communities.
The effects are devastating:
– deforestation of ancient trees;
– pollution of rice fields and marine habitats;
– decline of traditional livelihoods (agriculture, hunting, resin gathering).
Palawan communities, divided between those who accept compromises with the mines and those who resist, suffer social tensions and manipulation.
The 2025 moratorium: a partial victory
In March 2025, an international and local mobilization led to a 50-year moratorium on new mines in Palawan, blocking 67 pending requests. However, 11 contracts existing mining remains active, including that of MacroAsia Corporation on Mount Mantalingahan, a protected and vital area for 200.000 people.
Le irregularities The following clearly emerged during the consultation processes:
– MacroAsia obtained the FPIC (community consensus) certificate through alleged corruption and the use of “fake” indigenous leaders;
– Ipilan Nickel Corporation (INC) began operations without permits, destroying forests before receiving formal approval.
The failures of governance
While the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act is a progressive law, its implementation is undermined by:
1. corrupt bureaucracy, as the NCIP (National Commission for Indigenous Peoples) often favors mining companies;
2. imposition of hierarchical structures on traditionally egalitarian indigenous societies;
3. violence and stigmatization against activists, labeled by the elites as “terrorists”.
What is needed for the future
To protect Palawan, we must:
– extend the moratorium to all existing contracts;
– strengthen monitoring and involve communities in decision-making;
– reform the NCIP to ensure authentic representation;
– respect the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act, recognizing Indigenous land rights and conservation practices.
The energy transition cannot replicate the same extractive models of the past. Without structural change, "decarbonization" risks sacrificing territories, cultures, and human lives.
Marta Strinati
On the cover the Palawan hornbill (Anthracoceros marchei). Photo by CALG, Coalition Against Land Grabbing.
References
Dorothy Mason, Wolfram Dressler, Dario Novellino. Extracting value, losing ground: the critical minerals boom in Palawan. New mandala 13.6.25 https://www.newmandala.org/extracting-value-losing-ground-the-critical-minerals-boom-in-palawan/
