MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday reiterated the government’s call for responsible mining as he led the 2023 Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award Ceremonial Awarding (PMIEA) in Malacañang.

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Established in 1997, the PMIEA seeks to honor the initiatives of the private Mineral Industry sector in protecting the environment while contributing to community development and the country’s economic growth.

The 2023 Awardees include the following. 

• Cagdianao Mining Corporation

• CT Construction and Mining Corporation   . 

• Eramen Minerals, Inc   

• Hinatuan Mining Corporation - Tagana-an   

• FCF Minerals Corporation   

• Zambales Diversified Metals Corporation

• Taganito Mining Corporation

• Republic Cement & Building Materials, Inc. - Batangas

• Eagle Cement Corporation

• Helix Resources and Development Corporation

• Republic Cement & Building Materials, Inc. - Teresa

• Coral Bay Nickel Corporation

• Philippine Mining Service Corporation - Alcoy Plant 

“This ceremony is a celebration of your commitment and your responsibility. It is a tribute to those who see mining as a profound opportunity to uplift communities and ensure environmental sustainability for generations to come,” Marcos Jr told the awardees. 

“These awardees have shown commendable support for our vision for the mining sector. You continue to invest in environmental technologies and adopt best practices that go even beyond compliance—from pioneering reforestation efforts to utilizing more sustainable extraction techniques. And, of course, your meaningful contributions to the host and neighboring communities through education, healthcare, and livelihood programs are truly inspiring,” he continued.

In his speech, Marcos underscored the need for the country to leverage its abundant natural resources as global demand for critical minerals surged due to the need for more clean energy sources. 

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This, he said, included more infrastructure and technology investments that would allow the Philippines to process minerals domestically.

“And at the same time, it is imperative that we adopt mining practices that prioritize the environment, to ensure that our extraction processes are clean, efficient, and restore the land that has been mined. We must also foster innovation by driving research into new methods of mineral processing. Methods that reduce waste and energy consumption,” the President said. 

The Philippine leader also called for support towards the passage of the Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime, which he said was fundamental “to creating a fair and equitable mining environment.”

He said the DENR should “strengthen regulatory capabilities for all mining operations to ensure compliance with safety and environmental standards.” 

“Furthermore, we continue to refine and enhance our mining policies to reflect these priorities. We plan to boost local value addition through mineral processing, strengthen environmental safeguards, and ensure that communities are genuine beneficiaries of the wealth generated from mining operations,” Marcos Jr said.

“We want to see more investments in processing plants, creating more jobs and contributing more directly to local economies,” he continued.

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