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In solidarity with the Palawan indigenous peoples and local communities, in the Philippines, facing massive environmental degradation, in spite of the newly signed 50 years mining moratorium

Co-sign before Aug 15, 2025

TO: His Excellency, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines; Hon. Amy Roa Alvarez, Governor of Palawan; Hon. Members of the Provincial Government of Palawan; Atty. Teodoro Jose S. Matta PCSD Executive Director, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD); Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga DENR Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); Engr. Michael V. Cabalda MGB Assistant Secretary for Mining Concerns and Concurrent OI Director, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)
; Jennifer Pia Sibug-Las NCIP Chairperson, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); Atty. Jansen Jontilla NCIP Provincial officer, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); Audrey Azoulay UNESCO Director General

Over the past years, organizations and institutions have monitored, with much apprehension, the long sequence of environmental violations taking place in Palawan, a UNESCO declared Man and Biosphere Reserve, also known as the Philippines’ ‘Last Ecological Frontier’.

During almost three decades, the Philippine Government and the European Union have made considerable investments in the coastal plains, to stabilize agriculture, develop fruit and vegetables cultivations, promote the sustainable use of NTFPs, protect forests and mangrove strips. This boost was given through the various phases of the “Palawan Integrated Area Development Project” (PIADP) from 1982 to 1988, followed by the   “Strategic  Environmental Plan for Palawan" (1992-2002). In spite of all this, mining has been pushed aggressively on this pristine island, challenging the meaningful efforts achieved over the years. As result, concerned citizens and members of civil society from different nations have signed an international petition to Save Palawan’s Forests; this has now reached, almost, 69,000 online signatures.

Recently, the international community has applauded, with much satisfaction and excitement, to the passing of a 50 years mining moratorium in Palawan. However, after a careful perusal of the Provincial Government mining moratorium ordinance no. 3646 (Series of 2025), this initial enthusiasm has dropped, almost instantly. In fact, section 3 of the said ordinance, specifies that the moratorium will not apply to the extensions or renewal of existing mining permits or agreements that do not involve new areas. Moreover, it will allow existing mining operations to continue. This is to say that about eleven (11) already approved Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSAs) will be exempted from the moratorium.  Indeed, such mining permits, covering thousands of hectares of forestland and pristine ecosystems, also largely encroach on indigenous peoples’ territories, in various municipalities of Southern Palawan. 

We believe that the cumulative and adverse environmental impact of these mining operations will accelerate ecological degradation; this will add up to the environmental plundering, already perpetrated by existing companies such as Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation, Ipilan Nickel Corporation, Citinickel Mines and Development Corporation and Berong Nickel Corporation. Open-pit and strip mining for nickel results in the flattening of mountain tops, in the destruction of precious forest, in the production of vast amounts of tailings that contaminate fresh water sources and the sea. In less than a decade, those companies being exempted from the moratorium could obliterate the highly diverse landscape of southern Palawan, which is the only source of livelihood and cultural sustenance for hundreds of indigenous and rural communities. We are particularly alarmed by the threats that mining companies, such as those listed below, are posing to Palawan environmental sustainability and cultural integrity:

A) Citinickel Mines and Development Corporation.  The company is presently under a DENR suspension order, due to its violations of environmental legislation, silt spills into rivers, damages to lowlands farms and unpermitted tree felling. If ever such order is lifted, the company, in spite of the moratorium, could operate for another seven (7) years impoverishing, even further, the Pala’wan tribes of barangay Pulot and Narra (Municipality of Espanola).

B) Ipilan Nickel Corporation (INC). Its mining claim overlaps with the Mount Matalingahan Protected Landscape (Presidential Proclamation 1815 of June 23, 2009) and with the ancestral domain of Pala’wan tribal communities. The company has already felled more than 20 hectares of old-growth forest, causing the siltation of coastal areas and the drastic reduction of valuable fish stock. 

C) MacroAsia Mining Corporation and its partner, Calmia Nickel, Inc. The company’s mining tenement largely falls within the Mount Matalingahan Protected Landscape (MMPL) and the ancestral domain of isolated and vulnerable Pala’wan groups. The sites to be mined, harbor some of the oldest trees in the southern hemisphere and several endangered species listed by the World Conservation Union.

D) Lebach Mining Corporation (LEBACH). Its MPSA includes not only indigenous sustainably managed farms, but also residential areas, school grounds, places of worship and other locations of public interest. This is to say that if mining activities were allowed to initiate, local communities and resident populations would have to be relocated elsewhere. 

E) Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC).  The local government of Bataraza and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) have revised zoning regulation to create the established of a ‘Mineral Development Zone’ 1,000m above sea level, in the Bulanjao range.  As a result, RTNMC has been allowed to mine in previously designated protected areas (‘core’ and ‘restricted’ zone, according to the Environmentally Critical Areas Network -ECAN). Bulanjao is a biodiversity hotspot and a sacred mountain of the Pala’wan. Six (6) major rivers flow from this mountain, supplying water to lowland residents. Mining extraction at high elevations has already caused severe land erosion, river siltation, deep clefts on the roadside and crater-like excavations. 

These are just few examples disavowing the ‘sustainable mining’ paradigm. Undoubtedly, Palawan steep and rough morphology is incompatible with mining operations. More importantly, the Philippine Government has the duty to protect the rights of all people to a balanced and healthful ecology (1987 Constitution, art. 11), rather then despoiling the future of coming generations. 

Mining extraction in Palawan has been made possible by a dysfunctional State apparatus that has intentionally stamped on its own environmental legislation, undermining ecological sustainability, social equality and food sovereignty. Ironically, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), rather then protecting the remaining forest, is financing studies to determine the capacity of Palawan to absorb mining (https://pia.gov.ph/denr-funds-study-on-palawans-capacity-to-absorb-mining-operation/)

In support of the indigenous peoples, farmers and fisher folk of Palawan, us members of national and international organizations, the herein signee organizations call for the following demands to be taken very seriously:

  • For His Excellency, the President of the Philippines, to endorse a special proclamation, declaring Palawan a “no mining province” and an “agro-tourism zone”, as already requested by the Provincial Government of Palawan through resolution no. 20801, series of 2025;
  • For the Provincial Government of Palawan, to ensure that the newly created ‘Mining Moratorium Council’ will efficiently oversee the irresponsible conduct of existing mining companies; 
  • For the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to cancel all mining permits overlapping with biodiversity hot spots, such as the Mount Mantalingahan Protected Landscape (MMPL), as well as with natural forests, watersheds, mountain tops and the ancestral territory of indigenous communities; 
  • For the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to make existing mining companies accountable for the benching of environmental laws; 
  • For the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) to immediately refrain from amending protected ‘core’ and ‘restricted’ zones into ‘multiple use’ or ‘controlled use zones’, to accommodate mining. 
  • For the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), to speed up the processing of Certificates of Ancestral Domain Claims (CADTs), and implement the Indigenous Peoples’ Right Act (R.A. 8371), uncompromisingly;
  • For UNESCO to mobilize its diplomatic channels, so to ensure that the Philippine Government will safeguard local communities and prevent biodiversity loss within Palawan Man & Biosphere Reserve.

The Signee Organizations and Institutions

Co-signed by

  1. Aceh Wetland Forum, Indonesia
  2. Aid/Watch, Australia
  3. AJESH, Cameroon
  4. Alleanza friulana Domini collettivi, Italy
  5. Alyansa Tigil Mina, Philippines
  6. Ang Aroroy Ay Alagaan, Inc.-Philippines, Philippines
  7. Apel Green Aceh, Indonesia
  8. ARA, Germany
  9. Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, Philippines
  10. Asociación Internacional Unimos, Spain
  11. Association of Ethical Shareholders Germany, Germany
  12. Associazione Forumambientalista ODV, Italy
  13. ATM YOUTH/NASI, Philippines
  14. Balochistan Rural Support Program, Pakistan
  15. BAYAY SIBUYANON INC., Philippines
  16. Belantara Papua, Indonesia
  17. Biodiversity Best Television Network (BTN-TV), Zambia
  18. BLUE EARTH DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL, Philippines
  19. Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines, United Kingdom
  20. Carpus e.V., Germany
  21. Center for Empowerment and Resource Development, Inc., Philippines
  22. Central American Alliance on Mining, ACAFREMIN, El Salvador
  23. centre for spiritual ecology, India
  24. Civil Diplomacy Centre- North East Syria, Syria
  25. Coal Action Network, United Kingdom
  26. COALITION AGAINST LAND GRABBING (CALG), Philippines
  27. Colectivo de Geografía Crítica, Ecuador
  28. Colectivo Voces Ecológicas, Panama
  29. COMMITTEE OF BREEDERS AND FARMERS OF THE TERRITORY (CAAT), Italy
  30. Cpaw inc, Philippines
  31. Dana and Qadisiyah Local Community Cooperative-Jordan, Jordan
  32. Dhaatri, India
  33. Dhaatri Trust, India
  34. Disi women cooperative, Jordan
  35. Doomster in action, France
  36. Ecological Society of the Philippines, Philippines
  37. Égalité, Italy
  38. EJIDO SAN CRISANTO, Mexico
  39. Endorois Welfare Council, Kenya
  40. Environmental Legal Assistance Center, Inc. (ELAC), Philippines
  41. Fellowship for the Care of Creation Association Inc. (FCCAI), Philippines
  42. FIDEPE (Fondation Internationale pour le Développement l’Éducation l’Entreprenariat et la Protection de l’Environnement), Cameroon
  43. Forest Peoples Programme, United Kingdom
  44. Forum Ökologie & Papier, Germany
  45. FORUM PENJAGA HUTAN DAN SUNGAI HARIMAU PINING, Indonesia
  46. Fundación Ser Ambiente, Ecuador
  47. Global Justice Ecology Project, United States
  48. Global Witness, United Kingdom
  49. GRABE-BENIN, Benin
  50. GREEN BOOTS, Switzerland
  51. Green Of Borneo Kalimantan Utara, Indonesia
  52. GRII GUARDIANS BROTHERHOOD, Philippines
  53. ICCA Consortium, Switzerland
  54. Indigenous Amazigh Network AZUL, Morocco
  55. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), Denmark
  56. Investigación y Acción Biocultural, Anima Mundi, A.C., Mexico
  57. Iura Civium ad Bonum Naturae, Italy
  58. Jaringan Advokasi Tambang Sulawesi Tengah, Indonesia
  59. JPIC Kalimantan, Indonesia
  60. jumu’eha renda keruhu, Brazil
  61. Lanskap Kita Berkelanjutan, Bengkulu, Indonesia
  62. Ligue Guinéenne pour la Nature, Guinea
  63. Locally Managed Marine Area Network International Trust, Fiji
  64. London Mining Network, United Kingdom
  65. Mangrove Matters PH, Philippines
  66. Mother Nature Cambodia, Sri Lanka
  67. Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum, India
  68. Nagkakaisang Mga Tribu ng Palawan, Inc. (NATRIPAL), Philippines
  69. NATURAL JUSTICE, Senegal
  70. Northeast Env., Canada
  71. NTFP EP Philippines, Philippines
  72. One Billion Rising International Campaign, India
  73. Otros Mundos Chiapas, Mexico
  74. Palawan Biodiversity Conservation Advocates Inc., Philippines
  75. PanNature, Vietnam
  76. PAUL K. FEYERABEND FOUNDATION, Switzerland
  77. Pemerhati Lingkungan hidup Urai uni, Indonesia
  78. People and Plants International, United States
  79. Perkumpulan hijau, Indonesia
  80. philippinenbüro e.V., Germany
  81. Platform, United Kingdom
  82. PowerShift e.V., Germany
  83. Rainforest Fund, United States
  84. RECON Philippines Inc., Philippines
  85. RepaSur Global, Colombia
  86. Rettet den Regenwald - Schweiz, Switzerland
  87. Rettet den Regenwald/Rainforest Rescue, Germany
  88. Salva la Selva, Spain
  89. Samahan ng mga Palawano sa Amas Brooke’s Point (SPABP), Philippines
  90. SAMMACA, Philippines
  91. Satya Bumi, Indonesia
  92. Save Our Borneo, Indonesia
  93. Save Our Sperrins, United Kingdom
  94. SEEDS, Jordan
  95. SIBUYANON AGAINST MINING-SAM/ATM, Philippines
  96. Società italiana per la storia della fauna, Italy
  97. Stiftung Asienhaus, Germany
  98. Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), Philippines
  99. TFDP, Philippines
  100. THE ALLIANCE OF PASTORALISTS FROM AURUNCI AND CIOCIARIA, Italy
  101. THE BATAK FEDERATION, Philippines
  102. The Borneo Project, United States
  103. The Ecological Action Advocacy Foundation (TEAAF), Nigeria
  104. The Gaia Foundation, United Kingdom
  105. The Oakland Institute, United States
  106. Tima, Finland
  107. Timberwolf Consultants, United Kingdom
  108. Torre Flavia LTER Research Station, Italy
  109. Trend Asia, Indonesia
  110. Tuxa ta pame, Brazil
  111. UGNAYIN PH, Philippines
  112. UNIR en Haití, Haiti
  113. VAN GUJJAR TRIBAL YUVA SNGHTHAN, India
  114. WALHI North Sumatra, Indonesia
  115. WALHI PAPUA, Indonesia
  116. WEED - World Economy, Ecology, and Development e.V., Germany
  117. West Asia pastoralaist Network, Jordan
  118. World Rainforest Movement, Uruguay
  119. Yayasan Insan Hutan Indonesia (YIHUI), Indonesia
  120. Yayasan Pusaka Bentala Rakyat, Indonesia
  121. Yes to Life, No to Mining global solidarity network, Colombia
  122. ZooMap, Germany