Evolving from the quest for a unified national minerals policy through a process of nationwide stakeholder consultation and engagement, The National Policy Agenda on Revitalizing Mining in the Philippines was signed by the President through Executive Order No. 270 in January, 2004 signifying Government’s full support for responsible mining. The objective of the order is to promote responsible mineral resources exploration, development and utilization in order to enhance economic growth, in a manner that adheres to the principles of sustainable development and with due regard for justice and equity, sensitivity to the culture of the Filipino people and respect for Philippine sovereignty.

1. Guiding Principles

The order underscored several principles that will guide the pursuit of the objective. These principles are summarized as follows:

Recognize the critical role of investments in the minerals industry
Institute clear, stable and predictable investment and regulatory policies
Pursue value adding of minerals and mineral products
Recognize and legalize small scale mining sector
Adopt efficient technologies in extraction and utilization of minerals
Integrate environmental protection, mitigation and progressive rehabilitation in mining operations
Safeguard the ecological integrity of areas affected by mining including biodiversity and small-island ecosystems
Pursue mining within the framework of multiple land use and sustainable utilization of minerals
Remediate and rehabilitate abandoned mines
Ensure equitable sharing of economic and social benefits from mining
Enhance public awareness and respect for the rights of communities
Institutionalize continuous and meaningful consultation process with industry and all other stakeholders

2. Mineral Action Plan

In order to provide guidelines for all concerned agencies on how the guiding principles will be implemented, the DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau and other government agencies formulated a Mineral Action Plan (MAP) in compliance with Executive Order No. 270. The MAP contains the important issues to be addressed, the strategies adopted, the activities to be undertaken, the implementing agency and the timetable of its implementation. The major implementing agencies include, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of Finance (DOF), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and their respective bureaus and attached agencies. It also includes the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). Leagues of Local Governments, civil society and the academe’. A copy of the detailed MAP is published in the MGB website.