The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) called for reforms to address key challenges hindering the country’s progress in value-added mineral processing.
COMP chairman Michael Toledo, speaking during the “Digging Deeper: A Mining Policy Forum” in Mandaluyong City, said these challenges drove away mining investors and should be resolved to achieve the shared goal of the Marcos administration and the mining sector.
Toledo identified four primary challenges including long-term policy consistency, lengthy and complex approval processes, business continuity risks from local government units (LGUs) and communities and tax uncertainties.
“First, we must ensure long-term policy consistency by drafting a robust mining policy that clarifies the roles of national and local governments and specifies the approach to Indigenous community management,” Toledo said.
To streamline and expedite approval processes for mineral agreements, Toledo proposed simplifying application steps, eliminating redundancies and implementing clear-cut timelines in coordination with relevant government agencies.
He also recommended establishing an online register of pending applications.
Addressing business continuity risks from local ordinances, Toledo suggested clarifying the status of mining companies as government contractors and exporters, rationalizing LGU powers to issue mining prohibitions and empowering the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to identify and fix inconsistencies between national laws and local ordinances.
Toledo stressed the need to address uncertainties in tax policy and investment incentives by establishing a stable mining fiscal regime, including a financial stability clause in mineral agreements and appointing a senior government official dedicated to promoting mining investments.
The COMP said it presented these recommendations to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a meeting in Malacañang.
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