Governor Dennis Socrates’ key ally in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Board Member Maria Angela Sabando, has filed an ordinance in response to his request for a ban on new mining operations in Palawan, aiming to prevent the destruction of the province’s natural resources.
The proposed mining ban, highlighted during the September 3 State of the Province Address (SOPA), saw Governor Socrates urging the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to pass an ordinance temporarily suspending new applications from large-scale mining companies.
Sabando took the first step on Tuesday in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan by filing an ordinance that imposes a 25-year ban on new mining operations.
“Ang tanging mga bagong applications ng pagmimina ang ating tinututulan sapagkat iginagalang natin ang mga kasalukuyang minahan sa ating lugar. Siyam sila na may mga mining operations sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng Sur at wala tayong balak na madagdagan pa sila,” Sabando said.
Talks regarding the mining moratorium started in April 2024 at a Stakeholders’ Congress on mining, organized by Socrates’ leadership. During the event, 84.5% of participants from various sectors voiced their support for the proposed ban on new mining operations in Palawan.
Palawan is home to several nickel mining companies, including Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) in Bataraza, one of the largest ore mining firms in the country, along with its parent company Nickel Asia Corp., Ipilan Nickel Corporation in Brooke’s Point, and Citinickel Mines and Development Corp. in Narra.
Sabando explained that the ordinance provides an opportunity to pause, reassess, and establish a system that ensures economic progress without harming the environment.
“This 25-year moratorium gives us time to reflect, to rebuild, to create a framework where economic development no longer comes at the cost of the environment. This is not just about saying no to mining. This is about saying yes to a future,” she said.
