KATRIBU, an Indigenous Peoples’ organization, has issued a powerful statement calling for the repeal of the 1995 Philippine Mining Act (PMA). For three decades, the PMA has been criticized for enabling large-scale land theft, environmental destruction, and the displacement of Indigenous Peoples, all under the guise of economic development. The act has enriched foreign corporations while devastating local communities and ecosystems.
Over 305 mining permits currently cover more than 650,000 hectares of land, many of which overlap with Indigenous territories. This has led to violent land grabs, environmental degradation, and the erasure of Indigenous cultures and ways of life. Indigenous communities from Palawan, Cordillera, and Mindanao continue to resist the exploitation of their ancestral domains. Notable examples include the Palaw’an against Citinickel’s Pulot Sofronio Mine, the Cordillerans against Apex Mining’s Itogon-Suyoc Resources and the Didipio Gold and Copper Mine, and the B’laan against the Tampakan Copper-Gold Project. The Mangyan people also face the negative impacts of coal mining operations by Agusan Petroleum Mining Corp. and Intex Resources.
KATRIBU has accused the Philippine government and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) of manipulating the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes to push through destructive mining projects. FPIC is a fundamental right that expresses Indigenous Peoples’ self-determination and authority over their ancestral lands. However, fake consent is often manufactured through deception, coercion, and bribery, stripping Indigenous communities of their rightful power to decide their future. Those who resist are branded as “terrorists” and face trumped-up charges of rebellion.
The state has also been accused of bombing and militarizing Indigenous communities to ensure mining and energy projects proceed unchallenged. These actions are seen as blatant violations of Indigenous Peoples’ rights and international humanitarian law. Since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office, at least eleven aerial bombings have been reported in Indigenous territories. Recent incidents include the aerial strafing of Barangay Tagumpay, Pola, Oriental Mindoro, followed by forced evacuations by the military.
KATRIBU calls for the PMA to be abolished and replaced with the People’s Mining Bill, which aims to ensure mining contributes to genuine national industrialization, benefits the Filipino people, and safeguards the environment and communities. As the 2025 midterm elections approach, KATRIBU urges the public to elect leaders who will stand against destructive mining, uphold ancestral land rights, and champion policies that protect the environment and advance national industrialization. The fight for Indigenous rights, culture, and peace based on justice continues.#
