Environmental groups protest DENR over Nueva Vizcaya mining permit

Members of environmental group Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (KPNE), along with other progressive organizations, banged the gates of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City on Friday, 23 January 2026, protesting the agency’s decision to allow British-owned mining firm Woggle Corporation to operate in Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya. The protest came months after the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau granted Woggle Corporation an exploration permit in August 2025, covering areas believed to be rich in gold and copper deposits. Local residents have opposed the project, warning of the potential impact of mining activities on ecosystems, agricultural lands, and water systems. In response, community members have established a people’s barricade to prevent the entry of mining equipment into the area. KPNE said it is calling on the DENR to revoke Woggle Corporation’s exploration permit and immediately halt all mining-related activities in Dupax del Norte.