PALAWAN -- Mining royalties have become a key source of funding for education, livelihood, infrastructure and cultural programs in Indigenous communities in southern Palawan, with local leaders saying the support has improved lives and expanded development opportunities.

Julhakim U. Godoy, president of IPDO BICAMM Inc., said royalty payments from mining operations have enabled communities to finance projects that directly benefit Indigenous Peoples.

"Through these royalties, we were able to fund education, livelihood, infrastructure and socio-cultural programs," Godoy said.

He added that the assistance has brought improvements that government resources alone had been unable to provide.

"It brought major changes to our lives that the government alone could not provide," he said.

The programs are being implemented alongside the operations of Ipilan Nickel Corporation, a subsidiary of Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc.

Resident Mine Manager Alex Arabis said the company remains fully compliant with environmental and regulatory requirements.

"We are 100 percent compliant. We are also working closely with our legal team, and we are aware that all permits and licenses issued by the national, provincial and local authorities are fully aligned with our operations," Arabis said.

He added that rice farmers were allowed to continue cultivating company-owned land, while 31 lobster farmers were relocated and compensated before construction began.

The company also said it conducts regular environmental monitoring.

Rochelle Buna, head of the Mine Environmental Protection and Enhancement Office, said monthly laboratory tests continue to show that surrounding water bodies comply with Department of Environment and Natural Resources standards.

"So far, laboratory results show that all parameters are within DENR standards. The water quality remains healthy," Buna said.

She added that fish populations are regularly monitored and that the company's lobster cage project serves as a biological indicator of water quality, with healthy lobsters already reaching harvest size.

Meanwhile, Palawan's mining industry posted a 36.4 percent increase in first-quarter revenues to ₱1.644 billion, driven by higher nickel shipments and stronger ore prices. Total shipments reached 550,632 wet metric tons, all of which were exported to China.