Benguet board rejects mining project

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The Benguet Provincial Board reaffirmed its stand against the mining exploration project of Crescent Mining and Development Corporation (CMDC) in Mankayan, Benguet, citing unresolved legal questions regarding the renewal of the company's mining agreement.

Company officials appeared before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to maintain that the project complies with all existing laws and holds the necessary government permits and approvals. Provincial lawmakers, however, stated that Resolution No. 2025-0290, unanimously approved in November last year, remains in effect.

The resolution requests that the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in the Cordillera Region withdraw the conditional certification issued for the project.

The board argues that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) renewed the company's Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) in March 2022 before the completion of the mandatory Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process and before the issuance of the required certification under the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (IPRA).

The board supported its stance by citing a Supreme Court ruling that established that the consent of indigenous communities must be secured before mining permits are issued or renewed. According to the provincial board, subsequent certifications cannot replace these mandatory legal requirements. Board members noted that neither the NCIP nor the MGB has formally answered the legal issues raised in the resolution.

The project continues to face opposition from local residents and stakeholders in Mankayan. Several indigenous elders and landowners have withdrawn their support for the exploration activities, even after courts ordered the removal of physical barricades set up against the company.

The provincial board stated that it will maintain its current position until national regulatory agencies formally address the validity of the renewed mining agreement.