A massive nickel stockpile looming over rice fields in Palawan highlights the environmental toll of the Philippines’ mining boom, prompting the local government to impose a 50-year moratorium on new mining permits.
Locals and advocates warn of vanishing wildlife, poisoned crops, and destructive floods tied to deforestation, while mining firms tout economic gains and infrastructure development.
Indigenous residents report lost livelihoods and token compensation, with some receiving as little as four kilos of rice as their share of mining profits.
Despite ongoing operations by companies like Ipilan and Rio Tuba, officials hope the moratorium will curb further damage, even as legal challenges loom.
Critics argue that “responsible mining” remains more slogan than reality in Palawan, the country’s last ecological frontier.
Source: PhilNews24 | July 9, 2025
