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World Day of Social Justice: Why Palawan’s 50-Year Mining Moratorium Still Matters (and what’s happening now)

Feb 19, 2026

Every 20th of February, the world marks World Day of Social Justice, a reminder that fairness isn’t an abstract concept, but about whether communities can keep their land, water, livelihoods, health, and dignity, for future generations to inherit a livable home.

Social justice means no sacrifice zones

Every 20th of February, the world marks World Day of Social Justice, a reminder that fairness isn’t an abstract concept, but about whether communities can keep their land, water, livelihoods, health, and dignity, for future generations to inherit a livable home.


In Palawan, social justice looks like protecting the island’s remaining forests because when ecosystems collapse, the first lives on the line are usually those who contributed the least to the damage: Indigenous Peoples, small farmers, fishers, and rural communities.


That’s why Palawan’s 50-year mining moratorium remains one of the clearest examples of “real social justice” in action: it prevents the island from being treated as a resource that’s only valuable when it’s being dug up.



Quick explainer: What is Palawan’s 50-year mining moratorium?

In March 2025, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed the Provincial Ordinance No. 3646 (Series of 2025), more commonly known to Palawenos and Palawenas as the 50-yr mining moratorium. It is a 50-year, extendable moratorium on the issuance of endorsements for small-scale and large-scale mining applications across Palawan.


An important nuance however is that the ordinance focuses on endorsements, which is a critical step often used to move mining applications forward through local processes. The moratorium covers endorsements for mining applications including exploration permits, mining agreements, and financial or technical assistance agreements.


Plainly, this means that:

  • New mining approvals (from 2025 and beyond) are paused by cutting off local endorsements needed for new applications.

  • The land uses that Palawan people depends on are protected: food systems, fisheries, community forestry, and nature-based livelihoods.


However, what it does NOT do:

It does not magically erase every mining problem overnight (existing operations and other permits still matter). The ordinance itself lists exceptions and situations it does not cover (e.g., certain renewals without new areas, specific quarrying, and other enumerated cases).



How we got here: a people-powered win (and why it mattered)

This ordinance did not happen overnight. It came from decades (since 2008) of organizing, policy work, and community resistance, which had been intensified in 2024–2025 through a broad coalition of faith-based groups, civil society, and local communities.


Key milestones included petitions and public pressure urging the Province to act, including reports of over 100,000 signatures supporting a mining moratorium.


The Provincial Government approved the measure on March 5, 2025, and it was signed on March 13, 2025. NTFP-EP Philippines partners and allies consistently raised this core truth: mining is not only an environmental issue, but also a justice issue.


As one Indigenous youth leader, Mamilmar Dubria, Jr. put it:

“When you kill the forest, you kill the Indigenous Peoples too.”


2026 reality check: the pressure did not disappear

The push for mining in Palawan continues because global demand for “transition minerals” (like nickel) is rising, and the Philippines is being positioned as a key supplier.

  • The Philippines is a major nickel producer, and national policy discussions continue to encourage mining growth and “critical minerals” development.

  • On February 4, 2026, the Philippines and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on critical minerals supply chains, signaling stronger geopolitical and market pressure around extraction.

  • Watchdogs have warned that critical-minerals deals can sideline local, rural, and Indigenous communities’ rights are centered as business interests are often prioritized.

 

Local update from Brooke’s Point, Palawan (Feb 2026):

Based on a report shared by our community partner network, the Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) Board did not endorse the mining applications of Ipilan Nickel Corporation and Calmia Mines for planned operations in Brooke’s Point, following a recent meeting this month. The report also noted concerns about impacts on Indigenous communities and a nearby elementary school, reiterating that the mayor previously stated there is no designated mineral zone in the municipality.


At the same time, public discussion and local political processes around mining proposals continue to surface, underscoring why vigilance is still necessary.



Why this moratorium remains critical, especially in a climate emergency

When the climate is unstable and ecosystems are stressed, forests become pillars for survival because they:

  • regulate water,

  • reduce disaster risk,

  • support food systems and livelihoods,

  • and buffer communities from climate shocks.


Protecting forests is not climate strategy, it’s core justice work.


Atty. Gerthie Mayo-Anda of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) has long emphasized that Palawan already has a strong legal framework through the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan (Republic Act 7611) and the ECAN zoning system, but enforcement and political continues to be a battleground.


“All natural forests are core zones,” said Atty Anda.


RA 7611 established the SEP as Palawan’s sustainable development framework, with ECAN zoning

meant to protect core ecological areas. She also offers the reminder serves as anchor for anyone doing long-haul environmental defense:

“Eternal vigilance is really very important,” Atty. Anda reiterates.

“We cannot be complacent, especially now with the climate crisis, heavy flooding has happened, and it will happen again, so its an opportunity now to spare more than 200,000 hectares of forests.”



What the moratorium means for NTFP-EP Philippines partner communities

For communities who stood up for the moratorium, it protects not just forests, but also:

  • ancestral domains and self-determination

  • community-led livelihoods (including non-timber forest products)

  • food and water security

  • futures of the next generations 


For many partners, the moratorium is breathing space to strengthen community enterprises, forest governance, and local conservation agreements without a constant threat of new extraction approvals moving quietly through.



What’s Next for Palawan? (2026 onward)

  1. Implementation strength : A moratorium works only if local decision-makers consistently uphold it, especially during leadership changes.

  2. Legal challenges and “workarounds” : The Supreme Court’s ruling striking down an Occidental Mindoro mining moratorium as a precedent in debates about LGU powers. This is exactly why Palawan’s unique SEP/ECAN governance framework (RA 7611) matters in the long game.

  3. High-pressure mining zones : Southern Palawan, including areas around Brooke’s Point, remains a flashpoint in permitting battles and community defense.


Bottom line

The Palawan 50-year Mining Moratorium is not just a one-time policy win, it is an ongoing social justice safeguard that protects communities and the beautiful island of Palawan from being forced to “trade” forests, water, and safety for short-term profit.


In an era of mounting ecological crises in our home planet, the most practical form of justice is protecting life-support systems, and that begins with where our breath comes from, the forests.



Sources:

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