DEFEND THE DEFENDERS: OPPOSE THE MINING EXPLORATION IN PAO, KASIBU!
The Climate Change Network for Community-based Initiatives stands in solidarity with the
barricades erected by the indigenous anti-mining residents of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya in defense of its rich environment against the greed of international corporations that seek to siphon off its rich natural resources.
In June 2025, a permit was granted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to the Northern Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation (NLMRC) which covers over 4,456 hectares across Pao, Kakidugen, Pacquet, Dine, and Catarawan. Public clamor was swift and vocal with significant anti-mining personalities such as Bayombong Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao expressing his support for the barricade.
On May 10, 2026 he released a statement expressing support for the barricade and emphasized the need to strengthen the opposition against destructive mining. However, this would be met with state repression as a civil case was forwarded to Bishop Mangalinao for forcible entry, along with other members of the church and community, with a temporary restraining order (TRO) in relation to the writ of preliminary injunction.
In a series of demonstrations held in front of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), environmental groups laid bare the blatant cyclical exploitation of Nueva Vizcaya as a province rich with natural resources. According to local leaders, the pursuance of drilling operations threatens the livelihoods of community members and the environment.
The exploration permit also infringes upon the ancestral domain of the indigenous communities who have a genuine claim on the land stated in the exploration permit. Furthermore, the absence of a genuine free, prior, and informed consent exposes a pattern of deception from international corporations that exploit the sensibilities of local residents in the name of profit.
From Dupax del Norte to the wider struggle against mining, CCNCI vehemently condemns the broad exploitation of our natural resources at the hands of foreign corporations. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, as well as IBON Foundation, have found that the contribution of the mining sector to our overall gross domestic product is but a fraction of the destruction it causes to livelihood and the environment.
Despite overwhelming evidence pointing to the destruction of the mining sector, our government has set a trajectory for continued expansion of the mining sector. In fact two more mining permits were recently discovered to be in the process of approval. Exploration Permit Application (EPA) 000178-II which is applied for by Kalinga Mineral Resources corporation, covering over 8,748 hectares in Kayapa, Bambang, and Aritao.
On the other hand, EPA-000176-II covers the exploration of DML Mineral Resources Corporation across Aritao, Dupax del Sur, and Dupax del Norte which covers over 14,470 hectares. CCNCI calls for an end to this development aggression that is perpetuated by the MGB and DENR who have historically functioned in contrast to its mandate of environmental defense. Collusion between our government institutions and the interests of large-scale foreign mining corporations has opened the floodgates for a wide scale ecocide in the mountains of Nueva Vizcaya which stands to worsen the already grave situation of our climate crisis.
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