To coincide with the implementation of the Enhanced Mining Fiscal Regime and new beneficial‑ownership disclosure requirements, Bantay Kita, in partnership with the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH‑EITI) and Open Ownership, organised a two‑hour national webinar for civil society on 10 September 2025. Supported by the Opening Extractives programme, the event aimed to equip civil society organisations (CSOs), academics, and advocates with a deeper understanding of why beneficial ownership (BO) matters in fighting corruption, illicit financial flows, and conflicts of interest in the extractive sector.

The Philippines recently exited the Financial Action Task Force “grey list” through reforms that strengthened beneficial‑ownership frameworks. PH‑EITI maintains a public beneficial‑ownership registry, and under the Enhanced Mining Fiscal Regime, large‑scale mining companies must disclose their beneficial owners. The webinar came at a pivotal moment to mobilise civil society in using BO data to hold companies and government accountable.

PH‑EITI National Coordinator Mary Ann Rodolfo opened the webinar by stressing that transparency is a tool for justice and sustainable development rather than an end in itself. She noted that the Philippines’ progress on financial‑integrity reforms, including the Data Sharing Agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Enhanced Mining Fiscal Regime, demonstrates national commitment to embedding BO transparency in governance. Rodolfo reminded participants that BO data only has impact when civil society uses it for monitoring and advocacy.

Atty. Emily Manuel of Open Ownership framed BO transparency in the global anti‑corruption movement. She cited a World Bank study showing that about 70 % of grand corruption cases from recent decades involve anonymously owned companies. Hidden ownership structures allow corrupt actors to conceal their identities, evade taxes, and launder funds. Manuel explained that BO registers reveal the real, human owners behind corporate vehicles and enable authorities to fight tax evasion, recover stolen assets, and level the playing field for honest investors. She emphasised that more than 130 countries are now committed to implementing BO reforms.

Sarah Hayton from the EITI International Secretariat focused on how anonymous ownership undermines extractive sector governance. Beneficial owners of oil, gas, and mining companies are often hidden behind chains of shell companies. Such anonymity deters responsible investment and contributes to an estimated US $1 trillion in losses for developing countries due to corrupt or illegal deals. Hayton noted that publishing BO details can close channels for corruption, enable effective taxation, build fairer markets, and encourage responsible investment. The EITI Standard requires implementing countries to maintain a public BO register for extractive companies and to disclose politically exposed persons (PEPs). Hayton urged Filipino CSOs to use BO data to identify red flags, monitor procurement, and hold companies accountable.

Amiel C. De Guzman, PH‑EITI Data Governance and Reporting Manager, provided updates on the national BO landscape. He recounted the country’s deliberate journey towards BO transparency: the Multi‑Stakeholder Group (MSG) approved a roadmap in 2016; pilot disclosures were conducted in 2018; and the public PH‑EITI BO Registry was launched in 2021. In September 2025, PH‑EITI achieved two major milestones: a Data Sharing Agreement with the SEC that allows PH‑EITI to access corporate filings and ownership records, and the passage of the Enhanced Mining Fiscal Regime (Republic Act 12253). The new law establishes a margin‑based royalty on mining income, introduces a windfall profits tax, and requires public disclosure of mining data. De Guzman explained that BO transparency unmasks the “ghost in the machine,” turning corporate logos into accountable human owners, and emphasised that publicly accessible registers and consent to publish are essential.

Jaybee Garganera, National Coordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), shared findings from CSO research on the beneficial ownership of mining companies. ATM’s investigation found that politicians and political families often hold stakes in mining firms through layers of corporate entities. Garganera argued that this entanglement perpetuates regulatory capture, where policymakers weaken environmental regulations to protect their own economic interests. He called for stronger BO data use to expose conflicts of interest and dismantle political dynasties that profit from extraction at the expense of communities.

Professor Karol Ilagan of the University of the Philippines, a former editor-at-large for the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, discussed how journalists use BO data to trace ownership chains and uncover high‑level corruption. She noted that journalists cross‑reference public BO registers, leaked documents, and campaign finance records to identify conflicts of interest and unexplained wealth. Ilagan stressed that lack of access and verification challenges remain, but improved BO data can empower media and researchers to expose hidden interests.

During the open forum, participants questioned how CSOs could verify the accuracy of the BO register and ensure that data becomes accessible under the new law. Speakers acknowledged that voluntary disclosure has limitations and that CSO feedback mechanisms are needed to flag inaccuracies. They explained that the SEC–PH‑EITI Data Sharing Agreement and the Enhanced Mining Fiscal Regime mark a transition to a more robust legal framework, but civil society must play an active role in verifying data and advocating for enforcement. Panellists reiterated that publishing accurate BO information helps close corruption channels and that CSOs, journalists, and researchers are vital in using data for oversight.

Beverly Besmanos, National Coordinator of Bantay Kita and a member of the PH-EITI Multistakeholder Group (MSG), closed the webinar by urging CSOs to integrate BO data into their campaigns and monitoring work. She reminded participants that transparency must translate into action, and data alone cannot change governance unless civil society uses it to demand accountability.