Stakeholders explore climate action, local governance, Indigenous rights and decent work at ETW’s Mined and Refined
By: Albert San Diego
Manila, Philippines | December 8, 2025
Day 3 of Extractives Transparency Week 2025, held on November 27, gathered representatives from government, industry, and civil society for Mined and Refined, a full-day program that provided a comprehensive look at the most pressing governance issues facing the extractive sector. Designed to connect technical, social, and policy discussions in a single learning journey, Mined and Refined guided participants through four major themes: climate action and the energy transition, transparency at the local level, Indigenous Peoples and benefit sharing, and decent work in mining. The format encouraged dialogue, reflection, and shared analysis across constituencies, allowing participants to explore how these issues converge in real-world extractive governance.
Climate action and the energy transition
The first session focused on the extractive sector’s role in advancing a just and responsible energy transition. PH-EITI consultant Malene Skensved presented findings from PH-EITI’s scoping study, which examined how Philippine copper, nickel, and chromite contribute to global transition mineral supply chains. She explained that these minerals enter markets where mandatory environmental and human rights due diligence requirements are becoming standard, including regulations in the European Union and heightened expectations in major Asian economies. She emphasized that aligning Philippine operations with these evolving standards is essential for competitiveness and for safeguarding the welfare of workers and communities.
Atty. Pochoy Labog of the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre explained how supply chain transparency supports responsible business conduct. Drawing on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, he noted that access to data enables the identification of risks, the elevation of community concerns, and the formulation of effective responses by companies.
From the Commission on Human Rights, Atty. Reinna Bermudez discussed the social and human rights implications of the energy transition. She stressed that a cleaner energy system must still protect vulnerable groups, uphold free, prior, and informed consent, and ensure that harms are prevented or remedied.
The panel discussion that followed highlighted practical steps companies can already take, including emissions reduction, stronger environmental compliance, and improved human rights due diligence across supply chains.
In this photo: Resource speakers during the panel discussion of the climate action and energy transition session
Localizing transparency and strengthening subnational governance
The second session turned to transparency at the local level, where extractive activities are most visible and where their impacts are deeply felt.
Beverly Besmanos of Bantay Kita shared insights from PH-EITI’s subnationalization work. She explained that LGUs and communities want clearer data, more accessible information on monitoring processes, and structured spaces for dialogue. These priorities are informing the development of a subnational EITI framework that favors long-term local ownership and collaboration.
Mayor Annaliza Kwan of Guiuan, Eastern Samar described how the municipality navigated delays in national wealth shares and limited access to regulatory data. She shared that Guiuan was able to secure fifty-three million pesos in excise tax shares through coordinated efforts with national agencies, which provided a tangible example of how transparency can lead to better outcomes for communities.
Sarah Hayton from EITI International shared lessons from Peru’s regional EITI structures. These examples showed how local multi-stakeholder groups and transparency studies clarify revenue flows and strengthen citizen engagement.
Panelists from government and civil society emphasized that timely and relevant data is a key requirement for effective local governance, although uneven capacity, limited digital infrastructure, and resource constraints pose continuing challenges.
In this photo: Panelist discussing how localizing transparency strengthen subnational governance
Indigenous Peoples and benefit sharing
The third session focused on Indigenous Peoples whose lands and communities often host extractive projects.
Atty. Arthur Herman of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) provided an overview of the status of Indigenous Peoples’ royalty payments. He highlighted that royalties are recognized rights tied to ancestral domains, yet communities often face delays and administrative barriers that restrict their ability to use these funds for self-determined development.
Pascual A. Patting Jr., also from NCIP, explained the importance of genuine free, prior and informed consent. He noted that FPIC is a culturally rooted process that requires continuous engagement and should not be reduced to procedural checklists.
Jeanira Okubo of the Baguio-Benguet Chapter of Pilipina Inc. joined the panel discussion, which emphasized the need for inclusive partnerships that recognize Indigenous communities as equal stakeholders. Participants agreed that extractive governance must reflect the cultural, historical, and social ties that Indigenous Peoples have with their lands.
In this photo: panelist highlights Indigenous Peoples’ rights and the need for just and inclusive benefit-sharing during the discussion.
Promoting decent work in the mining sector
The final session addressed labor conditions in mining and the broader challenge of promoting safe and dignified work.
Camila Pereira Rego Meireles of the International Labour Organization outlined the ILO’s approach to critical minerals. She stressed the importance of the four pillars of the decent work agenda: employment creation, rights at work, social protection, and social dialogue.
Director Ricardo Bobis of the Bureau of Local Government Finance introduced the concept of the wealth and work paradox. He noted that although the mining industry contributes substantial revenues to the economy, it accounts for less than one percent of national employment. This imbalance underscores the need to ensure that the jobs created in the sector are of the highest quality.
The panel discussion, which included representatives from DOLE, industry, labor groups, and civil society, examined issues such as occupational safety, job security, collective bargaining, and social protection. Speakers noted that transparency must extend beyond fiscal data to include information on working conditions and labor rights.
A connected view of extractive governance
The discussions throughout the sessions of Mined and Refined illustrated how climate action, local governance, Indigenous rights, and decent work are closely linked. Participants recognized that progress in one area often depends on improvements in the others. The exchanges provided insights that will inform PH-EITI’s ongoing work, from just transition efforts and subnational EITI pilots to engagement with Indigenous communities and labor dialogue. The conversations also reinforced a shared commitment to ensure that the management of the country’s natural resources remains transparent, inclusive, and grounded in respect for people and communities.
A government-led, multi-stakeholder initiative implementing EITI, the global standard that promotes the open, accountable management, and good governance of oil, gas, and mineral resources. PH-EITI was created on 26 November 2013 through EO No. 147, s. of 2013. It is a government commitment first announced through EO No. 79, s. of 2012.
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In the photo: Atty. Daniel Luis Macalino of the SEC opens the session with an overview of the DOF–SEC Data Sharing Agreement (DSA).