The final day of Extractives Transparency Week 2025 gathered representatives from government, industry, civil society, and development partners for FORGE PH: The 2025 PH-EITI National Conference, held on November 28 at Sequoia Hotel Manila Bay. FORGE, which stands for Fostering Open and Responsible Governance of the Extractives, is PH-EITI’s annual platform for collective reflection, learning, and sector-wide alignment. This year’s conference brought ETW to a close with renewed commitments, recognition of outstanding reporting performance, and a milestone international announcement.

The conference opened with the Renewal of Commitment to EITI Implementation, led by the PH-EITI Multi-stakeholder Group (MSG). MSG members invited all extractive stakeholders in the room to stand and publicly reaffirm their commitment to the principles and responsibilities of EITI implementation. Participants pledged to uphold transparency and accountability, ensure the timely and accurate reporting of EITI-required data, disseminate PH-EITI findings within their institutions and to the wider public, and sustain constructive engagement across sectors. The recommitment highlighted the shared understanding that effective EITI implementation strengthens natural resource governance and supports sustainable development.

A major highlight of the conference followed when Rt. Hon. Helen Clark, Chair of the EITI Board, formally announced that the Philippines will host the 2026 EITI Global Conference. This will be the first time the global summit is held in Asia. The announcement was met with enthusiasm, recognizing the Philippines’ growing leadership in the transparency community and affirming expectations for stronger collaboration in the years ahead.

Participants were then presented with the preliminary findings of the FY 2023 to 2024 PH-EITI Country Report, which is currently being finalized for release in December 2025. The initial data provided an overview of revenue flows, reporting compliance, and sector trends. Once completed, the full report will inform policy discussions and strengthen evidence-based decision-making across constituencies.

Members of the PH-EITI MSG followed with constituency updates from their meetings earlier in the week. Director Ricardo Bobis of the Bureau of Local Government Finance shared outcomes from the government constituency, focusing on revenue management challenges, capacity needs, and data harmonization. From the industry constituency, Atty. Francis Ballesteros of Philex Mining Corporation and Atty. Jose Ma. Emmanuel Caral of Prime Energy Resources Development presented industry priorities that include enhanced reporting compliance, strengthened beneficial ownership disclosure, and continued engagement with host communities. Ms. Beverly Besmanos of Bantay Kita presented the civil society constituency’s recommendations, which emphasized community voices, protection of civic space, and accountability in transition mineral supply chains.

In his closing remarks, Assistant Secretary Agustus Cesar Navarro of the Department of Energy reflected on the achievements and conversations that shaped Extractives Transparency Week. He expressed appreciation for the active participation of all sectors and emphasized that the upcoming EITI Global Conference in 2026 places a renewed responsibility on the Philippines to advance reforms and present a strong model for transparency and responsible governance.