A faith-based organization in the Philippines lambasted the decision of the government’s Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) to fund a loan agreement supporting a gold and copper mining project in Kalinga province. 

The Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) described the move as “blatant and incomprehensible,” arguing that it contradicts the stated purpose of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) to drive sustainable economic development.

PMPI raised concerns over the allocation of public funds to the mining sector, which it described as “one of the most environmentally and socially destructive industries on the planet and the least contributor to employment and revenues.” 

The group asserted that the funds for the MIC investment were sourced from taxpayers and should be directed toward initiatives that genuinely promote national welfare. 

“In essence, hard-earned Filipino taxpayers’ money seems to fund social and environmental exploitation,” PMPI said in a statement. 

The organization also highlighted the long-standing issue of mining operations bypassing the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) process required from Indigenous communities. 

It warned that mining activities have led to “monumental destruction of the ecosystems and biodiversity and causing rampant large-scale forced land acquisitions all over the country.”

The agreement between MIC and Makilala Mining Company, PMPI argued, contradicts national environmental goals, particularly the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) target to “increase tree cover by an additional 3 million hectares by 2028.” 

The organization noted that “whenever large-scale mining operations are conducted, thousands of old-grown trees are cut down to pave the way for their operation, reducing our capacity to trap carbons.” 

PMPI warned that soil extraction releases methane, a greenhouse gas “28 times more potent than carbon,” further exacerbating climate change.

Citing research on the impact of large-scale mining, PMPI emphasized the severe ecological and social consequences of extractive industries. 

It pointed to the 2022 Global Witness Report, which found that “11 out of 16 killings in Asia happened in the country, making us one of the deadliest countries for Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs).”

“We are calling on the Maharlika Investment Corporation to withdraw its support for destructive large-scale mining projects and urging the government to uphold its commitment to environmental protection, Indigenous rights, and genuine sustainable development,” the group said.