The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) is leading the government’s latest push to make the mining sector faster, more transparent, and more accountable through digital innovation and policy reform.
At the 9th meeting of the inter-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) on Responsible Mining held on Octorber 21, 2025 at the ARTA Innovation Hub in Quezon City, members finalized the draft Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC)—a landmark policy aimed at streamlining mining processes and strengthening transparency across government agencies.
Undersecretary for Operations Lea-Grace B. Salcedo presided over the meeting on behalf of ARTA Secretary and TWG Co-Chair Ernesto V. Perez. The TWG, created under the Memorandum of Understanding on Responsible Mining, includes representatives from key national agencies and industry stakeholders.
One of the most notable provisions in the draft JMC is the “automatic approval” mechanism, where applications unacted upon within the prescribed period will be deemed approved—ensuring faster turnaround times and discouraging bureaucratic delay.
The group also confirmed plans to launch the Electronic-Mining One Stop Shop (e-MOSS), a digital transparency platform that will allow investors, regulators, and the public to track the real-time status of mining permits and applications. The system is expected to improve accountability and minimize red tape in mining-related transactions.
The TWG also agreed to include a Conflict Resolution Protocol within the JMC to address inter-agency concerns swiftly and enhance coordination between regulatory bodies.
“Through this JMC, the government is sending a strong message—responsible mining must also mean efficient, transparent, and accountable mining,” said an ARTA representative during the session.
The meeting also featured a presentation by Professor Ronilo M. Balbieran, Vice President for Research, Education, and Institutional Development at the REID Foundation, Inc., who discussed the Philippine Nickel Industry Roadmap 2025–2028. The roadmap outlines strategies to align the JMC with the country’s long-term goals for the critical minerals sector, especially nickel.
A new member, the Philippine Mining and Exploration Association (PMEA), represented by President Joey Nelson R. Ayson, was officially welcomed into the TWG.
Representatives from several agencies and industry bodies were in attendance, including the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Trade and Industry–Board of Investments (DTI-BOI), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP), and the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA).
The TWG concluded the meeting with a consensus to adopt and integrate the latest revisions into the final version of the JMC for endorsement to the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) and other partner agencies.
Once approved, the JMC is expected to pave the way for a more transparent, technology-driven, and investor-friendly mining industry that balances economic growth with environmental and social responsibility.
