DMCI Mining subsidiary Berong Nickel Corporation (BNC) has signed a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) on August 8, 2025 for its Long Point property in Aborlan, Palawan.
Covering about 2,177.34 hectares, the MPSA grants BNC the exclusive right to explore, develop and utilize mineral resources within the contract area under the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. It has an initial term of 25 years, renewable for another 25 years, and will take effect upon registration with the MGB.
“The MPSA is not just about resource development. It’s about creating shared value with the people of Palawan through responsible mining,” said Tulsi Das C. Reyes, president of DMCI Mining Corporation.
“We will work closely with our host communities to ensure development goes hand in hand with environmental stewardship and inclusive growth, guided by the same standards that shaped our operations and ongoing rehabilitation of the Berong mine in Quezon,” Reyes added.
Since 2024, BNC has invested about ₱1 billion in the Long Point project for fleet expansion, port infrastructure, ongoing exploration activities and pre-operating costs.
The Long Point mine holds an Environmental Compliance Certificate for 1 million wet metric tons of annual production capacity, with operations targeted to start by the fourth quarter of 2025.
More than 1,000 jobs will be created under the project, with priority hiring for local Indigenous and nearby communities. Several candidates are already in the company’s Operators and Drivers Training Program to prepare them for full-time roles once operations begin.
BNC’s sustainability track record in Palawan includes its landmark mine rehabilitation program in Quezon—the first approved Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Plan (FMRDP) in the MIMAROPA region.
Now halfway through its six-year timeline, the program has rehabilitated more than 106 hectares, planted over 522,600 native seedlings and more than 1 million mangroves, and rescued and released nearly 1,700 sea turtles.
BNC operated the Quezon mine from 2006 until its full depletion in December 2021 and continued post-mining activities through 2023. Over its lifespan, the operation generated 1,634 direct and indirect jobs, produced 10.3 million WMT of nickel ore, and contributed ₱2.8 billion in mining duties, social development investments, royalties and taxes.
DMCI Mining Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of DMCI Holdings Inc., is an emerging nickel producer with key assets in Zambales and Palawan. It primarily exports nickel ore to China and other international markets. The company currently operates two mines in Santa Cruz, Zambales, and is actively developing new sites in Palawan, including the Long Point mine.
DMCI Mining holds a 74.80 percent effective stake in Berong Nickel Corporation, with the balance owned by Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation.
