For a wonderful start of the year, Philippine Mining and Exploration Association Monthly Membership Meeting focused on sustainable industrial solutions and advanced exploration technology, featuring speakers Michael Maglipon (President) from GFRP Philippines and Joven Brett Pacyaya (Asst. Manager, Geology) from Cordillera Exploration Co., Inc. The meeting was held on February 2, 2026.
PMEA President, Joey Nelson Ayson, reported the Industry Updates and PMEA Matters.
The bar sponsored for the evening was GFRP Philippines Manufacturing Corporation.
PMEA Matters
As of January 31, 2026, PMEA members updates include 15 Regular; 61 Associate; 31 Individual; and 15 Honorary.
DENR-MGB and other updates
STAFF MOVEMENTS
▪ AD Ted Sandoval retirement on Jan. 09, 2026
▪ Marcial Mateo currently OIC AD
▹OFFICE HOURS: Effective January 2026: 7AM to 7PM, Monday to Thursday work only
▪ The 2026 Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA) will cover the period January – December 2025. Nomination period has now been opened. Deadline for submitting endorsed nominations to MGB CO is on March 27, 2026.
Proposed Laws, Guidelines, Regulations
▪ HB 5761 - An Act Recognizing the Declaration of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples of Conserved Territories and Areas Within Their Ancestral Domains, Acknowledging Their Contribution to Biodiversity Conservation and Protection, Establishing for The Purpose the National Indigenous and Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCA) Registry, Appropriating Funds Therefor and Other Purposes
- Introduced by Leila de Lima
- ICCAs are considered environmentally critical areas
- No resource development / extraction
▪ SB 1399 - An Act Recognizing the Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCA), Establishing for The Purpose the National ICCA Registry, And Appropriating Funds Therefor
- Introduced by Risa Hontiveros
- ICCAs are considered environmentally critical areas
- No resource development / extraction
▪ SB 1584 – An Act Amending Republic Act 8371 Otherwise Known as The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act Of 1997
- Introduced by Robinhood Padilla (Dec. 09, 2025)
- Insertion of Section 57-A; Entitling IPs/ICCs to a share of not less than 5% of the total gross revenue or total output generated from the extraction, exploitation, development or utilization of natural resources, including but not limited to natural gas, mineral and energy projects found within the territories covered by an ancestral domain or within areas held under a native title in their favor
METALLIC PRODUCTION Jan - Sept 2025 (From MGB)
▪ PhP 219.74B (2025) vs PhP 191.42B (2024): 14.8% increase
▪ Au (54.4%); Ni (35.8%); Cu (9.2%); Cr/Fe (0.6%)
METALLIC PRODUCTION Jan - Sept 2025 Top Producer
GOLD
1. PGPRC – 4,561 kgs
2. AMCI – 2,004 kgs
3. OGPI – 1,960 kgs
4. FCF – 1,559 kgs
5. TVI Balabag – 1,070 / TVI Siana – 911 kgs
BSP Purchases – 5,292 kgs. (Excluding purchases from BC, OGPI and Hexat)
SILVER
1. TVI Balabag – 15,226 kgs
2. AMCI – 8,382 kgs
3. OGPI – 4,059 kgs
4. PGPRC – 3,720 kgs
5. LCMC – 1,206 kgs
COPPER
1. CCC – 102,056 DMT
2. OGPI – 48,139 DMT
3. PMC – 34,564 DMT
NICKEL DSO
1. TMC – 5,161,136 DMT
2. CTP Adlay – 2,395,713 DMT
3. RTNM – 2,390,733 DMT
4. CNC/CTP – 1,959,140 DMT
5. Nickelace/Global Min-Met Resources – 1,848,905 DMT
INDUSTRY UPDATES - Company News
Didipio Mine (OGPI)
- OceanaGold (Philippines) now trading at OTCQX® Best Market in the US
- Q3 2025 production of 21.9 kozAu and 3.1kt Cu (vs Q3 2024 27.9 kozAu and 3.4 kt Cu)
- 8-hole drilling program completed at Mayag (SDN)
Metals Exploration / FCF Minerals / Yamang Minerals / Woogle Corporation
- Runruno Q4 2025 production of 15,156 oz Au (vs Q4 2024 of 18,829 oz Au)
- Local community access issues in Dupax; drilling indicates target zone to be significantly deeper than predicted
- Ongoing FPIC in Abra
Filminera Resources (B2 Gold)
- Q3 2025 production of 49,519 oz Au
- Mill feed of 0.88 g/t Au with average recovery of 80%
- 7 consecutive years of No LTI
Apex Mining / ISRI
- PhP 2.15B net income in Q3 2025 (vs PhP 1.31B in Q3 2024)
- Q3 2025 production of 27,316 oz Au and 92,969 oz Ag (vs Q3 2024 of 25,112 oz Au and 80,331 oz Ag)
- DMPF for MPSA 234-2007-XI submitted in October 2025
- Undergoing FPIC for AFTA-014-XI (Asia Alliance / North Davao)
TVIRD Balabag
- Delivered 40 shipments in 2025 to direct markets in Asia and Europe (42,000 oz Au and 638,000 oz Ag)
- Exploration ongoing to extend LOM
TVIRD Greenstone (Siana)
- Delivered 34 shipments in 2025 to direct markets in Asia and Europe (42,000 oz Au and 27,000 oz Ag)
- TSF 6 Raise Up Stage 1 at 79% completion
- Additional prospects identified at Mapawa and drilling ongoing
TVIRD Mabilo
- Ongoing land acquisition
- Pre-development works
TVIRD Kingking
- Technical team build-up ongoing
- Undergoing resource confirmation and geotechnical drilling
GFNI / PGMC
- Resignation of Joseph Sy as Director
- PhP 902.1M net income in Q3 2025 (vs PhP 293.5M in Q3 2024)
- First shipment of 2026 for Ipilan Nickel; targeting production of 1.5M WMT in 2026
Philex Mining
- PhP 344M net income in Q3 2025 (6,682 oz Au and 4.92Mlbs Cu)
- Structural support failure in the mill resulting to significant reduction in capacity
- Issues with surface claimants at Clifton Project have been resolved
- Silangan (Sta. Barbara 1) target start March 2026 with 66,000 tons stockpile from mine development
Makilala Mining / Celsius Resources
- Retirement of Chair Julito Sarmiento
- Maiden JORC compliant ORE for MCB – 130.2Mt @ 0.66% Cu and 0.21 g/t Au (containing 856kt Cu & 891koz Au)
- DFS completed for a 35 year mine life; first 10 years to mine high grade zone
- Mining method – Transverse Sublevel Open Stoping
- US$ 7.5M drawn from US$ 10M first tranche from Maharlika Investment
Macroasia Mining Corp.
- DMPF approval for the Infanta Nickel Project in Palawan
- Calmia Nickel as operator and will spend $12.9 M to develop the project
Lepanto Consolidated
- PhP 407.77M net income in Q3 2025 (vs PhP 71.96M in Q3 2024)
- Q3 2025 production: 5,496 oz Au and 15,251 oz Ag (vs Q3 2024 of 5,038 oz Au and 11,653 oz Ag)
- Ongoing FPIC activities in Mankayan
Nickel Asia Corporation
- Jan-Sept 2025 Consolidated net income of PhP 5.19B (vs PhP 2.55B in Q3 2024)
- 13.89 WMT of Ni ore sold in the 9-month period
Benguet Corporation
- AGP Q3 2025 net income of PhP 345M (vs PhP 252.3M in Q3 2024)- AGP Q3 2025 production of 1,742 oz Au (vs 1,738 oz Au in Q3 2024)
- AGP mining below Level 2000 being planned
- Pantingan (Bataan): ongoing drilling to test shallow epithermal vein
Cordillera Exploration Company Inc. (CExCI)
- Completed 10,800m of drilling at its Cordon Project (34 drillholes)
- Extensive geophysical coverage – approx. 1,100-line km of radiometric and 525-line km of magnetic surveys
- Exploration targets in Batangas, Bicol and Eastern Mindanao
Atlas Consolidated Mining & Development Corporation / Carmen Copper
- PhP 871.5 M net income in Q3 2025 (vs net loss PhP 939.3 M in Q3 2024)
- 500th concentrate shipment in November 2025
Domininion Holdings
- Being acquired by Monte Sur from BDO Holdings
- To be dedicated to mining operations
Maharlika Investment Corporation
- Eyeing investments in energy, logistics, agriculture, and mining in 2026
- Mining strategy centered on responsible extraction and domestic processing
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Photo credit: Marcelle P. Villegas
