The Philippines highlighted its strategy for developing a sustainable and investment-friendly critical minerals sector during the OECD Critical Minerals Forum held on April 28–29 at the OECD Istanbul Center.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) joined the Philippine delegation at the forum, which brought together OECD members, partner countries, private sector representatives, and civil society groups to discuss resilient critical mineral supply chains amid rising global demand driven by the energy transition and digitalization.
Representing the Philippines were Philippine Ambassador to Türkiye Jaime Ramon Ascalon Jr., Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, DENR Assistant Secretary Michael V. Cabalda, MGB Supervising Geologist Anne Karla M. Navarro, and Philippine Trade and Investment Center Commercial Counsellor Katrina Banzon.
The forum focused on opportunities and challenges surrounding the development of secure and sustainable supply chains for critical minerals, which are increasingly viewed as essential to clean energy technologies, electric vehicles, and digital infrastructure.
Discussions also emphasized the importance of partnerships among governments, businesses, civil society organizations, local communities, and international stakeholders in ensuring responsible critical minerals development and strengthening supply chain resilience.
Participants noted that global mineral markets are increasingly shifting away from purely volume-based extraction toward responsible, traceable, and investment-grade supply chains.
During high-level panel discussions on investment opportunities and Southeast Asian perspectives on critical minerals development, Rodolfo outlined what he described as the “four Ps” necessary to create an enabling environment for the sector: policies, permits, partnerships, and projects.
According to the Philippine delegation, the forum discussions underscored both the opportunities available to resource-rich countries such as the Philippines and the structural challenges that must still be addressed to attract greater investment into the country’s critical minerals industry.
The Philippines is seeking to position itself as a key player in global critical mineral supply chains as international demand for minerals used in renewable energy systems and advanced technologies continues to grow.
