Because no rigorous study has yet shown that Palawan’s fragile island ecosystems can withstand large-scale mining, we invoke the precautionary principle: protect the island’s resources through conservation and genuinely sustainable management until sound science proves otherwise.
Why we fight
Palawan is a UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserve and the nation’s last ecological frontier—yet more than half of the island’s land area is still covered by mining tenements for nickel, chromite, and limestone. Large–scale extraction scars forests, pollutes rivers, poisons coastal fisheries, and erodes the ancestral domains of Indigenous Peoples who have cared for these mountains and reefs for centuries.
The Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) stands with communities, faith leaders, scientists, and local officials to say “No to Mining!”—because true development must conserve, not plunder, the natural wealth on which all Palawenyos depend.
Save Palawan Movement – “No to Mining” Signature Campaign
How the movement began
On 24 January 2011 environmental journalist Dr. Gerry “Doc Gerry” Ortega was assassinated in Puerto Princesa after years of exposing the social and ecological costs of nickel and chromite projects in southern Palawan. His murder became a lightning-rod moment for Palawan’s environmental community.
Less than two weeks later—on 3 February 2011—ABS-CBN Foundation’s Gina Lopez, together with Ortega’s family, civil-society allies, Church leaders, and Indigenous representatives, launched the Save Palawan Movement (SPM). Its flagship call: a “No to Mining in Palawan” petition aimed at collecting ten million Filipino signatures to declare the island a mining No-Go Zone. The campaign gathere half-million signatures in 60 days since its inception.
On July 2012, President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 79, which “institutionalizes and implements reforms in the Philippine mining sector by setting policies and guidelines that promote environmental protection and responsible mineral-resource use.
The 50-Year Mining Moratorium in Palawan
What the Ordinance Means
The newly passed Provincial Ordinance No. 3646 institutes a 50-year extendable moratorium on the issuance of endorsements by barangay, municipal, and provincial governments for all types of mining applications, including exploration and technical agreements. This bold move aligns with Palawan’s status as a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve, along with other significant declarations, and affirms its identity as the country’s “last ecological frontier.”
Importantly, the ordinance shifts Palawan’s development trajectory toward agri-tourism and sustainable investments, protecting its forests, coastlines, and indigenous communities from extractive activities.
Mining Moratorium Council
To oversee this long-term commitment, the ordinance also mandates the creation of a Mining Moratorium Council composed of provincial leaders, environmental and legal experts, civil society organizations, and community representatives. This body will ensure evidence-based decision-making and coordination among all stakeholders.
A People's Victory
ELAC and partner organizations view this victory as the fruit of decades of legal advocacy, environmental education, and grassroots mobilization. It is a celebration of law in service of life, a testament to what people power can achieve when backed by truth, persistence, and love for the land.
As Atty. Mayo-Anda stated during her closing remarks:
“This is not the end—it’s the beginning of a new chapter. One where Palawan leads by example, and its people become guardians of a living legacy.”
Let this ordinance stand as a shield for future generations. Let the March 5 rally be remembered not just as a day of thanksgiving, but as a spark for deeper solidarity across the nation.
Where we are now (2025)
- A new Supreme Court precedent looms. On 14 May 2025 the Court struck down Occidental Mindoro’s 25-year mining moratorium, ruling that blanket provincial bans conflict with the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
Industry groups are now citing that decision in their petition to void Palawan’s own 50-year freeze (Ordinance No. 3646, approved 5 March 2025). - Nation-wide legal coordination is under way. Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) and partner networks from Zambales to Romblon have publicly called on public-interest law groups to prepare joint submissions to defend local anti-mining measures after Mindoro’s defeat.
What's Next?
- Defend Ordinance 3646 in court, grounding arguments in Palawan’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status and the constitutional right to “a balanced and healthful ecology.”
- Strengthen the factual records — update natural forest maps, update forest-loss maps, water-quality tests, and compilation of Indigenous Peoples affidavits as exhibits and public-information tools.
- Keep communities vigilant. increase field shecks by Forest-Guardian patrols and the Water-Quality Watch network, and roll out a whistle-blower portal to report any fast-tracked exploration.
- Message to supporters: Mindoro’s reversal is a warning, not a verdict. With strong science, a solid constitutional case, and unified public pressure, we can keep Palawan’s “No-Go Zone” alive—but only if we stay organised now.