"Kalinga IPs oppose large-scale mining operations anew", 14 June 2026

… Concerned Balatoc indigenous peoples petitioned the Cordillera office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP-CAR) to take back the certificate of pre-conditioned (CP) earlier issued for the operation of a large-scale mining company within their ancestral domain, citing flaws in the conduct of the free and prior informed consent (FPIC) process.

In a petition, the Balatoc IPs called for the immediate cancellation of Makilala Mining Company, Inc. (MMCI) Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) and the appurtenant CP, stating that the mining agreement which was reportedly approved in March 2024 grossly violates federal laws because it was issued before the NCIP granted a CP in September 2024.

Further, the IPs argued that the aforesaid timeline violates the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) which mandates that the free, prior and informed consent of IPs must be first secured before any mining concessions are approved or operations begin…

According to the Balatoc Indigenous Cultural Community and the Balatoc Young People, Makilala allegedly used deceptive tactics and forged signatures to manufacture consent for its memorandum of agreement (MOA) way back in 2022, stating that the project has introduced militarization, red tagging, and private armed personnel in their ancestral domain, creating an environment of fear and coercion that disrupts traditional community governance and local peace pacts.

In separate opposition letters submitted to concerned government agencies, the Balatoc IPs stressed environmental and social concerns because the upcoming large-scale mining operations by Makilala will cause severe environmental degradation, …

The Balatoc IPS pointed out that the impacts of large-scale mining will directly jeopardize local public health and undermine sustainable livelihood of the people, such as small-scale farming and resource gathering, which serve as the economic and cultural backbone for families in the Cordillera landscape…