23 June 2022

THE PHILIPPINES has withdrawn from a global initiative on extractives transparency over the latter’s “subjective, biased and unfair” assessment process, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said.

“We find that the manner by which the EITI board undertakes its validation is unduly subjective, biased and unfair,” he was quoted as saying in the letter to Ms. Clark, a former prime minister of New Zealand.

“The Philippines has no confidence in the ability of the EITI to undertake an impartial, transparent, and evidence-based validation process.”

The EITI sets the standard for transparency and accountability in the mining, oil and gas industries. [...]

Mr. Dominguez’s statement comes after the EITI board downgraded the Philippines’ score to “moderate” last February.

[...]

The EITI board also mentioned allegations of intimidation of civil society activists and journalists, and urged the government to improve the environment for civil society participation. It said it will revisit the issue in October.

[...]