Green Convergence (GC), together with Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), convened the 429th Kamayan Para Sa Kalikasan forum themed “Realities of Mining and the Green Transition” on March 20, 2026, via Zoom and Facebook livestream.
The March 2026 forum was part of ATM’s Anti-Mining Solidarity Week 2026, wherein environmental defenders and mining-affected communities echoed the ecological and human rights concerns amid the global push for a “green transition.”
In her opening remarks, GC President Victoria Segovia highlighted prevailing issues on governance surrounding mining in the Philippines.
Segovia questioned the mandate of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to both protect natural resources and issue permits for their extraction and called for institutional reforms that would prioritize environmental protection and genuine sustainable development.
Cheryl Polutan, Programs Coordinator of LILAK (Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights), outlined how the global shift toward renewable energy or the “green transition” increases demand for “critical minerals,” noting the Philippines as a key extraction site.
Polutan said that while the transition to renewable energy is necessary to address the global climate crisis, it also leads to more dependence on extractive practices that can cause further environmental degradation and social inequities.
She highlighted how mining operations have resulted in the loss of water sources, biodiversity, and livelihoods, particularly in agriculture-dependent communities.
Polutan also detailed the gender-based impacts of mining, including cases of harassment, sexual violence, and increased economic vulnerability among women in mining-affected areas.
“We should not just transition, we should do just transition and gender-based climate solutions,” Polutan said, emphasizing the need to ensure that environmental protection and human rights are upheld in the shift to sustainable energy.
Dwelling on the grassroots struggles, Elizabeth Ibañez, Coordinator of Sibuyanons Against Mining (SAM), shared the years-long resistance of communities in Sibuyan Island against mining operations.
Ibañez said residents were driven to establish barricades to protect their island from environmental destruction and disaster risks linked to mining activities.
“Ang amin pong panawagan dito ay ipamana ang aming isla para sa aming mga anak at ang mga darating pang mga apo at hindi ipamina, sapagkat ito po ay magwawasak hindi lamang po sa aming kabuhayan kundi papatay din po sa buhay ng lahat ng mamamayan,” Ibañez said.
“Kung para sa aming mga mamamayan, bakit kailangan na kami pa rin ‘yung muling ilagay sa mas malaking peligro?” she added, questioning whether the benefits of the green transition truly are for the good of the communities.
Ibañez also raised concerns about social divisions due to the influence of mining companies and threats experienced by environmental defenders, calling for genuine government engagement with affected communities.
On the other hand, Elizabeth Cabal, Auditor of Protect Manicani Island Society, Inc. (PROMISE), echoed similar experiences in Manicani Island, where mining operations have persisted despite environmental risks.
Cabal said the expansion of mining activities continues to threaten ecosystems and livelihoods, particularly for their fisherfolk and farmers.
“Para sa amin, hindi ito kaunlaran. Ito ay mas malalang banta sa aming buhay at kinabukasan,” Cabal said.
“Napilitan po kaming magbarikada… dahil ito na lamang ang natitirang paraan upang ipaglaban ang aming karapatan at maprotektahan ang aming komunidad,” she stated, emphasizing that community barricades are necessary acts of protection, not of defiance.
Cabal then called on authorities to halt destructive mining practices and reject policies and measures that would further expand extraction in vulnerable areas.
Ricky Pabilonia, representative of the Zambales Ecological Network (ZEN), expanded the discussion and discussed offshore and seabed mining, highlighting their impacts on marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
Pabilonia explained that dredging and seabed extraction contribute to coastal erosion, biodiversity loss, and declining fish catch, which affects the livelihoods of their fisherfolk.
He also pinpointed weak regulatory enforcement and profit-driven practices that prioritize short-term gains over environmental sustainability, placing vulnerable communities on the edge of so-called development.
Through a pre-recorded privilege speech during the Anti-Mining Solidarity Week, Cong. Percival Cendaña, Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives (HoR) representing Akbayan Partylist, drew attention to the current realities faced by barricading communities in the HoR plenary.
Cendaña detailed incidents in Aroroy, Masbate, Sibuyan Island, Homonhon Island, Manicani Island, and MacArthur, Leyte, where displacement, safety risks, and human rights violations linked to mining activities have been reported.
“Napakalaking perwisyo para sa napakaliit na ambag. Paldong paldo sa environmental destruction at human rights violations, pero luging-lugi naman sa taxes at royalties,” Cendaña said.
He then called for a review of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and urged DENR to act on community petitions and strengthen environmental safeguards and accountability.
In the open forum, participants raised concerns over policy gaps, weak enforcement of environmental safeguards, and the lack of genuine consultation with communities.
Discussions among participants emphasized the need for stronger environmental impact assessments, a national land use plan, and policies that prioritize domestic resource use over raw mineral exports.
Furthermore, discussions also highlighted challenges in reconciling mining operations with community welfare, with participants expressing skepticism over claims of “responsible mining” given the on-ground stories linked to environmental and social impacts.
Participants then called for a unified national movement advocating a just transition, including a moratorium on destructive mining practices, gender-inclusive monitoring mechanisms, and strengthened community participation.
Closing the forum, Teodoro “Teddy” Baguilat Jr., Chairperson of Angat Kalikasan Katutubo Pilipinas, Inc., stressed that mining activities must always respect human rights and follow proper due diligence.
Baguilat also reminded the need for genuine consultation processes, noting proposed changes to policies governing free, prior, and informed consent.
The forum concluded with ATM presenting an original music video representing mining realities nationwide and carrying the message “Ipamana, Huwag Ipamina.”
The next Kamayan forum was announced to be on April 17, 2026.
Kamayan Para Sa Kalikasan is a monthly initiative organized by Green Convergence that enables non-government organizations, government representatives, the media, students, teachers, church groups, and concerned citizens to discuss, analyze, and create solutions to pressing environmental issues in the country.
For those interested to be a member of Green Convergence, visit this link to register: bit.ly/GCMembershipRegForm.
#GreenConvergence #AlyansaTigilMina #KamayanParaSaKalikasan #RealitiesOfMiningAndTheGreenTransition #Mining #GreenTransition