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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is richly endowed with mineral resources,1 ranking among the 
world’s leading holders of nickel, copper, and cobalt reserves—minerals that are vital 
to the global shift toward clean energy. Yet most of these resources continue to be 
exported in raw form, limiting their benefits to local industries, workers, and 
communities. This measure seeks to change that trajectory. 
The bill promotes greater long-term value from the country’s finite mineral 
wealth by discouraging raw ore exports and encouraging domestic processing. It 
introduces a phased approach: beginning in 2026, an export tax on unprocessed ore 
will be imposed and increased every two years, culminating in a full export ban by 
2033. This transition period provides the mining industry time to recalibrate business 
strategies, invest in processing facilities, and align with the nation’s broader industrial 
development agenda. 
To ensure that revenues are reinvested into national growth, the measure 
establishes the Mining Downstream Industry Development Fund. This fund will finance 
domestic processing initiatives, strengthen the capacity of host local government units, 
and support priorities under the Philippine Development Plan. A Downstream Mining 
Coordinating Council—composed of government agencies and stakeholders—will 
oversee the strategy, anchored on a fifteen-year roadmap for developing downstream 
mining industries. 
The bill also directs higher education and technical-vocational programs to align 
with the manpower needs of mineral processing and related fields, in coordination with 
TESDA and CHED. This guarantees that Filipino workers are trained and ready to take 
on higher-value roles in metallurgy, industrial operations, and mineral-based 
manufacturing. 
1 Mines and Geosciences Bureau. Minerals Industry at A Glance. Published on 30 June 2024. Available at 
https://mgb.gov.ph/images/Mineral_Statistics/MINERALS-INDUSTRY-AT-A-GLANCE-Updated-30-June2024.pdf  
(Accessed on 20 June 2025). 
September 1, 2025
8:00 am
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Comparable reforms abroad show the promise of this path. Indonesia’s 2014 
ban on unprocessed nickel exports spurred investment in local smelting and refining2, 
created jobs, and positioned the country as a major player in the global battery and 
electric vehicle supply chain. The Philippines must pursue a similar strategy—not only 
to stay competitive, but to ensure its mineral resources serve national development. 
This measure represents a decisive step toward a mining policy centered on 
value creation, industrialization, and shared prosperity, rather than mere resource 
extraction. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
2 ASEAN Briefing. Indonesia's Ban on Raw Mineral Exports Takes Effect Published on 15 January 2014. 
Available at https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/indonesias-ban-raw-mineral-exports-takes-effect/ (Accessed on 
22 June 2025). 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING 
FOR 
THE 
STRATEGIC 
EXPLORATION, 
DEVELOPMENT, 
UTILIZATION, AND CONSERVATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES FOR THE 
BENEFIT OF LOCAL INDUSTRIES AND COMMUNITIES, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Responsable at 
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Maka-Pilipinong Pagmimina Act.” 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Principles. - All natural resources are owned by Filipinos
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represented by the State. It shall be the responsibility of the State to ensure that the 
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present and future generations benefit from these finite resources. The State must 
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then establish mechanisms to promote the rational and responsible exploration, 
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development, utilization, and conservation of the country's mineral resources. The 
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State must likewise ensure that mining activities in the country shall serve as a driver 
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for economic growth, creating jobs, and supporting local industries, and that the 
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revenues derived from mining activities are used for the benefit of the people. 
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the following 
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definitions shall apply: 
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a) Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) refers to a contract
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involving financial or technical assistance for large-scale exploration,
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development and utilization of mineral resources;
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b) Gross Output refers to the actual market value of minerals or mineral products
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from each mine or mineral land operated as a separate entity, without any
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deduction for mining, processing, refining, transporting, handling, marketing
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or any other expenses;
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c) Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) refers to an agreement
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where the government grants to the contractor the exclusive right to conduct
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mining operations within a contract area and shares in the gross output. The 
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contractor provides the financing, technology, management and personnel 
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necessary for the implementation of the agreement;  
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d) Minerals refer to all naturally occurring inorganic substances in solid, liquid, 
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gas or any intermediate state excluding energy materials such as coal, 
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petroleum, natural gas, radioactive materials and geothermal energy; 
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e) eMineral Products refer to materials derived from ores, minerals and/or rocks 
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and prepared into marketable state by mineral processing;  
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f) Mining Operations refer to mining activities involving exploration, feasibility 
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study, development, and utilization; and  
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g) Utilization refers to the extraction, mineral processing and/or disposition of 
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minerals.  
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SEC. 4. Interpretation. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed as a diminution 
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of the rights and privileges of local government units presently enjoyed under existing 
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laws such as Republic Act No. 7160. Further, nothing in this Act shall be construed as 
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a diminution of the rights enjoyed by indigenous people under Republic Act No. 8371 
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of 1997.  
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SEC. 5. Scope and Application. - This Act shall apply to new Mineral Production 
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Sharing Agreements (MPSAs) and Financial or Technical Assistance Agreements 
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(FTAAs) covering large-scale mineral mining operations that shall be entered into after 
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the effectivity of this Act. 
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This Act shall also cover existing MPSAs and FTAAs where such agreements 
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provide that any terms and conditions resulting from repeal or amendment of any 
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existing laws or regulation or from the enactment of a law, regulation  
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SEC. 6. Export Tax on Raw Ore. - Effective January 1, 2026, a ten percent 
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(10%) export tax on the gross value of raw ore shall be imposed: Provided, That 
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effective January 1, 2028, a twenty percent (20%) export tax on the gross value of raw 
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ore shall be imposed: Provided, further, That effective January 1, 2030, a forty percent 
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(40%) export tax on the gross value of raw ore shall be imposed: Provided, furthermore, 
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That effective January 1, 2032, a sixty percent (60%) export tax on the gross value of 
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raw shall be imposed.  
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SEC. 7. Utilization of Export Tax Proceeds. - The proceeds from the export 
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tax on raw ore shall be allocated as follows: a) 50% shall be allocated to the 
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Downstream Mining Industry Development Fund to support capital investments, 
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research and development, and technology transfer for local mineral processing and 
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value-adding; b) 25% shall be allocated to Local Government Units (LGUs) hosting 
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mining operations to support livelihood diversification, community development 
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programs, and local environmental protection programs; c) 25% shall accrue to the 
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National Treasury for sustainable development initiatives aligned with the Philippine 
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Development Plan.  
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SEC. 8. Ban on Export of Raw Ore. - The exportation of raw ore shall be 
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prohibited effective January 1, 2033.  
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SEC. 9. Downstream Mining Industry Development Fund. - The national 
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government shall create a Downstream Mining Industry Development Fund sourced 
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from a portion of the export tax proceeds collected, as provided under Section 7 of this 
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Act. It shall be used exclusively to finance programs and projects for the development 
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of the downstream mining industry, in strict compliance with the objectives of this Act. 
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The Fund shall be governed by a multi-stakeholder oversight body created under 
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Section 10 of this Act. It shall adhere to the accounting and auditing rules of the 
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Commission on Audit (COA), and shail undergo regular audit by the COA. 
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SEC. 10. Strategic Downstream Mining Development Roadmap. - Within a 
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period of six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, a fifteen-year (15) Strategic 
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Downstream Mining Development Roadmap shall be formulated for the development 
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of downstream mining industries and the creation of jobs for strategic metallic and 
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nonmetallic minerals. It shall be aligned with the Philippine Development Plan and the 
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National Industrialization Plan. It shall be subject to review and updating every five (5) 
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years.  
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SEC. 11. Downstream Mining Coordinating Council (DMCC). - There is 
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hereby created a Downstream Mining Coordinating Council, which shall be in charge 
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of the Downstream Mining Industry Development Fund and shall prepare the Strategic 
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Downstream Mining Development Roadmap. It shall be composed of the following:  
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a) The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
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(DENR), as Chairperson;  
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b) The Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as Co-
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Chairperson;  
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c) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as 
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Member;  
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d) The Secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development 
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(DEPDev) as Member;  
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e) The Secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF) as Member 
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f) The Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 
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as Member;  
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g) Two (2) representatives from the mining industry as Members; and  
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h) Two (2) representatives from civil society organizations as Members.  
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The DMCC shall meet at least twice a year or as often as may be necessary. 
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The chairpersons and members may designate their representatives, who shall have 
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at least the rank of Assistant Secretary or its equivalent, and who must be fully 
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authorized to decide for and on behalf of the agency represented.  
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The Secretariat of the DMCC shall be composed of dedicated personnel from 
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DENR and DTI, which shall provide administrative, operational, and technical support 
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to the DMCC. The Council may request additional technical or administrative support 
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from its member agencies or other government offices, as may be necessary. 
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Budgetary support for the operations of the Council shall be sourced from the 
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appropriations of its member agencies, subject to existing laws and regulations.  
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The DMCC shall likewise engage other government agencies and 
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instrumentalities, LGUs, as well as representatives from the labor and employers' 
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organizations, local mining companies, and other civil society organizations, as may 
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be necessary, for the effective implementation of this Act.  
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SEC. 12. Powers and Functions of the DMCC. - The DMCC shall have the 
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following powers and functions:  
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a) Submit a work plan, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, for 
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the formulation of the Strategic Downstream Mining Development Roadmap;  
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b) Identify and recommend programs and projects to support the growth of the 
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downstream mining industry;  
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c) Conduct and facilitate the necessary capacity and institutional building 
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programs for all concerned government agencies and instrumentalities and 
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stakeholders;  
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d) Request the assistance of any government agency or instrumentality, 
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including government-owned and controlled corporations and LGUs, in the 
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implementation of the downstream mining development program and road- 
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mар;  
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e) Conduct quarterly meetings among members of the council;  
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f) Submit quarterly progress reports to the President on the status of the 
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implementation of the downstream mining development program and road- 
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map;  
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g) Adhere to the reporting requirements of the Philippine Extractive Industries 
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and Transparency Initiative; and  
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h) Perform such other functions and acts as may be necessary, proper or 
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incidental to the attainment of its mandates and objectives, or as may be 
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directed by the Chairpersons. 
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SEC. 13. Skills and Workforce Development. - The DMCC, in coordination 
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with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the 
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Commission on Higher Education (CHED), shall facilitate the development of 
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technical-vocational and higher education programs to support workforce needs of the 
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downstream mining industry.  
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SEC. 14. Penalties. - Any company proven to have violated Sections 6 and 8 of 
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this Act shall be subject to a fine ranging from Five Million Pesos (P 5,000,000.00) to 
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Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00) and an additional amount equivalent to five (5) 
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times the gross value of raw ore illegally exported. Furthermore, the responsible 
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officers of the erring company shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than one 
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(1) year but not more than three (3) years.  
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SEC. 15. Incentives. - Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, all tax 
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incentives granted to mineral mining and quarry contractors shall be repealed 
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immediately upon the effectivity of this Act. 
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SEC. 16. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional, the remainder hereof or any provisions not affected thereby shall 
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remain in force and effect. 
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SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, rule, or regulation inconsistent with the provisions 
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of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 18. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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