An international mining executive called for regulatory reforms in the Philippines, warning that the country’s slow exploration permit process is hindering growth and driving investors away.
Darren Bowden, chief executive of Metals Exploration, which operates the Runruno gold mine in Nueva Vizcaya, made the appeal at a recent Philippine Mining Club luncheon.
He said delays in securing exploration permits were undermining the country’s mining potential, comparing the Philippine process unfavorably with Australia, where approvals are issued within weeks.
“In Australia, to get issued an exploration permit actually takes 24 to 48 hours… within 30 to 60 days, it’s issued, and you’ll be on the ground,” Bowden said.
“In the Philippines, you are at least a year in, and then three to six years before you can start work. That is why we don’t have a developed mining sector,” he said.
Bowden said exploration is the foundation of a healthy mining industry, and the lengthy timelines were incompatible with the financial realities faced by companies, which rely on early-stage results to raise capital.
“These timelines need to change,” he said. “As the President’s vision is to revitalize the Philippine mining industry as a major economic driver, the permitting process has to be responsive to the commercial reality.”
He highlighted the disparity in exploration spending between the Philippines and other mining jurisdictions. Australia recorded AU$4.2 billion (P150 billion) in exploration spending in 2023, compared with $37 million in the Philippines.
“That gives you a good idea of the differential,” he said. “We’re relying on 30 or 40-year-old deposits for our future. That is not how we’re going to grow this industry.”
Bowden also raised concerns about the application of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) during the exploration phase, arguing it was being applied beyond its legal scope.
“There is no need under this law to negotiate economic benefits for Indigenous Peoples at the exploration stage,” he said. “That’s required for mine development, not exploration. Yet we go through a three-year process that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars—needlessly.”
He said the Philippine Mining Act provided clearer direction, stating that Indigenous engagement during exploration should focus on environmental and conservation outcomes.
Bowden proposed a two-stage permitting and consultation framework, with early-stage exploration focusing on environmental safeguards and limited review timelines, and benefit-sharing negotiations occurring only if a viable mine is confirmed.
“We don’t even need to change the law,” he said. “We just need to implement it properly.”
He also warned that delays and bureaucratic hurdles were fueling illegal mining, which operated without oversight.
“How long does it take to start up an illegal mine? Next day,” he said. “And that’s what drives the negative perception of mining.”
Bowden called for the sector to be reinvigorated. “We need to accelerate the exploration of the Philippines’ vast critical mineral potential,” he said. “We need to actively pursue discoveries—that will inspire major investments and yield long-term economic benefits for all stakeholders.”