The Philippines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States to support the development of the country’s critical minerals and rare earths sector.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla and US Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg signed the MOU on February 04, 2026 on the sidelines of the 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial, hosted by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. The event brought together ministers and senior officials from 54 countries and the European Commission
“Through this partnership, we are building a Filipino-led industry that processes our own resources, creates high-skilled jobs, and strengthens our position in the global high-tech supply chain. We will be able to keep more of the economic benefits of mining within the country,” Lotilla said.
The MOU aims to advance Philippine economic policy away from the export of raw mineral ores toward increased domestic processing and value addition, supporting the country’s integration into global supply chains.
Critical minerals and rare earth elements are essential inputs for electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, electronics, and advanced manufacturing. Several countries have entered into similar critical minerals agreements with the well as Malaysia and Thailand in the ASEAN Region.
These partnerships reflect growing international efforts to secure reliable and diversified supplies of minerals for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.
“By advancing critical minerals processing at home, the Philippines takes a significant step toward building a resilient, innovation-driven economy and securing its place in the future of global industry,” the DENR chief said.
“More importantly, this step forms part of our overall commitment to responsible mining by upholding environmental standards and protecting the well-being of local communities,” he added.
