Church hits Maharlika鈥榮 entry into mining
The Catholic Church has denounced the decision of the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), the manager of the country’ sovereign wealth fund, to invest in large-scale mining that is detrimental not only to the environment but also to the people.
The MIC last month signed a binding agreement with Makilala Mining Co. Inc., the local affiliate of Australia-based Celsius Resources Inc., on a loan facility of up to $76.4 million (about P4.4 billion) for the firm’s Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog copper-gold project in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
READ:
According to Caritas Philippines, the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), this decision contradicted the Maharlika‘s purpose to spur economic growth as it threatens the lives of people in the communities and undermines responsible stewardship.
“This move by the Maharlika Fund betrays the Filipino people’s trust. Instead of supporting industries that promote development and sustainability, the government is channeling resources into extractive projects linked to displacement, deforestation, and human rights abuses,” said Kidapawan Bishop Bagaforo, president of Caritas Philippines.
‘Interests of a few’
According to Caritas Philippines, the MIC‘s mandate is to promote national development, but its involvement in mining “deepens fears that the fund serves the interests of a few at the expense of many.”
Article continues after this advertisement“How can we claim to work for progress when we fund an industry that destroys the resources God has entrusted to us?” asked Caritas Philippines vice president Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, Negros Occidental.
Article continues after this advertisementIt called on the government to reconsider this investment and prioritize industries that uplift communities without compromising the environment.
“We call on (MIC) to withdraw its mining investment and align its strategies with responsible governance and care for our common home,” the Church body said.
It also urged civil society, faith-based organizations, and Filipinos to remain vigilant against destructive extractive industries.
”Economic development should not come at the cost of human dignity and environmental degradation. We remain committed to upholding the integrity of creation and defending those affected by mining,” Bagaforo stressed.
Anti-mining position
This is not the first time that the Catholic Church denounced the Maharlika fund.
As early as 2023, Caritas Philippines was among the first to reject the bill creating the sovereign wealth fund, citing the lack of transparency and accountability in its establishment.
The Catholic Church has also opposed large-scale mining due to its negative social and environmental impacts.
In the country, the CBCP has documented cases of indigenous peoples losing ancestral lands, contaminated water sources, and communities suffering from irresponsible mining operations.
The Church was also among those that supported the call of Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros for a committee inquiry in aid of legislation on the environmental and social impact of mining and quarrying activities in the country.
“The devastation and loss caused by mining and quarrying activities are distressing. Our kababayans lose not only their livelihoods but also their lives because of these. We need to rectify the weaknesses of our laws to stop these tragedies from happening,” Hontiveros had said.
Calamities, displacements
The call for a Senate investigation came amid the tragedies in 2024, particularly in Maco, Davao de Oro, where a landslide attributed to unchecked mining killed at least 98 people, injured 32 others, and displaced the Mansaka indigenous community in the area.
Mining activities were also reported to have a significant impact on Homonhon Island’s ecology and cultural heritage, while quarrying has been blamed for degradation and water quality concerns in Cajidiocan, Romblon.
Concerns have also been expressed on the use of mined and dredged materials to support controversial reclamation efforts in environmentally vulnerable locations such as Manila Bay.
