The Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) welcomed the bicameral committee’s decision to remove a raw ore export ban provision from the final version of the mining fiscal regime bill.
The group said the measure is a prudent and forward-looking step that would protect jobs, uphold investor confidence and reflect a more realistic understanding of the challenges surrounding domestic mineral processing.
“We recognize that a calibrated increase in mining taxation is necessary to ensure fair government revenue and public benefit,” the PNIA said in a statement.
“In this regard, we reiterate our support for a margins- and windfall-profits-based tax structure, which better reflects actual business performance and aligns with international best practices,” it said.
PNIA said fiscal predictability and economic rationality were essential to attract long-term investments and enable the growth of a competitive, responsible mining industry.
It also shared the national aspiration to build a robust value-added processing sector in the Philippines. However, the path to achieving this required more than regulatory mandates.
The group demanded the resolution of persistent structural issues such as high energy costs, weak infrastructure, policy uncertainty and permitting delays, which continued to deter large-scale investments in mineral processing.
“We thank our policymakers for considering the concerns raised by various stakeholders and for choosing a path that safeguards economic stability while keeping the door open for long-term industrial development,” PNIA said, adding it remained committed to working with the government and partners to translate policy into progress and ensure the mining sector contributes meaningfully to inclusive, sustainable growth.
