MANILA — The Philippines is exploring a possible critical minerals agreement with Canada to further develop its mining industry, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

Speaking at a Canada Embassy-led Stratbase forum in Makati City, DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said the potential deal was discussed during the Philippines’ participation in the 2026 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention in Toronto earlier this month.

“In our discussions with our counterparts – both at the provincial and at the federal level – they’re very much interested,” Rodolfo said.

The initiative follows the Philippines’ recent signing of a critical minerals agreement with the United States, aimed at supporting local processing of critical minerals and rare earths. At the PDAC, Philippine representatives emphasized the country’s readiness to expand business with Canadian investors, highlighting its vast mineral reserves as a reliable source for the global energy transition.

Rodolfo said the government is also streamlining policies to attract investment, including a mining fiscal regime well-received by investors, local communities, and government agencies.

Environment Undersecretary Carlos Primo David added that a draft executive order establishing a critical minerals framework is awaiting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s signature, which would further clarify permitting processes.

Under the current system, it can take up to two years for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to release a permit, assuming other clearances from local government units and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples are secured. “For us, we want it to be less than a year of processing,” David said.

(PNA)