16/05/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ (๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐) โ Opposition to a mining exploration project in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya is reportedly swelling as more residents, church groups, and environmental advocates have joined the barricade against the operations of Northern Luzon Mineral Resources Corp. (NLMRC) in that upland town.
Residents of Barangays Pacquet and Kakidugen started putting up barricades on May 8 along roads leading to Barangay Pao, where the exploration site is located.
Villagers and supporters from nearby communities have since taken shifts at the barricades, warning that the project could affect farms, forests, watersheds, ancestral lands, and residential areas.
Bayombong Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao publicly backed the protesters and called on the public to support communities resisting mining activities in Nueva Vizcaya. The bishop, in a statement he released on Sunday said, โmining causes severe damage to mountains, the environment, livelihoods, and human life.โ
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau issued NLMRC an exploration permit in June 2025 covering 4,456 hectares, mostly in Barangay Pao and parts of Kakidugen. Residents claimed many affected families were only recently made aware of the full extent of the permit area, prompting fears of expanded gold and copper mining activities in Kasibu town.
Kasibu is already home to the Didipio gold and copper open pit mine operated by OceanaGold Philippines Inc. Another mining operation run by FCF Mineral Corporation in Quezon town, also drew criticism from groups advocating watershed protection and indigenous land rights.
Anti-mining sentiment has also spread among local government units in Nueva Vizcaya. In October 2025, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Nueva Vizcaya passed a resolution opposing pending and future mining permit applications.
Communities across Nueva Vizcaya have repeatedly mounted barricades against mining firms, that included FCF-affiliate Woggle Corp. that planned to do explorations in Dupax del Sur town several weeks ago but had met stiff opposition.