Mining contributed P102.3 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP) last year despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
However, this is five percent lower than 2019’s contribution to GDP of P107.4 billion. The sector’s contribution to the overall GDP also remained at 0.6 percent.
Citing a report from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said metallic mineral production value of gold, nickel ore, mixed nickel-cobalt sulfide, scandium oxalate, chromite and iron was at P132.69 billion last year while the total value of minerals, mineral products and non-metallic mineral manufacture exported for the period was at $5.2 billion or roughly P252.5 billion in current rates.
“Amid the pandemic that we are experiencing, the mining industry strived and did its part. We are happy to know that this has been the outcome of the mining operations in the country over the past year,” said DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, in a statement.
The DENR said the minerals industry contributed about P25.52 billion to government coffers in the form of national and local taxes, fees and royalties and has allocated P379 billion for the implementation of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program as of end-2020.
The report said mining and quarrying activities generated 184,000 jobs and around P25.71 billion has been committed to social development management programs.
The DENR said it also initiated a dialogue with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to address concerns on ancestral domain claims within protected areas like the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL).
