Balatoc mining issue: PMDC denies approving partnership with FCF Minerals, cites 2006 JOA with BKTI

"Ngayon naiintindihan ko po na ayaw niyo ng large scale mining dahil nakakahati siya. Linawin ko lang na what was presented was not an agreement of partneship--wala po kaming in-approve na partnership... yung Joint Operating Agreement-- naiintindihan ko po na ang mga IPs ay may right to represenation…” -Atty. Nico Solon

Balatoc, Pasil, Kalinga – Amid the ongoing controversy over the proposed Batong Buhay mining project, the Philippine Mining Development Corporation (PMDC) denied claims that it had approved any final partnership with FCF Minerals Corporation, explaining that the existing Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) executed in 2006 continues to identify the Balatoc Kalinga Tribal Incorporation (BKTI) as the recognized party.

PMDC is a government-owned and controlled corporation tasked with managing state-owned mineral properties.

The clarification was made during a community dialogue held on June 25 at the Kalipi Hall in Barangay Balatoc.

The meeting followed concerns raised by members of the Indigenous Cultural Community (ICC) of Balatoc after United Kingdom-based Metals Exploration PLC announced on June 15 that it had secured agreements through FCF Minerals Corporation, PMDC, and BKTI to explore and develop the Batong Buhay copper-gold project.

The announcement prompted many iBalatocs to question why BKTI appeared to be the only organization informed of the reported agreement, with residents claiming that the wider community had not been informed or consulted despite the project being located within their ancestral domain.

Responding to the concerns, PMDC representative Atty. Nico Solon emphasized that the corporation has not approved any final partnership with FCF Minerals.

Solon explained that the confusion largely stems from the existing JOA on record with PMDC, which continues to identify BKTI as the recognized Indigenous Peoples Organization (IPO).

"Ngayon naiintindihan ko po na ayaw niyo ng large scale mining dahil nakakahati siya. Linawin ko lang na what was presented was not an agreement of partneship--wala po kaming in-approve na partnership... yung JOA-- naiintindihan ko po na ang mga IPs ay may right to represenation. Unfortunately po, ang lumabas po sa JOA namin date back to 2006, ay BKTI..ang pangalan na nondoon po ay BKTI. Hindi po namin yun basta-basta mapapalitan. Naiintidihan namin na hindi ito madali pero kasi kami ay isang government agency...kailangan parin dumaan sa mas mahabang proseso," he said.

He also addressed questions regarding the announcement made by Metals Exploration PLC through the London Stock Exchange, where the company disclosed that it had secured agreements for the Batong Buhay project.

"Unang-una po, kinausap ako ni former mayor Chao-ig kanina--ni-raise nya po yung mga concerns especially dun sa Metals production ng FCF. Pangalawa po, kung bakit po winagayway ang London stocks exchange, beyond us na po--hindi napo namin alam iyon," he said.

The attorney also acknowledged the concerns raised by residents who feared they could be excluded from future discussions regarding the project. Solon assured the community that PMDC had no intention of excluding any sector and committed to elevating the issues raised during the dialogue to the corporation's management.

During the meeting, residents maintained that they had never been consulted regarding the reported agreement and questioned why they only learned about it after Metals Exploration PLC publicly announced the project.

Meanwhile, FCF Minerals Corporation representative Atty. Rean Ramos explained that discussions with BKTI resulted only in a draft Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) containing proposed benefits for the community should exploration eventually proceed.

Among the proposed provisions presented were P100 million for road construction, scholarship grants, medical services, assistance to small-scale miners, community development projects, and royalty- and equity-sharing mechanisms.

However, Ramos stressed that the proposal remains subject to community consultation and has yet to be finalized.

The dialogue concluded without any agreement being signed, with the NCIP reiterating that the proposed MOA remains only a draft and that further consultations with the entire Indigenous Cultural Community will be necessary before any future agreement involving the Batong Buhay project can proceed.