MINING PROJECT in Kalinga: Makilala Mining began initial works in 2005; MOA signed bet. Balatoc ICC and MMCI in 2022

Pasil, Kalinga – With misinformation regarding issues surrounding the Makilala Mining Company Inc. (MMCI) project in Kalinga Province where the photos of Governor James Edduba were being misused to portray he was the one who signed a MOA with the MMCI., the governor spoke before the public in Pasil enlightening the people about the MOA and the background history of the said project.

“Ti kina MOA ti Makilala ket dagijay taga Balatoc, ta kinayat ti taga Balatoc nga ada dayta nga minas,” said Edduba during his talk at the kick-off of his campaign rally in Guina-ang, Pasil on March 28.

Recently, the mining project in Pasil has been used by anonymous social media users to spread misinformation and Edduba was one of their targets. In one of the meetings of the mining company and the people of Balatoc, Pasil where the governor was present, a picture of him signing as a witness to the public consultation was portrayed as a signing of a MOA with the company. 

The governor encouraged the people to ask and study histories of issues so that they will not be mislead and become pawns of social media agitators and keyboard warriors whose aim is to deceive the people for their own political gains.

According to the governor, the Makilala Mining commenced exploration when he was not yet the Mayor of Pasil.

“Nag-start dayta haan nak pay lang nga Mayor ti Pasil. Nag-start 2005 dayta nga minas storage room…. It was never nga ada direct nga role ko dita,” he said.

Edduba pointed out that the MOA was established between MMCI and the Balatoc ICC without direct involvement from the provincial government of Kalinga or the municipal government of Pasil, saying, “ In the first place haan nga provincial government ti nag-loan dita, Makilala company ti nag-loan dita ket nag-loan da dita Maharlika isu diay maaramid nga minas dita (Balatoc).”

As for those who want to stop the project, Edduba explained that he has no authority given by law to stop such projects; rather, it is the national agencies responsible for environmental activities who can do it.

“Nu kayat ti tattao nga pasardengen (ti minas) ket inkayo diay DENR. Inkayo diay NCIP idiay Manila,” he explained, since they are the once who are involved in providing the papers and approvals, not the Provincial Government.

Makilala Mining secured approval in 2022

In November 2022, MMCI secured the approval of the Balatoc Indigenous Cultural Community (BICC) when the two parties signed the MOA that year, which provided the company with the rights to perform exploration, development, production, and operational activities in the Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog (MCB) Copper-Gold Project area.

Additionally, in February 2025, Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC), the manager of the Philippines' sovereign wealth fund, revealed a $76.4 million bridge loan facility for MMCI. The funding aims to initiate early development works for the MCB Project, underscoring the project's significance to both local and national economic interests.

While the project has received support from the Balatoc ICC, some community groups raised concerns about potential encroachments on ancestral territories and environmental impacts. Aside from that, the concerned agencies also expressed apprehensions regarding unresolved territorial issues and the project's potential effects on the Guina-ang and Balatoc tribes.

Thus, the concerned agencies and local officials called for more transparent consultations and assessments to address these concerns comprehensively.