Critical Minerals Push: EO 122 Signals a Clearer Path for Responsible Mining & Downstream Valu

Critical Minerals Push: EO 122 Signals a Clearer Path for Responsible Mining & Downstream Value

 

President Marcos signed Executive Order No. 122 on 21 August 2026, establishing a unified national policy framework for the Philippines’ critical minerals industry. The order prioritizes exploration, development, and—most importantly—downstream processing of minerals essential for batteries, renewable energy technologies, electronics, and advanced manufacturing.

Key features include:

• DENR to issue a Philippine Critical Minerals List within 30 days

• Strict “use it or lose it” policy on mining tenements

• Virtual one-stop shop and simultaneous permitting (while retaining environmental and social safeguards)

• CREATE Act incentives for refining, battery production, and related industries

• Priority ore access for domestic processors

• Reorganized Mining Industry Coordinating Council (DENR–DOF co-chairs)

This aligns with 100% foreign ownership already allowed in renewable energy projects and the country’s participation in Pax Silica—the U.S.-led initiative to secure allied supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors, and AI. German interest has already been publicly noted, citing the improved regulatory certainty for long-term processing investments.

How does this sit with existing mining rules and past bans?

The Philippines still operates under the Philippine Mining Act (RA 7942) and constitutional limits on mineral agreements (generally 60% Filipino ownership, with FTAAs available for large-scale projects). Earlier open-pit mining restrictions and the long moratorium on new mineral agreements constrained the sector for years. Those national barriers have since been lifted, but strong local restrictions remain (e.g., Palawan’s long-term ban on new mining and temporary provincial measures elsewhere). EO 122 does not create a free-for-all. It explicitly retains environmental, social, and community safeguards and emphasizes responsible, value-adding development over pure extraction.

For clients and investors, the practical takeaway is clearer: the policy direction favors projects that move beyond raw ore exports toward domestic processing, battery materials, and RE-linked supply chains—while still requiring rigorous compliance with permitting, rehabilitation, and ESG standards.

 

At CGRLAW, we are tracking the forthcoming Critical Minerals List, implementing rules on the one-stop shop, and the interplay with existing DENR/MGB requirements. Happy to discuss structuring, foreign investment pathways, or compliance implications for your project.

What are your thoughts on how this shifts the investment landscape?

 

#CriticalMinerals #EO122 #PhilippineMining #RenewableEnergy #ESG #ForeignInvestment #PaxSilica #DownstreamProcessing #CGRLAW

CGRLAW & Associates

Unit 2101 and 2111 Cityland 10 Tower 2, H.V. Dela Costa Street, 

Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Mak​ati City 

3F Salcedo One Centre, 170  Salcedo Street, 

Legaspi Village, Makati City

U302 Capitol Masonic, 35 Matalino Street, 

Diliman, Quezon City

Tel. No. (+63 2) 8277 7239 

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email: claude.requino@cgrlaw.ph

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LABOR ADVISORY: WORK SUSPENSION IN PRIVATE SECTOR

Labor Advisory No. 14, Series of 2026

(Issued 19 August 2026)

DOLE has clarified the rules on work suspension in the private sector during weather disturbances and similar emergencies.

Key Points (Simplified):

1.  Employers may suspend work
Private companies can suspend operations to protect employees’ safety and health during typhoons, heavy rains, floods, etc. This is a management prerogative, preferably done in coordination with the company’s safety committee or safety officer.

2.  Pay Rules

•  Did not report for work → No regular pay
(Exception: if company policy, practice, or CBA grants payment, or if the employee uses leave credits)

•  Reported and worked →
 • At least 6 hours = full day’s pay
 • Less than 6 hours = proportionate pay

•  Employers are encouraged to give extra incentives to those who still reported for work.

3.  No punishment for employees
Workers who refuse or fail to report because of imminent danger from the weather cannot be subjected to any administrative sanction.

Easy Example:

It’s a rainy Tuesday. PAGASA raises Signal No. 2 and flooding is expected in your area.

•  Your company decides to suspend work for safety.

•  Maria stays home → No pay (unless your company has a more generous policy or she uses her leave).

•  Juan still reports and works 7 hours → Full day’s pay + possible incentive.

•  Ana reports but only works 3 hours because the roads became dangerous → She gets 3/8 of her daily wage (proportionate).

•  Pedro refuses to report because the waters are already rising near his house → The company cannot discipline him.

Bottom line: Safety first, but clear pay rules apply. Always check your company policy or CBA — they may be more beneficial than the minimum under this Advisory.

Stay safe, everyone! 🌧️

#DOLE #LaborAdvisory #PhilippineLaborLaw #HRPhilippines #WorkplaceSafety #TyphoonSeason #EmployeeRights #CGRLAW 

CGRLAW & Associates

Unit 2101 and 2111 Cityland 10 Tower 2, H.V. Dela Costa Street, 

Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Mak​ati City 

3F Salcedo One Centre, 170  Salcedo Street, 

Legaspi Village, Makati City

U302 Capitol Masonic, 35 Matalino Street, 

Diliman, Quezon City

Tel. No. (+63 2) 8277 7239 

             (+63 2) 8985 4322

              (+63 918) 948 6092 DL Mobile

           (+1 646) 918 1512. DL US

email: claude.requino@cgrlaw.ph

website: www.cgrlaw.ph

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. You are hereby notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be violative of Cybercrime Prevention Act.

ESG REPORTING MANDATORY

SEC just raised the bar on sustainability reporting

Under Memorandum Circular No. 22, Series of 2026, the Commission has formally adopted IFRS S1 (General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information) and IFRS S2 (Climate-related Disclosures), alongside the latest Philippine Financial Reporting Standards.

This is no longer optional or “best practice.”

For publicly listed companies, large corporations, and entities preparing financial statements under PFRS, climate and sustainability disclosures are now part of the official reporting framework. The phased rollout means the largest firms begin applying these standards from FY2026, with others following through 2028.

Why this matters for compliance right now:

• Boards and management can no longer treat ESG as a separate CSR exercise. Sustainability risks and opportunities must be integrated into financial reporting and governance processes.

• RE developers, project companies, and foreign investors will face increased scrutiny from lenders, offtakers, and equity partners who demand ISSB-aligned disclosures.

• Non-compliance or incomplete disclosures can trigger regulatory findings, reputational risk, and difficulties in raising capital or securing project financing.

• The circular also incorporates related updates (PFRS 18, PFRS 19, and amendments on nature-dependent electricity contracts), tightening the overall financial reporting environment.

For renewable energy, infrastructure, and corporate clients, the practical next steps are clear: gap assessments against S1/S2 requirements, board-level climate governance reviews, and readiness work on data systems and internal controls.

At CGRLAW, we are already helping clients map their current reporting against the new standards and build practical compliance roadmaps.

If your company is listed, preparing for listing, or seeking green finance, now is the time to act—not when the first reporting cycle arrives.

Feel free to message me if you’d like a short checklist or preliminary discussion.

#SEC #SustainabilityReporting #IFRSS1 #IFRSS2 #ESG #ClimateDisclosure #PhilippineCorporateLaw #RenewableEnergy #Compliance #CGRLAW

CGRLAW & Associates Law Offices

Unit 2101 and 2111 Cityland 10 Tower 2, H.V. Dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Mak​ati City 

3F Salcedo One Centre, 170  Salcedo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City

U302 Capitol Masonic, 35 Matalino Street, Diliman, Quezon City

Tel. No. (+63 2) 8277 7239 

             (+63 2) 8985 4322

              (+63 918) 948 6092 DL Mobile

           (+1 646) 918 1512. DL US

email: claude.requino@cgrlaw.ph

website: www.cgrlaw.ph

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. You are hereby notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be violative of Cybercrime Prevention Act.

The Philippine digital banking space is heating up — and the competition is only getting sharper with MariBank new entrant

The Philippine digital banking space is heating up — and the competition is only getting sharper with MariBank new entrant

As of July 2026, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has licensed seven digital banks, with a hard cap of 10. That leaves three remaining slots under the current ceiling.

Current players
• Maya Bank
• GoTyme Bank
• Tonik Digital Bank
• UNO Digital Bank
• UnionDigital Bank
• Overseas Filipino Bank (Land Bank’s digital arm)
• MariBank (the newest entrant — converted from a rural bank license and began operating as a full digital bank on 18 July 2026)

MariBank’s approval marks the first of the additional licenses the BSP opened after lifting its earlier moratorium. Three other applications that were submitted before the November 2025 deadline remain under evaluation.

Why the BSP lifted the moratorium
In 2021 the BSP froze new digital bank applications so it could closely monitor the first wave of players. After assessing their financial soundness and contribution to financial inclusion and digital transformation, the Monetary Board decided in 2024 to lift the moratorium effective 1 January 2025. The goal was clear: encourage new business models, level the playing field between incumbents and new entrants, and accelerate the delivery of digital financial services to unserved and underserved Filipinos — while still keeping the total number manageable at a maximum of 10.

The result? A more competitive market. Existing digital banks are already pushing higher deposit rates, faster onboarding, and more innovative products. With MariBank now in the mix and up to three more licenses potentially on the way, customers stand to benefit from even stronger competition on rates, features, and user experience.

The Philippine digital banking story is no longer just about “potential.” It is becoming a genuine competitive arena — and that is good news for consumers, for financial inclusion, and for the broader financial system.

What stage are you now? Want to get ahead? MariBank gets ahead. Slide a DM for advantage.

#DigitalBanking #FinTechPH #BSP #PhilippineBanking #FinancialInclusion #cgrlaw #Maribank

CGRLAW & Associates

Unit 2101 and 2111 Cityland 10 Tower 2, H.V. Dela Costa Street, 

Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Mak​ati City 

3F Salcedo One Centre, 170  Salcedo Street, 

Legaspi Village, Makati City

U302 Capitol Masonic, 35 Matalino Street, 

Diliman, Quezon City

Tel. No. (+63 2) 8277 7239 

             (+63 2) 8985 4322

              (+63 918) 948 6092 DL Mobile

           (+1 646) 918 1512. DL US

email: claude.requino@cgrlaw.ph

website: www.cgrlaw.ph

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Is 100% foreign ownership in Philippine telecommunications really new?

Is 100% foreign ownership in Philippine telecommunications really new?

Not entirely — but the 13th Foreign Investment Negative List (EO 113, effective May 2026) has now locked it in clearly.

Quick timeline:
• Pre-2022: Telecommunications was treated as a public utility → constitutional 40% foreign equity cap.
• March 2022: RA 11659 (amended Public Service Act) reclassified telecoms as a public service (not a public utility). This removed the constitutional barrier and opened the door to 100% foreign ownership, subject to reciprocity.
• 12th FINL (2022): Reflected the liberalization.
• 13th FINL (2026): Explicitly confirms that “operation and management of telecommunications” may be 100% foreign-owned if the investor’s home country grants reciprocal treatment to Filipinos. Without reciprocity, the ceiling is 50%.

So while the legal foundation was laid in 2022, the 13th FINL provides the clearest, most current confirmation in the investment negative list framework.

Does “telecommunications” include internet service providers (ISPs)?

Yes, in most cases. The statutory definition of telecommunications covers the transmission of voice, data, electronic messages, and signals by wire, radio, optical, or other technological means. Broadband and internet access services generally fall under this category (though pure value-added services and passive infrastructure have their own nuances). Recent laws such as the Konektadong Pinoy Act have further reduced barriers for data transmission players.

Practical takeaway for foreign investors and local partners:
The combination of the 2022 Public Service Act amendment and the 2026 FINL creates a more predictable pathway for full foreign ownership in telcos and ISPs — provided reciprocity and licensing requirements are met. National security reviews and sector-specific permits still apply.

This is one of the more meaningful openings in recent years for digital infrastructure investment.

If you’re exploring entry into Philippine telecoms, broadband, or related digital infrastructure, or need a clear assessment of reciprocity and structuring options, feel free to reach out.

#ForeignInvestment #Telecommunications #Philippines #FINL #PublicServiceAct #CGRLAW

CGRLAW & Associates

Unit 2101 and 2111 Cityland 10 Tower 2, H.V. Dela Costa Street, 

Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Mak​ati City 

3F Salcedo One Centre, 170  Salcedo Street, 

Legaspi Village, Makati City

U302 Capitol Masonic, 35 Matalino Street, 

Diliman, Quezon City

Tel. No. (+63 2) 8277 7239 

             (+63 2) 8985 4322

              (+63 918) 948 6092 DL Mobile

           (+1 646) 918 1512. DL US

email: claude.requino@cgrlaw.ph

website: www.cgrlaw.ph

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. You are hereby notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be violative of Cybercrime Prevention Act.