MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Mining Development Corporation (PMDC), the government’s mining arm, has expressed its support for and adoption of “Big Brother–Small Brother” initiative, a partnership framework that encourages cooperation between large-scale mining operators and small-scale miners.
PMDC President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Job Adrian M. Ambrosio said the Corporation is adopting the approach in recognition of the support of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for collaborative programs that promote the formalization of small-scale mining, responsible mineral development, improved mine safety, environmental compliance, and inclusive economic growth.
Under the model, established and technically capable mining operators may assist small-scale miners in transitioning toward legal, properly regulated, and environmentally responsible operations. Assistance may include technical guidance, mine planning, safety systems, environmental management, mineral processing, regulatory compliance, and access to legitimate markets.
The proposal seeks to demonstrate that responsible mining can create lasting economic opportunities while significantly improving worker safety, environmental stewardship, and community welfare in mining host communities.
For decades, a significant portion of the country’s small-scale mining sector has operated outside the formal regulatory system. Illegal and unregulated mining activities often expose workers to hazardous underground conditions where accidents and fatalities remain a serious concern.
The unregulated use of mercury and cyanide may also contribute to the contamination of rivers and waterways, while the absence of proper engineering, mine planning, waste management, and erosion-control measures increases the risks of landslides, pollution, and environmental degradation.
Illegal mining operations have likewise been associated with child labor, inadequate social protection, and economic inequities, where a limited number of individuals receive substantial profits while many miners continue to work under dangerous conditions and earn only modest incomes.
Recognizing these longstanding challenges, Ambrosio said enforcement must be accompanied by practical and viable legal alternatives that encourage small-scale miners to enter the formal economy and become part of a safer, more productive, and properly regulated mining industry.
“The MGB has recognized that cooperation between large-scale mining companies and small-scale miners can provide a practical pathway toward formalization. PMDC supports this direction and intends to adopt the Big Brother–Small Brother approach in appropriate PMDC mining areas,” Ambrosio said.
Ambrosio noted that the partnership approach draws from programs such as the Big Brother–Small Brother initiative implemented by Itogon-Suyoc Resources, Inc. (ISRI), a subsidiary of Apex Mining Co., Inc., which demonstrates how established mining operators can help small-scale miners improve safety, compliance, environmental management, livelihood generation, and operational sustainability.
PMDC will work closely with the MGB, local government units, indigenous cultural communities, small-scale mining associations, partner operators, and other concerned government agencies to determine how the model may be responsibly implemented in suitable PMDC projects and mineral areas.
Ambrosio said the future of Philippine mining should be inclusive—one where mineral development benefits small-scale miners and their families, host communities, local governments, and the national economy.
“Responsible mining must create opportunity, not exclusion. By working with the MGB and our mining communities, we can help transform informal mining into a safer, legal, environmentally responsible, and sustainable industry that provides long-term livelihoods for Filipino miners,” Ambrosio said.