BY LEIF C. DAHL
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—A court decision has restrained anti-mining groups from blocking Woggle Corporation’s access to a mineral exploration site in Dupax del Norte in this province with the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).
The TRO, which also prevents further obstruction, allowing the Woggle to proceed with its exploration activities, will remain in effect until October 30, unless withdrawn earlier by the court.
Presided by Judge Paul Atolba Jr., the Regional Trial Court of Bayombong, Branch 30, issued the TRO dated October 14, 2025, restraining the defendants from maintaining barricades preventing Woggle’s vehicles, employees, contractors, representatives and agents from entering the exploration area.
In line with these statutory rights and the valid government permit, Woggle Corporation asserts that the actions of the group in putting up the barricade and preventing the entry of the company’s employees and contractors constitute illegal obstruction.
Woggle Corporation was granted an Exploration Permit (EP) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) in August 2025, covering approximately 3,101.11 hectares across the villages of Bitnong, Mungia, Oyao, Inaban and Parai in Dupax del Norte.
Under the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 or Republic Act 7942, an EP authorizes the permittee to conduct exploration for all minerals within the specified exploration area and grants the permittee, its assigns, or successors-in-interest, the right to enter, occupy, and explore the area.
Anti-mining groups maintained a barricade since October 6, 2025, preventing the company’s employees and contractors from accessing the site, hence, Woggle sought legal remedies and obtained said TRO from the court.
While the barricading group claims that local communities were not properly consulted before the DENR-MGB approved the company’s exploration permit, Woggle Corporation also asserts that it has “complied with all necessary procedures, including securing the required government permit and coordinating with local authorities.”
In a statement, Woggle emphasized that the company’s operations are “confined to exploration work, data gathering and technical assessment, which do not involve commercial extraction and are subject to strict environmental and social safeguards.”
Maintaining that the company conducted the requisite consultations with the Sanggunian concerned before commencing exploration, the company added that “the TRO is a necessary step to ensure compliance with the rule of law and the orderly implementation of a government-sanctioned project.”