00:00The Philippines declares all critical mineral projects as national priority to boost its
00:05domestic industry in response to global demand for minerals. The Marcos administration wants
00:11the domestic critical minerals industry boosted as the world shifts to clean energy and responds
00:16to the artificial intelligence boom. These require critical minerals such as lithium,
00:21nickel, and cobalt. President Fernando Marcos Jr. signs Executive Order 122 that directs his
00:28cabinet to focus on finding more critical mineral reservations that can be developed and establish
00:33the downstream industries that create value and jobs. This means creating firms that engage in
00:39refining, processing, and manufacturing of electronic and renewable energy components.
00:44This includes Paxilica, its proposed semiconductor plants, critical mineral processing centers,
00:50and data centers. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Mines and Geosciences
00:56Bureau are central to the state endeavor. Some environmental advocates are skeptical of the
01:01policy. The Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center says it opens up a potential 1,000% increase
01:08of mining land area compared to the present total hectare of approved mining projects.
