A nickel mining firm in Mati City, through its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP), has provided the Indigenous Peoples (IP) with legally mandated royalties and benefits from programs worth at least PHP20 million annually, including scholarships, basic services, water systems, and road repairs.

In a statement Thursday, the Hallmark Mining Corporation (HMC) said that they have continuously supported agriculture, education, healthcare, scholarships, and livelihoods in host communities, while prioritizing local employment.

“Mining may be temporary, but community gains must endure, focusing on rehabilitation, skills training, and alternative livelihoods to ensure long-term self-sufficiency,” the firm added.

This developed as nickel mined in Mati is now part of the global supply chain powering electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy systems, highlighting the Philippines’ growing role in the clean energy transition.

From Mati’s mineral-rich terrain to EVs worldwide, locally mined nickel is helping drive a cleaner global future, while strengthening communities at home.

Operating under government-approved Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSAs), the HMC has supplied nickel laterite ore to processing hubs in China and Indonesia from 2022 to 2025.

“These materials are used in EV batteries and energy storage systems – sectors that drive worldwide decarbonization,” the company added.

Originally valued primarily for its use in stainless steel, nickel has now become a crucial element in EV batteries.

The Philippines ranked as the world’s second-largest nickel producer in 2023, with output of about 330,000 metric tons, largely from laterite deposits.

“Our operations prioritize responsible mining and community development, fully compliant with Department of Environment and Natural Resources standards for erosion control, watershed monitoring, dust management, land rehabilitation, and native tree planting,” the HMC assured. (PNA)