The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are working together to promote investments in the extraction and processing of critical minerals.
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said the joint efforts with DTI is part of the Marcos administration’s thrust to promote investments in the mining industry.
“We are in full collaboration with the DTI in promoting the investments in processing. And so nickel of course is one of those areas na talagang tinitingnan. And of course, we are looking at copper as well,” Loyzaga said in the Palace briefing on Wednesday.
She said other countries generally wanted a steady supply of copper, nickel and cobalt — all of which are necessary in construction, electronics, and digitalization.
Digitalization alone will be driving the demand for processes, she noted.
“So, dito po, DTI is leading the way, we are not a department that can give incentives, as I said earlier. Ang ginagawa po namin ngayon is streamlining our permitting process while not losing the comprehensive analysis that needs to be done when we take a look at what is being permitted in terms of extraction,” Loyzaga said. (PCO)
