PMCJ flags nickel-chromite mining expansion project’s non-compliance, backs Zambales residents’ opposition
Updated: 3 hours ago
Zambales, Philippines – Communities in Sta. Cruz, Zambales seek to nullify the public hearing on Oct. 14, 2026, for the proposed nickel-chromite mining expansion project in Sta. Cruz, Zambales. Together with the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), Zambales residents sent a letter to the Environmental Management Bureau Region III formally requesting the cancellation of the public hearing, arguing that Zambales Chromite Mining Company, Inc. (ZCMCI) failed to comply with the public hearing's jurisdictional requirements.
“The project proponent has failed to submit a copy of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) to the stakeholders, failed to give notices in conspicuous places such as LGU Offices, public markets, barangay halls, schools, and other public institutions, and did not manage to post the project description on the EMB Website and the official DENR-EMB Facebook page,” said Salvador Cortez Jr. of Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz (CCOS).
Cortez also said a resident reported that a police officer called them and asked who their companions would be at the public hearing. The following day, they observed a substantial police presence at the public hearing venue.
“The sequence of these events raised concerns within the team regarding the potential implications of police inquiries and the visible deployment of police personnel for community members who intended to participate in the public hearing. During the public hearing, community participation was low, with attendees mostly consisting of mining company employees, LGU representatives, and barangay officials. We condemn this intimidation,” said Yel Nejal, PMCJ food, land, water, and climate (FLWC) senior campaign officer.
Zambaleños have long resisted mining in the province. Decades of opposition have exposed the mining industry’s toll on communities' livelihoods. Cortez has protested the proposed expansion, noting how it affects his livelihood as a fisher.
“The promise of jobs when the mining has started is ironic because since the mining operation has begun, the fish catch has deteriorated and has disappeared from nearshore bays because the murky, sediment-filled water disrupts spawning and feeding grounds. We have supported our families through fishing, and another expansion of this mining is an outright death threat to our lives and livelihood.” Cortez Jr. stressed.
Amid the climate crisis, mining poses a major threat to the global climate. Data from the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) shows that mining and metals were the sixth-largest contributor to global GHG emissions in 2024.
“Beyond the huge implications for the fishing and agriculture industries, nickel mining operations drive deforestation and the loss of species that provide climate resilience, such as terrestrial and mangrove forests. Mining accounts for 4%–7% of global GHG emissions, both directly through operations and indirectly, which translates into disastrous climate events such as prolonged drought, intensified typhoons, flooding, and sea-level rise. If the government continues to let these destructive projects sit in our communities, they are also guiding the communities to their graves,” Nejal stressed.
In a statement, DMCI Mining Corporation said its subsidiary, ZCMCI, began operations in 2024 and is expected to reach full capacity in 2025, hence the need for expansion. PMCJ will continue to monitor the process, document community concerns, and engage DENR-EMB to ensure that these issues are properly considered. ###
For inquiries, contact:
Danica Espedillon
Media and Communications Officer
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
For other PMCJ-related concerns:
Sheila Abarra
Senior Media and Communications Officer
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
Viber: +63-991-669-2356; WhatsApp: +63-938-089-8327
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