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The Philippine’s critical minerals and rare earths industry is expected to get a major boost from raw production to the more high-value processing segment with the signing of a support agreement with the United States
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Environment secretary Raphael Lotilla and US under secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg signed on February 4, 2026 a Memorandum of Understanding on the support program
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The US has signed 10 similar MOUs and completed negotiations with 17 other countries, according to the State Department
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The Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. welcomed and expressed full support to the MOU, which it said will strengthen the economy and the country’s standing in the global supply chain
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Critical minerals and rare earth elements are crucial inputs in making electronic products such as smart phones, e-vehicles, renewable energy technologies, and advanced manufacturing
The Philippine’s critical minerals and rare earths industry is expected to get a major boost from raw production to the more high-value processing segment with the signing of a support agreement with the United States
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary Raphael Lotilla and US under secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg signed on February 4, 2026 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that aims to advance Philippine economic policy away from the export of raw mineral ores toward increased domestic processing and value addition.
“Through this partnership, we are building a Filipino-led industry that processes our own resources, creates high-skilled jobs, and strengthens our position in the global high-tech supply chain. We will be able to keep more of the economic benefits of mining within the country,” Lotilla said in a statement.
Critical minerals and rare earth elements are crucial inputs in making electronics products such as smart phones, electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, and advanced manufacturing.
The signing took place on the sidelines of the 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial, hosted by the US Department of State in Washington, D.C. The event brought together ministers and senior officials from 54 countries and the European Commission.
Several countries have entered into similar critical minerals agreements with the US, including Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom as well as Malaysia and Thailand in the ASEAN Region, DENR noted.
In a separate press release, the Department of Foreign Affairs said 10 other countries signed an MOU on critical minerals with the US, including Argentina, Cook Islands, Ecuador, Guinea, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan.
The US State Department said that the American government “has signed ten other critical mineral frameworks or MOUs in the past five months and reached completion of negotiations on such agreements with seventeen other countries.”
Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said that, “the Philippines welcomes the signing of the MOU as a significant step towards deepening bilateral cooperation on critical minerals that will benefit the local economy, enhance our competitiveness, upscale our industry, and align our economy to global standards as the country assumes a greater role in the global supply and value chain.”
The Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) welcomed and expressed full support to the MOU.
“This partnership is anticipated to attract investment, create jobs, and bolster the country’s role in the global high tech supply chain,” PHILEXPORT said in a statement
“Further, the MOU strengthens ties for Filipino-led mining companies to access the U.S. market and secure supply chains,” it cited. “The agreement likewise positions the Philippines alongside other US partners like Australia, Japan, and South Korea in securing, refining, and recycling critical minerals.”
The industry group also underscored that the MOU is in line with the “government’s thrust to streamline mining regulations to support this shift towards processed exports.”
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