EARTH-2026-0031

San Fernando council recalls Altai mining endorsement on Sibuyan

LandModerate urgency

Monitoring

Step 6 of 6 · reported 54 days ago

ReportedReported: reached
Under verificationUnder verification: reached
Referred to authoritiesReferred to authorities: reached
Action in progressAction in progress: reached
ResolvedResolved: reached
MonitoringMonitoring: reached

Resolved, and now being watched so it does not simply happen again.

What was reported

On 17 July 2026 the Sangguniang Bayan of San Fernando passed Municipal Resolution No. 297 endorsing Altai Philippines Mining Corporation's proposed operations under its Mineral Production Sharing Agreement in Barangay España, Sibuyan Island, near Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park. After protests, the council voted 4-2 on 3 August to withdraw the endorsement, citing procedural infirmities and deteriorating peace and order, and required broader consultations, environmental studies and natural capital accounting under RA 11995 before any reconsideration. Altai said it would pursue all legal and administrative remedies. MGB MIMAROPA Regional Director Felizardo Gacad Jr. said a cease and desist order issued in 2023 remains in effect, the company's exploration period expired in 2024 with an extension refused, and no mining activity has been detected.

Evidence

3 files attached

This case is documented in public reporting. Every fact on this page comes from the sources below, which are kept against the case so the record can be checked.

SB San Fernando binawi ang pag-endorso sa mining project ng Altai sa Sibuyan
Romblon News Network · Aug 3, 2026
APMC ikinabahala ang pag-withdraw ng San Fernando SB sa naunang mining endorsement
Romblon News Network · Aug 4, 2026
DENR: Walang mining activity malapit sa Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park
Romblon News Network · Aug 14, 2026

The full history

Every change of state, timestamped, oldest first. Entries are added, never edited or removed, so the record of how long something took cannot be quietly improved later.

July 17, 2026Reported
The council approved Resolution No. 297 endorsing Altai's mining project in Barangay España.
Recorded by Sangguniang Bayan of San Fernando
August 3, 2026Referred to authorities
In a special session the council voted 4-2 to recall the endorsement and ordered further studies and public consultations.
Recorded by Sangguniang Bayan of San Fernando
August 4, 2026Under verification
The company said the quick withdrawal raised questions and that it would use every legal and administrative remedy available.
Recorded by Altai Philippines Mining Corporation
August 14, 2026Monitoring
Director Gacad said the 2023 cease and desist order stands and agency monitoring has found no mining or exploration activity on the site.
Recorded by MGB MIMAROPA

What was reported

The full history

Every change of state, timestamped, oldest first. Entries are added, never edited or removed, so the record of how long something took cannot be quietly improved later.

July 17, 2026Reported
The council approved Resolution No. 297 endorsing Altai's mining project in Barangay España.
Recorded by Sangguniang Bayan of San Fernando
August 3, 2026Referred to authorities
In a special session the council voted 4-2 to recall the endorsement and ordered further studies and public consultations.
Recorded by Sangguniang Bayan of San Fernando
August 4, 2026Under verification
The company said the quick withdrawal raised questions and that it would use every legal and administrative remedy available.
Recorded by Altai Philippines Mining Corporation
August 14, 2026Monitoring
Director Gacad said the 2023 cease and desist order stands and agency monitoring has found no mining or exploration activity on the site.
Recorded by MGB MIMAROPA