Advocating for Systemic Support for Small-Scale Miners in the Philippines

• A tragic mining accident in Itogon, Benguet, on September 30, 2026, resulted in the deaths of seven small-scale miners, prompting calls for systemic reform.
• Leoncio Na-oy, a miner and advocate, argues that regulatory compliance alone is insufficient to protect workers.

The Realities of Small-Scale Mining

• Small-scale mining is a generational survival strategy in mineral-rich areas like the Cordillera.
• Miners face daily hazards including mine collapses, poor ventilation, and exposure to toxic substances like mercury.
• Workers often operate outside formal safety systems, lacking access to training and modern protective technology.

Requirements for Effective Formalization

• Formalization, such as participating in the 'Minahang Bayan' system, must move beyond paperwork to provide meaningful institutional support.
• True safety requires sustained access to government guidance, technical assistance, and safer equipment.
• Transitioning away from mercury necessitates practical alternatives, training, and knowledge, not just bans.

Policy and Stakeholder Responsibility

• Current legislation, specifically Republic Act No. 7076 (1991), requires modernization to meet contemporary challenges.
• The proposed House Bill No. 9311 (Minahang Bayan Act) offers a framework for more responsive and safe mining practices.
• Responsibility is shared among government agencies, local units, and civil society, who must treat miners as partners rather than merely subjects of regulation.