Panaghiusa stands with people of Guinaoang, Bulalacao; calls to stop destructive mining in ancestral lands

[TAGALOG] Panaghiusa kaisa ng mamamayan ng Guinaoang, Bulalacao; nanawagan na itigil ang mapanirang pagmimina sa lupang ninuno

The Panaghiusa Philippine Network to Uphold Indigenous Peoples' Rights stands in resolute solidarity with the communities of Guinaoang and Bulalacao in Mankayan, Benguet, who have once again risen to defend their ancestral lands against the destructive encroachment of Crescent Mining and Development Corporation (CMDC) and its foreign partner, Blackstone Minerals.

Photos from Rima Mangili via Northern Dispatch and Cordillera Peoples Alliance.

On October 13, 2025, the mountains bore witness to a powerful act of resistance. Over 400 residents gathered for a mass and community program to bless their newly installed barricade, a sacred symbol of unity, vigilance, and defiance. The Indigenous Peoples also launched the No Mines Movement of Guinaoang and Bulalacao.

This collective action of the communities of Kankanaey is rooted in their continuing struggle to defend ancestral lands, assert self-determination, and the duty to “preserve, protect, and enhance cultural values, natural resources, and the people’s collective future.”

We condemn the renewal of CMDC’s Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples’ issuance of its Certification Precondition (CP), both pushed through without Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) from affected residents. These actions violate the rights of the Indigenous Peoples and expose the corruption and negligence of government agencies tasked to protect them.

Since August 2025, residents have maintained a 24-hour watch at their barricade, blocking the entry of drilling equipment and recalling their victorious stand in 2022, when they halted CMDC’s exploration through collective action.

Panaghiusa echoes the calls of the communities of Guinaoang and Bulalacao: Defend Mankayan! Defend Cordillera! No to CMDC! No to Destructive Mining in Indigenous Peoples’ Communities!

We call on all Indigenous Peoples, environmental defenders, and freedom-loving Filipinos to rise in solidarity. Genuine development respects the rights of the Indigenous Peoples and the welfare of the communities. #

Reference:

Rikki Mae Gono

National Coordinator

Panaghiusa Philippine Network to Uphold Indigenous Peoples’ Rights