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The Tampakan copper-gold mine project, Diocese of Marbel, Philippines

Author: Jaybee Garganera, National Coordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) and Rhoda Viajar, Media/Communications Consultant at ATM

Year: 2026

Location: Municipality of Tampakan, South Cotabato Province, Mindanao, Philippines

Group holds banner reading "CANCEL THE FTAA EXTENSION OF TAMPAKAN COPPER-GOLD MINING PROJECT!".

Since the publication the landmark pastoral letter in 1988, “What is Happening to our Beautiful Land?,” the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has played a critical role in communities’ resistance to destructive mining activities. After describing statements of the CBCP with regard to the ecological consequences of mining over the last three decades, the case study examines the actions taken by the Social Action Centre of the Diocese of Marbel with regard to the one of the largest copper-gold sites in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Since the start of exploration activities in 2003, the Church has supported the mobilisation of local communities to prevent ecological damage. It has been a key actor in a successful ban on open-pit mining in the South Cotabato Province, and in documenting human rights violations in the region. As of April 2026, the mining company, Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI), has not been able to begin commercial mining operations in Tampakan. The case study highlights the following critical actions: research and documentation; education and awareness-raising; organizing grassroots communities; networking, alliance-making and coalition-building; petitions and collecting signatures; filing legal cases; participation in electoral campaigns; and international advocacy and solidarity.

Translations were done with DeepL translation software and proofread by human readers who are native language speakers.

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