The Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) has made a landmark contribution to the mining industry by reinforcing environmental safeguards and protecting the rights of local mining communities, particularly through the implementation of the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP).
On February 11, 2025, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga signed DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2025-10, titled “Guidelines on the Integration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the Formulation and Implementation of the Social Development and Management Program.”
This policy strengthens the government’s mandate requiring all mining contractors, permit holders, and patent holders to implement the SDMP for their host and neighboring communities effectively. It underscores the government’s commitment to sustainable mining by ensuring that the Programs, Projects, and Activities (P/P/As) formulated under the SDMP align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as AmBisyon Natin 2040, the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, and the National Climate Change Action Plan.
As part of the 2030 Agenda, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution No. 70/1 on September 25, 2015, establishing seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to eradicate global poverty and promote inclusive, sustainable growth. The following SDGs are particularly relevant to the mining industry:
Goal No. 1: No Poverty
Goal No. 2: Zero Hunger
Goal No. 3: Good Health and Well-being
Goal No. 4: Quality Education
Goal No. 5: Gender Equality
Goal No. 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Goal No. 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Goal No. 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal No. 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Goal No. 10: Reduced Inequalities
Goal No. 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Goal No. 13: Climate Action
Goal No. 14: Life Below Water
Goal No. 15: Life on Land
Goal No. 17: Partnership for the Goals
With DAO No. 2025-10 firmly in place, mining companies are expected to implement the SDMP with greater efficiency and impact, reinforcing the country’s commitment to achieving the SDGs and other national development goals. This policy enhances the mining sector’s role in sustainable development and ensures that community programs deliver tangible, long-term benefits.
One key objective of the new guidelines is to maximize the SDMP's positive contributions by directly linking its initiatives to the SDGs. To achieve this, a more structured and measurable framework is established, providing mining companies with clear guidelines for aligning their programs with the SDGs. In practical terms, every P/P/A under the SDMP must explicitly support the achievement of one or more SDGs.
The scope of these guidelines begins with the formulation of the SDMP, which is part of the requirements for the approval of the Declaration of Mining Project Feasibility. It extends through the development and construction stages and continues throughout the mining operation period, ensuring that sustainability remains a core principle at every stage of a mining project.
DAO No. 2025-10 was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on February 18, 2025, and registered with the Office of the National Registry on April 21, 2022. The full version of DAO No. 2025-10 can be accessed through this link.
By: Mine Safety, Environment, and Social Development Division