Indigenous groups protest Itogon mine expansion scoping

ITOGON, Benguet — Jan. 27, 2026 — Indigenous Peoples (IPs) from several communities in Itogon town protested Tuesday against the proposed expansion of the Sangilo Mines project and declined to fully participate in a government-led public scoping activity, according to a statement from a local alliance.

Residents from Sitio Dalicno in Barangay Ampucao and from Barangay Poblacion gathered while the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) held a public scoping session at the Itogon Training Center in Bua, Tuding, Itogon, for the Sangilo Mines Expansion Project (APSA 103).

The Itogon Interbarangay Alliance (IIB-A), a municipal-wide nongovernment organization, said communities chose collective action over participation, arguing that the scoping process failed to meet standards for genuine, informed and meaningful consultation.

In a press release explaining their position, the group said the public notice was inadequate and that residents were given only 13 days to review a highly technical, 170-page document. While the file was viewable online, it was not downloadable, which they said further limited public access.

The alliance called on regulators to require “comprehensive, independent hydrogeological studies and dam construction assessments” and to ensure a proper process for free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) in line with Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

Protesters described APSA 103 as an “existential threat” to Indigenous cultural communities in Itogon. They said the expansion would raise the proponent’s production capacity from 500 tonnes per day to 515 tonnes per day and could extend operations by about 34 years.

The statement also alleged that government agencies and local officials were supporting the project despite community opposition. It said a court case filed by Dalicno residents was dismissed on technical grounds.

According to a DENR-EMB public scoping notice received by the Sangguniang Bayan office of Itogon on Jan. 14, the project proponent is Itogon-Suyoc Resources, Inc. (ISRI).

The APSA 103 project site is identified in the notice as covering parts of barangays Ampucao, Virac and Poblacion in Itogon, Benguet.

The claims and positions of the protesters were drawn from the IIB-A press release. DENR-EMB, ISRI, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and the Itogon local government were not immediately available for comment.