The Crescent Mining Development Corporation (CMDC) is continuing its drilling operations in Bulalacao, Mankayan, illegally. 

Their Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA), granted in 1996, expired in November 21, 2021. To the surprise of the Bulalacao community, the MPSA was renewed in March 2, 2022 without their knowledge nor any conduct of the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process.

In June 18, 2022, the residents of Bulalacao, Mankayan, Benguet in Northern Philippines set-up a barricade at the drilling site, however, CMDC remains stubborn and is continuing their illegal drilling despite the apparent rejection of the people from the affected community.

Upon review of the incidents leading to the MPSA renewal, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) granted the renewal even in the absence of a Certification Precondition (CP) from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). The CP is the supposed consequence of the peoples' consent after the FPIC is conducted. 

In this case, no FPIC was conducted and no CP was issued, hence there is no basis for the renewal of the MPSA.

The people of Bulalacao, through their leaders and organization, Indigenous Peoples' Organization of Bulalacao (IPOB), have issued resolutions rejecting any conduct of activities by CMDC; they have repeatedly submitted letters and appeals to the concerned government agencies regarding their concerns iterating their objection to the MPSA renewal. There have been no favorable response from the authorities yet.

The Indigenous peoples of Bulalacao are in need of our support in their struggle against mining and for the protection of their ancestral domain. 

On behalf of our partners, members and member organizations, we from the Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (AIPNEE) together with the Cordillera Peoples' Alliance (CPA), enjoin everybody to sign the petition and lend your voices to the Bulalacao community and the whole municipality of Mankayan, Benguet to amplify their voices rejecting the CMDC's drilling operation. They need our voices to echo their call to RECALL CMDC's MPSA RENEWAL. NO TO MINING IN MANKAYAN!!