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Pictured from left to right: NCIP Development Management Officer Caroline Sayson;  NCIP Executive Director Mervyn H. Espadero; MMCI National Gov’t Affairs and Compliance Superintendent Anne Zee Luz Laguerder; NCIP Chairperson Jennifer Pia Sibug-las; NCIP Director Atty. Catherine Gayagay-Apaling

Highlights

• The Philippine National Commission on Indigenous Peoples has issued a Certification Precondition confirming that Free, Prior, and Informed Consent was obtained from the Balatoc Indigenous Cultural Community for the MCB Project.
  
  
• It is the first Certification Precondition for a Copper Gold project to be issued in the Philippines in the last 5 years.

Celsius Resources (ASX, AIM: CLA) is pleased to announce that its Philippine affiliate, Makilala Mining Company, Inc. (“MMCI or the “Company”), has been issued a Certification Precondition (“CP”) from the Philippine National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (“NCIP”) for its flagship Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog Copper-Gold Project (“MCB” or the “Project”).

As the government agency mandated to protect the rights of indigenous peoples, the NCIP ascertains that the collective decision of the Balatoc Indigenous Cultural Community (“ICC”) has been obtained with respect to their right to self-determination over their ancestral lands. The NCIP En Banc also reviewed and evaluated the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (“FPIC”) process to ensure that it was observed in accordance with Republic Act No. 8371, or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (“IPRA”) of 1997¹.

The Certification Precondition (CP-CAR-2024-504, issued on 4 September 2024), is the culmination of a ~3-year process which entailed extensive stakeholder engagement resulting in a Memorandum of Agreement signed by and between MMCI, the Balatoc ICC, and NCIP stipulating the benefits, commitments, and obligations of all parties during the life of the MCB mine.² 

Celsius Executive Chairman Atty. Julito R. Sarmiento, said:

“This is arguably one of the most stringent approval milestones for a new project to achieve. It has always been the Company’s commitment to observance and respect for the customary laws and practices of the Balatoc ICC throughout the FPIC process as an integral part of obtaining and strengthening our social license.

We are grateful that the NCIP En Banc recognised the value and contribution of the MCB Project to improve the lives of the Balatoc ICC. The issuance of the Certification Precondition is not only an achievement for the Company, it is also a milestone for the Balatoc ICC as our partner in the development and operation of the MCB Project.”

Next steps

The Certification Precondition is one of the compliance requirements under the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement with the Philippine Government as prescribed under Republic Act 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 19953 and one of the outstanding commitments under the MPSA4.

With the issuance of the Certificate Precondition, the only remaining requirement is to submit additional proof of financial capability to carry out the necessary work programs. The CP now allows management to finalise arrangements with interested Philippine and international investors for funding the MCB Project. These discussions had been delayed, awaiting the issuance of the Certification Precondition. 

1 https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1997/10/29/republic-act-no-8371/
2 ASX/AIM Announcement 15 November 2022