A multisectoral alliance of civil society organizations advocating to counter mining operations in Nueva Vizcaya was launched today at the University of the Philippines–Diliman in Quezon City.
The group, known as the Defend Nueva Vizcaya Movement (DNVM), expressed support for the ongoing local resistance in the municipality of Dupax del Norte against mining operations by the London-based Woggle Mining Corporation.
“Today we gather not merely to launch a movement, but to affirm a conviction — that land is sacred, people are sacred, and our advocacy is sacred as well,” said Bishop Elmer Macalinao of Bayombong, lead convenor of DNVM.
Residents of Dupax del Norte have been barricading against Woggle since September 2025, claiming procedural violations by the mining corporation, including a lack of proper consultations to secure permits and illegally uprooting trees in the area.
After a local court issued an order allowing drilling operations to commence in the area, protesters clashed with law enforcement along their barricade on Jan. 23, leading to the arrest of seven residents, including six Indigenous women.
During the launch, community leaders shared stories of how Woggle personnel allegedly committed unjust acts, such as encroaching on lands that are not part of their intended operation sites, harassing residents, and inflicting harm and trauma.
Several groups representing church denominations, environmental defenders, local communities, and other sectors also highlighted the case of Dupax del Norte as not an isolated issue, noting that other communities in the Philippines have also experienced ecological losses and human rights violations due to mining activities by foreign corporations.
“As long as greed drives capitalists and their allies to collude and plunder our resources and homelands, local communities will rise to oppose them, and we will stand firmly beside them, unwavering in our support,” said Cathleen de Guzman of the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment.
“In the face of pressures and challenges, [the locals of Dupax del Norte] have chosen to stand firm for the integrity of our land, our culture, and ecology,” Macalinao said.
On Feb. 5, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau temporarily suspended Woggle’s mining exploration permit due to sustained community opposition. However, drilling operations were reportedly still ongoing at the site after the issuance.
The event concluded with calls to action in support of the community resistance in Dupax del Norte, including upcoming meetings with lawmakers and a show of solidarity for democratic calls during the commemoration of the EDSA People Power movement later in the month.
Other organizations and networks known to support the DNVM include ANVIK, Dupax del Norte Defenders, Taripnong–Cagayan Valley, and the Center for Environmental Concerns–Philippines.
