Engaging Philippine communities in the energy transition through data-driven solutions

The Philippines is one of the world’s leading producers of energy transition minerals, including nickel, cobalt and copper. According to the International Energy Agency, demand for these minerals is projected to surge by 60-70% in the next two decades. This anticipated growth comes with a unique set of challenges and opportunities for mineral-rich countries, ranging from economic gains to environmental degradation. To effectively manage the economic, social and environmental impacts of mineral extraction, resource-rich countries must put transparency, accountability and public participation at the core of natural resource governance.

This is where data comes in. In September 2022, the Projecting Revenues from the Extractives for the Development and Investment in Communities (PREDIC) Tool won the first-ever EITI Datathon. The PREDIC Tool is a data-driven solution designed to inform and empower local stakeholders and mining communities to tackle the challenges and opportunities that come with the energy transition.

With support from the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Powering a Just Energy Transition Green Minerals Challenge (JET Minerals Challenge) and in partnership with the Manila Observatory and Sustainable Development Strategies Group, the PREDIC Tool prototype was further refined and launched in October 2023. Our team then engaged with national government agencies, resulting in endorsements from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). The tool is now being piloted in the provinces of Palawan and Cebu, two of the country’s largest producers of minerals, through the Gov Data Initiative (GDI). So, what have we learned so far?

Marco Zaplan, Executive Director / Research, Data, and Policy Lead at the Gov Data Initiative, Inc., presents the PREDIC Tool to selected communities in the Philippines to engage them on how mining projects and revenues are being managed. Photo by Dawn Po Quimque for the USAID JET Minerals Challenge.

Engaging communities is key to designing relevant data solutions

Following the launch of the PREDIC Tool, we conducted extensive engagements with local stakeholders in Cebu and Palawan. Through these engagements, which included design thinking workshops and focus group discussions, we discovered a strong demand for data on subnational transfers, social development projects and budget utilisation, and environmental impacts and mitigation efforts of mining companies. 

We discovered a strong demand for data on subnational transfers, social development projects and budget utilisation, and environmental impacts and mitigation efforts of mining companies. 

Initially, the tool was designed with a focus on mining revenues and economic data. However, by engaging and listening to our local stakeholders, we were able to identify local data needs, capacity gaps and areas for improvement. This feedback allowed us to enhance the PREDIC Tool so it better addresses the challenges and opportunities that communities face. 

Stakeholders engage with the PREDIC Tool to understand how mining revenues are flowing to their community. Photo by Dawn Po Quimque for the USAID JET Minerals Challenge.

We learned that communities are best positioned to determine what data is most relevant to them. The improved PREDIC Tool aims to inform these communities about their entitlements under the law, whether they received what is due to them in the right amount, and most importantly, where the benefits are being allocated. Answering these questions is crucial in energy transition discussions at the local level because they empower communities to plan for long-term development, avoid the resource curse, and monitor the distribution of mining benefits.

Communities are best positioned to determine what data is most relevant to them.

For example, local officials from Toledo City identified a discrepancy in subnational transfers during our design thinking workshop. This discovery prompted the Toledo City government to formally seek clarification from the Department of Budget and Management. This case highlights how data can promote equitable distribution of benefits from mining, and how it can strengthen accountability and public participation in energy transition discussions.

Stakeholders learn about the mining projects that are hosted near their communities. Photo by Dawn Po Quimque for the USAID JET Minerals Challenge.

Data is available, now what?

The PREDIC Tool alone cannot deliver the positive change we envision. To maximise its impact, we will conduct capacity-building activities with local stakeholders and host a data use competition for youth in partnership with academic institutions in the coming months. These initiatives aim to equip local stakeholders with the skills needed to access, analyse and apply data in the PREDIC Tool in their work and advocacy. 

Our goal is to institutionalise these initiatives, leveraging more technical, political and financial support.

Looking ahead to 2025, we plan to expand the project to other mining communities, building on our successes and the multi-stakeholder buy-in at both the national and local levels. Our goal is to institutionalise these initiatives, leveraging more technical, political and financial support.

Winning the EITI Datathon in 2022 has been instrumental to the development of the PREDIC Tool. Today, the tool is more robust and is being co-designed with local stakeholders and mining communities to help them navigate the energy transition. Our experience has shown that if we are to make sure that the energy transition does not leave anyone behind, we need to go local and engage communities.