Residents of barangays Buneg, Pacoc-Talampak, and Guinguinabang in Lacub, Abra condemned the Mines and Geosciences Bureau for renewing the permit of Golden Lake Mineral Resources Inc. without any notice or consultation with the community. The company’s permit will be extended up to August 2026.
On March 26, the three barangays submitted a resolution to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to express their opposition to the renewal of the company’s permit.
“We only learned that there was a permit on August 22, 2025, when Golden Lake personnel tried to enter our territory… The granting of the permit violates our right to be notified by the concerned government agencies and offices, and by the company,” the resolution stated.
Residents said the permit should not be granted automatically. They demanded the necessary consultation and recognition of their rights to their ancestral land. They also cited Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 24-2025, which bans large-scale mining in their community. A separate resolution signed by the indigenous community and the municipal government carry the same position.
Although exploration has not yet begun, the communities have already filed documents expressing their opposition. Since 2011, the people of Lacub have been resisting the entry of Golden Lake.
Both local and foreign mining and energy companies have long targeted Lacub. Yamanh Mineral Corporation is also studying the province for exploration and is currently in the process of securing Free, Prior, and Informed Consent for its application.
