Manila, Oct. 28 -- Instead of just exporting raw minerals, the Philippines is seeking to develop its capacity to process them locally, as the government looks to gain more economic value from resources used in clean energy and advanced technologies, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Tuesday.

During the Mining Philippines 2026 International Conference and Exhibition in Pasay City, DENR Assistant Secretary for Mining Concerns Michael Cabalda said the country has the mineral resources to become a key player in the global critical minerals supply chain.

He said the Philippines needs to go beyond extracting and exporting minerals to take advantage of rising international demand.

"As the demand for these resour...