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Civil Society Group Questions Costly Pandan-Ibajay Road Project in Antique Amid Mining Concerns

STRATEGIC MINERALS

Amlig Alliance Antique has raised concerns regarding the multimillion-peso Pandan-Ibajay road project, alleging it may prioritize future mining operations over community development due to its high costs and oversized construction. The project, spanning four phases, reportedly costs up to P175,000 per linear meter, despite being largely unpaved.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau indicates that a mining tenement from Calbayog Mining & Development Corp. overlaps the corridor. The firm's mining application, filed in 1996, targets minerals such as gold and copper.

Since 2019, four contracts totaling P489 million have been issued for the road. Amlig's verification revealed only about 2.8 kilometers are passable, and costs suggest construction akin to concrete highways. The group also noted discrepancies in the road's width compared to its Environmental Compliance Certificate and alleged previous phases lacked necessary permits.

Civil Society Group Questions Costly Pandan-Ibajay Road Project in Antique Amid Mining Concerns
Feb 3, 2026, 1:59 PM

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