Metals Exploration subsidiary in Philippines improves on all ESG metrics
Aim-listed Metals Exploration says in its latest sustainability report that economic value generated by its subsidiary in the Philippines increased by 9% in 2025 to $197-million, with products and services sourced from host communities totalling about $3.8-million.
The company has production and exploration assets in the Philippines and Nicaragua, with its wholly-owned subsidiary FCF Minerals Corporation operating the flagship high-grade surface gold mine called Runruno in the Philippines.
Metals Exploration says it continues to prioritise responsible resource management and community upliftment as part of its environmental social and governance (ESG) ethos.
“By prioritising local hiring, procurement and long-term investments in infrastructure, education, training and livelihood support, we continue to drive inclusive and sustainable growth,” says CEO Darren Bowden.
Local community and infrastructure investments through the company’s Social Development and Management Programme (SDMP) totalled $1.5-million, which marked an increase of 7% year-on-year.
The SDMP encompasses education, health, human resources, livelihood and infrastructure development, as well as socio-cultural issues.
FCF spent about $459 000 towards providing free health and dental services, as well as medications, to employees, contractors, and members of the host and neighbouring communities.
The subsidiary also spent about $176 000 on local transportation infrastructure by constructing, repairing and maintaining roads.
FCF’s habitat restoration programme continued to grow, with 17 ha of land having been restored in the year, which represented a 135% increase from 2024.
A total of 73 ha of disturbed land was restored in 2025, while more than 12 000 trees were donated from the FCF nursery to the community and 871 ha of habitat areas were protected.
FCF strives to increase environmental responsibility, and in 2025 saw total greenhouse-gas emissions decrease by 7.23% from 2024 levels.
Minerals Exploration currently has 878 total employees, which increased by 2.9% year-on-year in 2025. About 98% of the workforce are local Filipino residents and 26% are women.
“In 2025, FCF’s commitment to mining responsibly and sustainably was recognised through the receipt of prestigious awards, including the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award in the Surface Mining Operation Category, the highest government mining award attainable in the Philippines, for the fourth year in a row,” Bowden concludes.
