Central Visayas — comprising the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor — continues to assert its place as one of the Philippines’ significant mineral-producing regions. In Calendar Year 2025, the region generated a combined production value of ₱20.92 billion, driven overwhelmingly by Cebu’s large-scale metallic mining operations, which account for approximately 93% of the regional total.

The region’s mineral landscape is defined by sharp contrasts: Cebu stands alone as the lone metallic producer, with Carmen Copper Corporation — one of the largest copper mining operations in the country — extracting copper concentrate as its primary commodity, with gold recovered as a valuable by-product. These are shipped to international markets, positioning Cebu as the region’s primary export driver. Meanwhile, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor collectively sustain a vibrant non-metallic quarrying sector, producing limestone, dolomite, basalt, sand and gravel, and silica sand that fuel local construction and industrial demand.

Across the four provinces, a total of 5,798 workers — 5,034 male and 764 female — are directly employed in the mining industry, with Carmen Copper Corporation alone providing nearly half of the region’s total mining workforce.

Production Value by Province

The region recorded a total mineral production value of ₱20.93 billion across three categories: metallic, non-metallic, and processed non-metallic minerals. Cebu dominates with ₱19.49 billion, representing 93% of the regional total. Bohol is the second-largest contributor at ₱1.24 billion, while Negros Oriental and Siquijor collectively account for less than 1%.

Sales Value — Domestic & Export

The region’s total mineral sales reached ₱19.52 billion, with Cebu’s metallic minerals driving the export component at USD 280.52 million — primarily copper concentrate shipped to smelters in China, with gold recovered as a by-product of the copper mining process. Non-metallic minerals across all four provinces were sold entirely in the domestic market, supporting local construction, cement manufacturing, and industrial production.

Cebu’s non-metallic sales of ₱2.65 billion — sourced primarily from limestone for cement (Republic Cement, South Western Cement), dolomite (Dolomite Mining Corp.), and processed basalt — underscore the province’s dual role as both a metallic exporter and a key domestic supplier of industrial minerals.

What the Region Produces

Central Visayas produces a total of 20 distinct mineral commodities across its four provinces, spanning metallic, non-metallic, and processed non-metallic categories. The region’s commodity profile reflects its varied geology — from the copper porphyry deposits of Toledo City, where copper concentrate is the primary product and gold is recovered as a by-product, to the limestone karst formations of Bohol and the volcanic basalt and silica-rich coastal deposits of Negros Oriental.

Workforce by Province — Male & Female

The mining industry in Central Visayas directly employs 5,798 workers across the four provinces, with Cebu accounting for 87% of the regional total. The workforce remains male-dominated at 87%, though female employment is notably higher in administrative and support roles particularly in larger mining operations. Carmen Copper Corporation alone employs 2,880 workers — nearly 50% of the entire regional mining workforce.

ASDMP & AEPEP Expenditures — CY 2025

In line with the principles of responsible mining under Republic Act No. 7942, large-scale permittees in Central Visayas are required to implement Annual Social Development and Management Programs (ASDMP) and Annual Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programs (AEPEP). For CY 2025, the region’s combined approved ASDMP stands at ₱250.19 million, while total approved AEPEP reaches ₱224.69 million — a combined environmental and social commitment of nearly ₱475 million.

Cebu’s actual ASDMP expenditures reached ₱183.12 million against an approved budget of ₱230.80 million — an 80% utilization rate. Notably, Bohol exceeded its ASDMP budget by 15.9%, reflecting active expansion in limestone quarrying and processing operations by both Bohol Limestone Corporation and Philippine Mining Services Corporation.