Central Visayas generated ₱20.92 billion in mineral production value in CY 2025, with Cebu’s copper and gold operations leading the region, supported by the non-metallic quarrying industries of Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor — collectively employing 5,798 workers and committing nearly ₱475 million toward environmental and social development programs. More details below.
MGB Regional Office No. VII · Calendar Year 2025
Central Visayas
Mineral Industry
at a Glance
An annual summary of mineral production, sales, employment, and environmental expenditures across the region’s four provinces.
Regional Overview
Central Visayas Mineral Landscape
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. 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.
Mineral Production
Production Value by Province
The region recorded a total mineral production value of ₱20.93 billion across metallic, non-metallic, and processed non-metallic categories. Cebu dominates with ₱19.49 billion — 93% of the regional total.
| Province | Metallic (PHP) | Non-Metallic (PHP) | Processed Non-Met. (PHP) | Total (PHP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cebu | 17,238,262,975 | 1,818,980,439 | 432,236,672 | 19,489,480,086 |
| Bohol | — | 632,222,401 | 609,230,423 | 1,241,452,824 |
| Negros Oriental | — | 188,902,968 | — | 188,902,968 |
| Siquijor | — | 1,352,964 | — | 1,352,964 |
| REGION TOTAL | 17,238,262,975 | 2,641,458,772 | 1,041,467,095 | 20,921,188,842 |
Mineral Sales
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.
| Province | Metallic Sales (PHP) | Metallic Sales (USD) | Non-Metallic Sales (PHP) | Total (PHP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cebu | 16,032,901,785 | USD 280,523,023 | 2,648,957,314 | 18,681,859,099 |
| Bohol | — | — | 643,319,151 | 643,319,151 |
| Negros Oriental | — | — | 191,784,019 | 191,784,019 |
| Siquijor | — | — | 3,797,703 | 3,797,703 |
| REGION TOTAL | 16,032,901,785 | USD 280,523,023 | 3,487,858,187 | 19,520,759,972 |
Cebu’s non-metallic sales of ₱2.65 billion — sourced primarily from limestone for cement, dolomite, and processed basalt — underscore the province’s dual role as both a metallic exporter and a key domestic supplier of industrial minerals.
Mineral Commodities
What the Region Produces
Central Visayas produces 20 distinct mineral commodities across its four provinces, spanning metallic, non-metallic, and processed non-metallic categories.
Mining Employment
Workforce by Province — Male & Female
The mining industry directly employs 5,798 workers across Central Visayas, with Cebu accounting for 87% of the regional total. Carmen Copper Corporation alone employs nearly 50% of the regional workforce.
| Province | Male | Female | Total | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cebu | 3,784 | 543 | 4,327 | 74.6% |
| Bohol | 661 | 88 | 749 | 12.9% |
| Negros Oriental | 533 | 121 | 654 | 11.3% |
| Siquijor | 57 | 13 | 70 | 1.2% |
| REGION TOTAL | 5,034 | 764 | 5,798 | 100% |
Environmental & Social Commitment
ASDMP & AEPEP Expenditures — CY 2025
In line with RA 7942, large-scale permittees implement Annual Social Development and Management Programs (ASDMP) and Annual Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programs (AEPEP). The region’s combined approved commitment stands at nearly ₱475 million.
| Province | ASDMP Approved (PHP) | ASDMP Actual (PHP) | AEPEP Approved (PHP) | Combined Total (PHP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cebu | 230,803,749 | 183,124,431 | 194,205,882 | 424,009,631 |
| Bohol | 16,961,266 | 19,662,372 | 26,646,999 | 43,608,265 |
| Negros Oriental | 2,251,974 | 1,904,934 | 3,575,000 | 5,826,974 |
| Siquijor | 172,596 | 77,107 | 266,969 | 439,565 |
| REGION TOTAL | 250,189,585 | 204,768,844 | 224,694,850 | 474,884,435 |
The region’s mining industry invested nearly ₱475 million in approved environmental and social programs for CY 2025 — a powerful affirmation that mineral wealth in Central Visayas is being harnessed not just for economic gain, but for lasting community development and ecological stewardship.