The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has reiterated its opposition to mining and aggressive development, announcing the formation of an Integral Ecology Ministry focused on environmental preservation. Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo stated the Church's stance remains firm, emphasizing ecological justice aligned with Pope Francis' teachings. This comes amid government efforts to promote sustainable mineral development, including a recent forum organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 9 (DENR-9) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-9). Officials highlighted the need to balance economic growth, environmental protection, and community welfare while adhering to regulations. Meanwhile, Atlas Mining reported profitability due to rising gold prices.
Bias read (Progressive): The article emphasizes the CBCP's strong opposition to mining and aggressive development, framing these activities as environmentally harmful and aligning with progressive ecological values. It highlights the Church's new commission focused on environmental preservation, which reflects a left-wing,





