The Philippines is an archipelago shaped by tectonic activity, rich soils, forests and reef systems that support millions of livelihoods. From smallholder farms to coastal fisheries and mineral operations, the country’s landscapes and waters are central to daily life and the economy.
There are 43 Natural Resources of the Philippines, ranging from Alluvial soils to Volcanic soils (Andisols). For each entry you’ll find below the data organized as Type, Main locations, Amount (metric), so you can quickly compare where resources occur and how they’re quantified before diving deeper.
Which industries depend most on these resources?
Agriculture (including rice and coconut), fisheries, forestry and mining are the main sectors that rely on these resources; they feed local markets, provide export earnings and support rural employment. Understanding resource type and location helps policymakers balance production with conservation and community needs.
How reliable are the “Amount (metric)” figures listed?
Quantity figures are typically based on government surveys, geological assessments and academic studies and can be estimates or ranges; check the data source and year for context. Amounts are useful for comparison but may change with new surveys, seasonal variation or revised methodologies.
Natural Resources of the Philippines
| Name | Type | Main locations | Amount (metric) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Mineral | Cordillera, Masbate, Mindoro, Davao | ≈30 t/year |
| Copper | Mineral | Tampakan (Sarangani), Luzon, Mindanao | ≈50,000 t/year (copper concentrate) |
| Nickel ore | Mineral | Palawan, Surigao, Mindoro, Zambales | ≈10,000,000 t/year (nickel ore) |
| Chromite | Mineral | Zambales, South Cotabato, Surigao | ≈200,000 t/year |
| Cobalt | Mineral | Associated with nickel deposits in Mindoro, Palawan | Linked to nickel output; tens–hundreds t/year |
| Iron ore | Mineral | Mindoro, Samar, Masbate | ≈100,000–500,000 t/year |
| Manganese | Mineral | Palawan, Mindoro, Mindanao | ≈50,000 t/year |
| Silver | Mineral | Associated with gold-copper mines nationwide | ≈20 t/year |
| Limestone | Mineral | Cebu, Batangas, Ilocos, Mindoro | ≈10,000,000 t/year (aggregate & lime) |
| Silica sand | Mineral | Cagayan, Zambales, Batangas, Palawan | ≈1,000,000 t/year |
| Sand and gravel | Mineral | River basins, coastal areas nationwide | ≈50,000,000 t/year |
| Marble & dimension stone | Mineral | Romblon, Cebu, Antique | ≈50,000 t/year |
| Kaolin & clay | Mineral | Zamboanga, Iloilo, Leyte | ≈200,000 t/year |
| Gypsum | Mineral | Visayas, Mindanao | ≈100,000 t/year |
| Phosphate rock | Mineral | Palawan, Mindoro | ≈50,000 t/year |
| Coal (thermal) | Energy | Semirara Island, Panay, South Cotabato | ≈20,000,000 t/year (production+imports) |
| Natural gas (Malampaya) | Energy | West Palawan (Malampaya Field) | Original reserves ≈2.7 Tcf; declining production |
| Geothermal energy | Energy | Leyte, Negros, Mindanao, Luzon | Installed ≈1,900 MW |
| Hydropower | Energy | Mindanao, Cordillera, Luzon, Visayas | Installed ≈4,000 MW |
| Oil (small production) | Energy | Offshore basins (small fields) | Minimal domestic crude production |
| Freshwater resources | Water | River basins (Agusan, Cagayan, Pampanga) | Renewable ≈447 km3/year |
| Groundwater | Water | All major islands, major aquifers nationwide | Accessible aquifer volumes variable; millions m3 |
| Forests (timber/dipterocarp) | Forestry | Palawan, Sierra Madre, Mindanao | Forest cover ≈7,000,000 ha |
| Mangroves | Forestry/Biodiversity | Zamboanga, Palawan, Visayas coasts | ≈137,000 ha |
| Bamboo | Forestry | Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao uplands | Planted & wild hectares in hundreds of thousands |
| Rattan | Forestry | Palawan, Mindanao, Visayas | Harvested area variable; thousands ha |
| Tuna | Fishery | Sulu-Sulawesi, Davao Gulf, General Santos | ≈300,000–400,000 t/year (catch) |
| Seaweed (eucheuma/kappaphycus) | Fishery/Aquaculture | Zamboanga, Mindanao, Visayas | ≈1,200,000 t/year (fresh) |
| Small pelagics (sardines) | Fishery | Visayan Sea, Zamboanga, Mindoro | ≈200,000 t/year |
| Shrimp (marine & farmed) | Fishery/Aquaculture | Pangasinan, Zambales, Mindanao | ≈40,000 t/year |
| Milkfish (Bangus) | Aquaculture | Laguna de Bay, Pangasinan, Iloilo | ≈200,000 t/year |
| Rice (palay) | Agriculture | Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas | ≈19,000,000 t/year (palay) |
| Corn | Agriculture | Cagayan, Ilocos, Mindanao | ≈8,000,000 t/year |
| Coconut (copra/coconut meat) | Agriculture | Southern Luzon, Bicol, Mindanao | ≈14,000,000 t/year (nuts) |
| Sugarcane | Agriculture | Negros Occidental, Panay, Southern Mindanao | ≈30,000,000 t/year (cane) |
| Banana | Agriculture | Davao, Mindanao, Southern Mindoro | ≈9,000,000 t/year |
| Pineapple | Agriculture | Bukidnon, Mindanao, Southern Luzon | ≈2,800,000 t/year |
| Coffee | Agriculture | Cordillera, Mt. Apo, Batangas | ≈30,000 t/year |
| Volcanic soils (Andisols) | Soil | Philippine volcanic regions (Luzon, Mindanao) | Millions ha (major agricultural zones) |
| Alluvial soils | Soil | River deltas and plains (Cagayan, Pampanga, Mindoro) | Millions ha (floodplain areas) |
| Coral reefs | Biodiversity | Tubbataha, Sulu Sea, Visayan Sea | ≈27,000 km2 reef area |
| Seagrass beds | Biodiversity | Coastal bays nationwide | Thousands km2 |
| Tropical rainforest biodiversity | Biodiversity | Sierra Madre, Palawan, Mindanao | Millions ha remaining forest habitat |
Images and Descriptions
Gold
Gold is a valuable precious metal mined in lode and epithermal deposits; used in jewelry, electronics, reserves. Major mines support local economies but raise environmental concerns over tailings and water pollution; artisanal mining poses social risks.
Copper
Copper is a key industrial metal for electrical wiring and infrastructure. Large porphyry and epithermal deposits near Tampakan and other areas hold significant reserves; mining brings jobs and export revenue but can impact ecosystems and water resources.
Nickel ore
Nickel laterite ores are exported for stainless steel and batteries. The Philippines is a top nickel ore supplier. Mining drives regional economies but causes deforestation, soil erosion, and coastal sedimentation when not sustainably managed.
Chromite
Chromite is the main source of chromium for stainless steel and alloys. Philippine deposits are economically important for ferrochrome production. Small-scale mining and environmental impacts from tailings and acid drainage are sustainability concerns.
Cobalt
Cobalt occurs with nickel laterites and is vital for batteries. Philippine cobalt is mostly recovered as a byproduct of nickel operations; its growing demand links mining to global battery supply chains and environmental stewardship issues.
Iron ore
Iron ore supports local steel-making and construction. Philippine occurrences are smaller than major world producers; extraction is regionally important but subject to environmental and land-use considerations.
Manganese
Manganese is used in steel alloying and batteries. Deposits are scattered and produced at modest scales, contributing to local industry while requiring careful management to avoid land degradation.
Silver
Silver is produced as a byproduct of gold and copper mining. Used in electronics, photography, and jewelry, silver adds value to polymetallic deposits and shares similar environmental and social mining challenges.
Limestone
Limestone is abundant, used for cement, construction aggregate, and lime manufacture. Extensive karst landscapes supply industry but quarrying can harm groundwater, cave ecosystems, and scenic areas.
Silica sand
Silica sand is vital for glassmaking, foundries and construction. Coastal and inland deposits support manufacturing; extraction can affect beaches, dunes, and marine habitats if unmanaged.
Sand and gravel
Construction aggregates (sand, gravel) fuel infrastructure development. High demand causes riverbed and coastal mining, leading to erosion, habitat loss, and flood risks without sustainable planning.
Marble & dimension stone
High-quality marbles and stones are quarried for building and export. Romblon is famous for marble; quarrying provides livelihoods but impacts landscapes and requires rehabilitation.
Kaolin & clay
Kaolin and other clays are used in ceramics, paper, and refractory products. Deposits support small industries; mining disturbance must be balanced against soil conservation and water quality.
Gypsum
Gypsum is used in cement, plaster, and soil amendments. Philippine gypsum deposits support local construction industries; extraction footprint is moderate but requires site rehabilitation.
Phosphate rock
Phosphate rock supplies phosphorus for fertilizers. Philippine deposits are limited but locally important for agriculture; sustainable use is needed to avoid nutrient runoff and ecosystem impacts.
Coal (thermal)
Domestic coal fuels power plants and industry; Semirara is the main producer. Coal provides baseload energy but drives greenhouse gas emissions and local pollution concerns.
Natural gas (Malampaya)
Malampaya is the Philippines’ major offshore gas field supplying power and petrochemical feedstock. Reserves have declined; it was key to energy security, highlighting need for replacement and decommissioning planning.
Geothermal energy
The Philippines is a leading geothermal producer. Renewable geothermal supplies baseload electricity with low emissions, though development requires careful land and water management and attention to seismic risks.
Hydropower
Hydropower provides renewable electricity from dams and run-of-river plants. It supports rural electrification and storage but can displace communities and alter river ecosystems if poorly planned.
Oil (small production)
The Philippines has limited onshore/offshore oil output; most petroleum is imported. Domestic finds contribute little to national demand but exploration continues with environmental safeguards necessary.
Freshwater resources
The Philippines has abundant renewable freshwater from rainfall and rivers. Water supports agriculture, domestic use, and hydropower; distribution variability, floods, and groundwater depletion pose management challenges.
Groundwater
Groundwater supplies municipal, irrigation, and industrial needs. Many aquifers are overdrawn in urban zones (e.g., Metro Manila), risking subsidence and saltwater intrusion if unmanaged.
Forests (timber/dipterocarp)
Native tropical forests provide timber, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Historically reduced by logging and agriculture, they are critical for carbon storage and habitat; restoration and sustainable management are ongoing priorities.
Mangroves
Mangroves protect coasts, support fisheries, and store carbon. The Philippines suffered historical losses but has active rehabilitation; healthy mangroves boost shoreline resilience and nursery habitats.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a fast-growing resource for construction, handicrafts, and restoration. It supports rural livelihoods and erosion control but requires sustainable harvesting to maintain stands.
Rattan
Rattan is a valuable non-timber forest product used for furniture and crafts. Sustainable harvest supports indigenous incomes; overharvesting and habitat loss threaten supplies.
Tuna
Tuna (skipjack, yellowfin) is a high-value commercial fish for domestic and export markets. Fisheries support coastal economies; overfishing and illegal practices threaten stocks and require regional management.
Seaweed (eucheuma/kappaphycus)
Philippine seaweed is a world-leading source of carrageenan used in food and cosmetics. Seaweed farming supports rural incomes but is vulnerable to climate events and market/quality issues.
Small pelagics (sardines)
Small pelagic fishes supply canned products and local food security. Sardines and related species are important for domestic consumption and processing industries; stocks can fluctuate with environmental changes.
Shrimp (marine & farmed)
Shrimp and prawn production is lucrative for export and local markets. Shrimp farming yields high income but can cause mangrove clearance, disease outbreaks, and water pollution if not managed.
Milkfish (Bangus)
Milkfish is the national fish, produced in ponds and pens for domestic consumption. It supports coastal livelihoods and aquaculture development; disease management and sustainable feeds are key concerns.
Rice (palay)
Rice is the staple crop, central to food security and rural employment. Major producing regions supply domestic markets; yield improvements and water-efficient practices are policy priorities.
Corn
Corn is used for food, feed, and industrial uses. Widely grown across islands, it supports livestock sectors; drought-tolerant varieties and soil management boost resilience.
Coconut (copra/coconut meat)
Coconut is a traditional export crop for copra, oil, and value-added products. It sustains millions of smallholders; climate vulnerability and pest pressures affect yields and livelihoods.
Sugarcane
Sugarcane supplies sugar mills and ethanol feedstock, underpinning regional economies. Crop expansion and milling have environmental impacts like water use and habitat change; co-generation from bagasse is common.
Banana
Bananas are a major export fruit, especially Cavendish varieties from Mindanao. The industry brings foreign exchange and employment but faces pest, disease, and sustainability certification challenges.
Pineapple
Pineapple production supports fresh fruit and canned exports. Large plantations drive regional development; concerns include land conversion, labor conditions, and agrochemical use.
Coffee
Philippine coffee (Arabica, Robusta, Liberica) has niche markets. Production is modest but culturally important; programs aim to revive quality and export competitiveness while protecting forests.
Volcanic soils (Andisols)
Volcanic soils are fertile, supporting high crop productivity for rice, orchards, and vegetables. They underpin intensive agriculture but can be prone to erosion on steep slopes without terracing.
Alluvial soils
Alluvial soils in river valleys and coastal plains are prime agricultural land for rice and vegetables. They are productive but vulnerable to flooding, salinization, and urban encroachment.
Coral reefs
Philippine coral reefs host immense biodiversity, support fisheries and tourism, and protect shorelines. They face bleaching, overfishing, and pollution; protected areas and reef restoration are conservation priorities.
Seagrass beds
Seagrass meadows provide nursery habitat for fish and sea turtles and sequester carbon. They support fisheries and coastal resilience but are threatened by dredging, pollution, and coastal development.
Tropical rainforest biodiversity
Philippine rainforests are biodiversity hotspots with many endemics, vital for ecosystem services and cultural values. Deforestation, fragmentation, and hunting pressure threaten species and require conservation and sustainable use.
