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By Dawn Po Quimque, Gov Data Initiative (This article is part of the Good Governance Champions Series by the Gov Data Initiative)
Chad Llanos leads one of the community training workshops organized by STANCE. (Facebook/STANCE)
The mining industry serves as both an economic driver and a source of environmental concern in the province of Cebu. In 2019, the province - which hosts the Carmen Copper Corporation (CCC), was the top producer of copper concentrate in the Philippines with production volume of 186,502 dry metric tons valued at PHP 11.36 billion(1). Apart from copper, CCC also produced valuable by-products such as gold and silver valued at PHP 2.72 billion and PHP 115 million, respectively. CCC paid PHP 5.06 billion in various taxes and fees to the government from 2012-2019(2). However, these economic benefits come with social and environmental costs including deforestation and potential damage to people's livelihoods.
Chadwick Llanos as GDI's Good Governance Champion for the month of August 2024.
Amidst these issues, the Sectoral Transparency Alliance for Natural Resource Governance (STANCE) is working toward transparent and accountable natural resource governance. Leading this effort is Chadwick "Chad" Llanos, the Director for Administration of STANCE and a leading advocate of good governance in the Philippines and beyond.
Chad Llanos leads one of the community training workshops organized by STANCE. (Facebook/STANCE)
Chad, the Gov Data Initiative Good Governance Champion for August, has spent over two decades as a community organizer, dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability in mining governance. His advocacy is born out of personal experiences that have shaped his understanding of social inequities. He recalls an encounter in 2003 with a family in Toledo City who, despite their hard work, struggled to make ends meet due to systemic injustices. "It was a moment of realization for me," he confides, reflecting on how biases against the poor are often misguided. "They were hardworking and innovative, but society lacked equity. That's when I became involved in community work."
Chad Llanos together with other STANCE members. (Facebook/STANCE)
The roots of STANCE can be traced back to 2014 when civil society organizations in Cebu began engaging with data from the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI). These early efforts laid the foundation for the official establishment of STANCE in 2017. Chad explains, "The goal was to increase sectoral participation in natural resource governance. We function as a coalition without a traditional executive director. Each director has a specific role, and my responsibility is to consolidate all concerns and plans from various directorates into actionable programs and projects."
"We want to reach a point where [STANCE] become irrelevant in the community, where they can voice their opinions and needs on their own." - Chad Llanos
Chad Llanos (right most) during the 10th Anniversary of Philippines Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.(Facebook/STANCE)
STANCE works closely with local communities affected by mining to ensure the information is accessible and understandable. "We primarily rely on PH-EITI data because it is reliable and verified," says Chad. "However, national data does not always accurately reflect local realities. Data should be simplified and made accessible based on the community's needs so they can use it to promote good governance."
Chad Llanos together with PH-EITI in a discussion regarding its co-created commitment on extractives transparency in the 2019-2022 National Action Plan. (Facebook/PH-OGP)
For Chad, the key to good governance lies in informed and active participation. He has been an advocate for innovative approaches such as the localization of key national good governance initiatives in Cebu such as the EITI to develop local governance models that embody the principles of transparency and accountability. Though progress has been slow and the provincial ordinance is still in its second reading at the provincial legislative council, he sees it as a critical step toward empowering communities to champion themselves. "Our goal is to reach a point where we become irrelevant in the community, where they can voice their opinions and needs on their own."
Chad Llanos presents their output in one of the breakout sessions during the Design and Thinking Workshop and Focus Group Discussion of PREDIC Tool by Gov Data Initiative on 10 May 2024. (Photo by Dawn Po Quimque from Gov Data Initiative for USAID’s JET Minerals Challenge)
"Data should be simplified and translated based on the demands of the community so they can use it for good governance." - Chad Llanos
Chad Llanos shares their input on how to improve the PREDIC Tool during the Design and Thinking Workshop and Focus Group Discussion organized by Gov Data Initiative on 10 May 2024. (Photo by Dawn Po Quimque from Gov Data Initiative for USAID’s JET Minerals Challenge)
Looking to the future, Chad envisions a world where data becomes a powerful tool for ordinary individuals to drive change. "Data should be visually appealing, easily accessible, and readily understandable. By removing the complexity surrounding the numbers, they become meaningful, usable, and impactful."
"My dream for data to become effective in the lives of individuals is for it to be visual, easily accessed, and easily understandable. Because if you peel away the layers of confusion from all these numbers, they become sensible. Then, they are usable, effective, and make sense." - Chad Llanos
Photo opportunity with the participants, guest and organizers during the Design and Thinking Workshop and Focus Group Discussion organized by Gov Data Initiative on 10 May 2024. (Photo by Dawn Po Quimque from Gov Data Initiative for USAID’s JET Minerals Challenge)
As Cebu navigates the delicate balance between economic opportunities and environmental sustainability, Chad and STANCE demonstrate how local activism and civil society participation play a crucial role in ensuring fair and sustainable distribution of the benefits from natural resource extraction. Through their work, they ensure that the communities most affected by mining have a meaningful voice in the management of their natural resources and ultimately, in shaping their own future.
1 Mines and Geosciences Bureau. (2024). Production Volume and Value of Carmen Copper Corporation and Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation 1998-2022. www.mgb.gov.ph
2 Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. (2024). Extractive Disclosure Generator. https://ph-eiti.dof.gov.ph/edge.htm
The PREDIC Tool (Projecting Revenues from the Extractives for the Development and Investment in Communities Tool) was developed by the Gov Data Initiative. The tool is currently being piloted in Cebu and Palawan in partnership with the Manila Observatory and the Sustainable Development Strategies Group under Project DISCLOSE and PREDICT (formerly known as Community Development Agreement Digital Innovation Hub).
The PREDIC Tool helps estimate and visualize production, sales, and revenue from mining operations, enabling informed decision-making and discussions related to local mining governance. Funded by the American people through USAID's JET Minerals Challenge, this 15-month project aims to enhance transparency and accountability in natural resource governance, empower local stakeholders, and ensure a fair distribution of benefits from extractive industries.
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