Gov Data Initiative Launches 2025 PREDICT Dataquest with Youth Climate Justice Fund Support

CEBU and PALAWAN, Philippines – The Gov Data Initiative (GDI) is proud to announce the launch of the 2025 PREDICT Dataquest, an innovative competition aimed at enhancing youth engagement in promoting transparency, environmental justice, and sustainable development in mining communities in Cebu and Palawan. Supported by a grant from the Youth Climate Justice Fund, the 2025 PREDICT Dataquest builds on the success of its first run in 2024 and further strengthens youth participation in mining governance through the enhanced Projecting Revenues from Extractives for the Development and Investment in Communities (PREDIC) Tool v2.0.

With the theme "From Mines to Minds: Leveraging Data for Equitable Development in Resource-Rich Communities," the 2025 PREDICT Dataquest encourages young data storytellers to creatively utilize mining governance data to promote openness, accountability, and inclusive growth in the provinces of Cebu and Palawan.

As global demand for energy transition minerals such as nickel, copper, silver, and cobalt increases, the Philippines is at the forefront of the challenges and opportunities that come with this trend. GDI’s PREDIC Tool was designed to visualize production data, government revenues, and the social and environmental expenditures of mining companies to enhance community participation in mining governance and ensure a fairer, more equitable distribution of benefits from extractive industries.

Through the 2025 PREDICT Dataquest, participants are empowered to use data analysis and storytelling techniques to tackle and raise awareness about real-world challenges confronting the mining sector. Entries will focus on environmental impacts and the use of mining revenues in promoting a just energy transition.

"This initiative highlights how data can be a powerful tool for driving transparency, accountability, and public participation in the mining sector, We are eager to see how the youths of Palawan and Cebu will use this opportunity to think of solutions that foster fairer and more sustainable development." - Marco Zaplan, Executive Director of GDI.

GDI is a proud grantee of the Youth Climate Justice Fund, an international fund that supports grassroots, youth-led movements advocating for climate action and socio-environmental justice around the globe. The Fund provides trust-based funding and resources to collectives working on the frontlines of the climate crisis, recognizing the leadership of young people in building a just and sustainable future.

Participants from partner universities in Cebu and Palawan will compete individually or in groups, utilizing the PREDIC Tool alongside government transparency datasets. Their outputs – visually engaging data stories – will be evaluated based on content, focus, visual appeal, and impact.

Prizes will be awarded to the Champion (₱10,000 + Certificate), 1st Runner-up (₱5,000 + Certificate), and 2nd Runner-up (₱3,000 + Certificate). A Community Engagement Award (₱2,000 + Certificate) will also recognize the entry with the highest public engagement on social media.

The 2025 PREDICT Dataquest will culminate in two workshops and awarding ceremonies:

• Palawan Leg: 5 May 2025, Palawan State University

• Cebu Leg: 9 May 2025, University of San Jose-Recoletos

  
  

Each event will feature sessions on mining governance, local Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) implementation, environmental protection initiatives, and data storytelling techniques, with resource speakers from GDI and partner government agencies.

The 2025 PREDICT Dataquest underscores the vital role of open data, youth leadership, and collective action in building resilient, sustainable mining communities during the global energy transition.

For contest guidelines and queries, please visit www.govdatainitiative.org or email team@govdatainitiative.org. ###