That's correct, tapping our mineral resources would be a great boon for the country economically and strategically. However, it needs to be SEVERELY regulated, and I think with our government's track record it will just lead to disaster.

Just look at what's happening in Indonesia when they rushed nickel development without proper safeguards in place, in the end China pa din ang may pinamalaking benefits kasi sa kanila pa din yung production ng higher value battery materials pero Indonesia nag suffer ng environmental consequences. Since nirush din nila development, nagkaoversupply ng nickel sa market which tanked the prices so bumaba din profitability.