The Philippines' mining industry was hamstrung by the country's previous environment secretary Regina Lopez, who implemented a ban on openpit mining and closed or suspended operations on environmental and social grounds during her controversial 10 months in office before she was replaced by Roy Cimatu in May.

Following a TSM signing ceremony in December, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) chairman Gerard Brimo told local media there would be no growth until issues including the openpit ban were resolved.

The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) developed TSM as a mining sustainability standard and it has also been adopted by mining associations in Finland, Argentina and Botswana in the past two years.

COMP will tailor its TSM performance areas so they reflect the unique aspects of the Philippines' mining sector.

"There is so much that minerals development, done responsibly, can contribute to the economy of a nation and to the welfare of mining communities, as shown by numerous examples in the Philippines," Brimo said in a statement.

"We have heard no less from our president Rodrigo Duterte that if you follow Australian or Canadian standards, you are OK," he told Bloomberg, a comment retweeted by COMP.

MAC launched TSM in 2004 and recently committed to new efforts aimed at combatting climate change.