Jennifer Wilmore Scroggins

For decades, according to Philippine law, the central bank of the Philippines was the only authorized gold buyer in the country. But although small-scale mining activities take place in 40 provinces across the Philippines, the central bank has just five gold buying stations present across the entire country. A new partnership between the central bank and a popular pawn broker enabling it to purchase gold from responsible ASGM operations could help more miners access the formal market.