The remote mountains in the northern towns of Panganiban (Payo) and Caramoran in Catanduanes, Philippines has long been identified as having a high grade coal deposits. It was mined once during World War II by the Japanese Imperial Army and later by some enterprising locals. In 2009, the Philippine Department of Energy offered the area to investors. At that time, there was already an ongoing coal exploration project hidden from the public, but was abandoned when it was exposed by the media and locals started to question the catastrophic effect of coal mining on the island's fragile eco-system.. A supposed senate inquiry was called-off by the Senate President, citing that the company involved was no longer interested to pursue the multi-billion peso coal  mining project.