NEWS LINKS – Commission on Human Rights - Didipio Fact Finding Mission report filing
Philippines to probe Australian mine firm over rights abuses (Oceanagold Corporati)
MANILA (Thomson Financial) - An Australian mine operator in the Philippines
will be investigated for alleged human rights abuses, including harrassment of
locals and links to shootings, the Commission on Human Rights said on Thursday.
Investigators will probe reports of rights violations by Oceana Gold
(Philippines) Inc. at its gold and copper mine site in Didipio in the country's
north, the Manila-based rights body said.
The firm is a unit of Australia's Oceana Gold Corp. and the
320-million-dollar project, expected to hand the Philippine government a
windfall in tax revenue, is due to start production in 2010.
Commission chairwoman Leila de Lima said the company had been accused of
forcibly demolishing more than 180 houses owned by a local tribal community.
She said alleged abuses also included a connection to "killings, forced
negotiations and harassments" but did not provide details of the allegations or
who had made them.
View full article --> www.advfn.com/news_Philippines-to-probe_27271924.html
12 Australian mining firms in RP
compliant with standards, says envoy
By Estrella Torres
Reporter
THE Australian envoy to Manila has maintained that all 12 Australian mining firms operating in the country submit to the “highest safety and environmental standards,” amid complaints of human-rights abuse against one Australian firm operating in Nueva Vizcaya on charges of killings, harassments and mass displacement of indigenous tribes.
Australian Ambassador to Manila Rod Smith said he is not aware of the human-rights abuse complaints filed against the mining company OceanaGold Philippines Inc., which operates the $320-million copper-gold mining project in Didipio in Nueva Vizcaya province.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is currently investigating the human-rights abuse charges against the operators of the OceanaGold after some 180 families of indigenous tribes in Didipio were allegedly forcibly displaced to make way for the mining operations.
View full article ---> http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/07152008/economy06.html
CHR looks into human rights violations in Nueva Vizcaya
(July 12, 2008)
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Leila De Lima has directed the CHR Region 2 office to validate reports on alleged human rights violation committed by an Australian mining firm against the indigenous peoples (IPs) of Barangay Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Viscaya.
De Lima ordered the officials of CHR Region 2 to validate the report of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and Alyansa Tigil Muna that Oceana Gold Philippines Inc, has violated the human rights of the community.
The report said that the wrecking crew of Oceana Gold as of March 2008 has already demolished 187 houses of indigenous people in Didipio. The demolition started in December 2007.
View full article---> http://www.globalpinoy.com/news/news_inside.php?newsnum=14508
Oceana Gold says it didn't commit human rights violations
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya – Beleaguered Australian mining firm OceanaGold Philippines (OGP) continue to disprove allegations that it has committed human rights violations in Didipio, Kasibu, site of its multi-billion peso gold-copper mining area.
This came after Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Leila M. De Lima - in a memorandum released Wednesday - ordered CHR-Region 2 to hold an inquiry on the alleged human rights violations committed by OGP against indigenous people living in the area.
View full article---> http://www.gmanews.tv/story/106272/Oceana-Gold-says-it-didnt-commit-human-rights-violations
CHR orders probe on alleged rights violation in N. Vizcaya
MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Human Rights chair Leila M. De Lima has directed CHR regional office to check on alleged human rights violations in a mining area in Nueva Vizcaya.
In a memorandum on Wednesday, De Lima directed CHR Region 2 to validate a fact-finding report concerning violations of the rights of indigenous people in the village of Didipio in Kasibu town in Nueva Vizcaya.
View full article---> http://www.gmanews.tv/story/106087/CHR-orders-probe-on-alleged-rights-violation-in-N-Vizcaya
CHR probes raps vs Aussie mine firm
By Jocelyn Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:10am (Mla time) 07/10/2008
MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights is looking into alleged human rights violations committed against indigenous peoples by a mining firm operating in the provinces of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.
The commission has initiated an investigation following reports that houses of indigenous peoples in areas where the Australian-based mining company, Oceana Gold Philippines Inc., was operating were being demolished despite opposition from the community.
View full article---> http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=147454
Oceana rejects abuse allegations
Home » News » Business
By Simon Hartley on Wed, 16 Jul 2008
News: Business
Oceana Gold has for the second time in a year rejected allegations of human rights abuses at its $418 million Didipio gold and copper development mine in the northern Philippines.
Oceana vice-president of corporate and investor relations Darren Klinck yesterday rejected the conclusion of articles which he said had recently appeared in the Philippine media claiming an inquiry by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights was under way at the Didipio development.
View full article---> http://www.odt.co.nz/news/business/13460/oceana-rejects-abuse-allegations
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200807/s2306671.htm?tab=latest
Investigation of OceanaGold's human rights record should spur regulatory action
8:46 PM ET
Christina Hill [Acting Extractive Industries Advocacy Coordinator, Oxfam Australia]: "The news that the Human Rights Commission of the Philippines will investigate human rights abuses by Australian mining company OceanaGold, who is developing a gold and copper mine in Didipio is welcome. Didipio, which is located in the northern Philippines, is home to about 2,000 people including many Indigenous Peoples. Since 2002, Oxfam has been working with the Didipio community and its support groups to document complaints by the community of human rights abuses and bringing these complaints to the company’s attention, and to a wider audience. As was reported by JURIST on 10 July, key community complaints include the destruction of people’s homes and physical intimidation and assault. OceanaGold has also shown little regard for the principle of free, prior and informed consent.
OceanaGold has never substantially responded to the community's grievances. It is for this reason that Oxfam Australia released the Didipio report [pdf] and more recently wrote to the Philippines Human Rights Commission asking them to investigate the situation.
View full article---> http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/hotline/2008/07/investigation-of-oceanagolds-human.php
OceanaGold Didipio Project Community Update
/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOT FOR
DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES./
MELBOURNE, Australia, July 15 /CNW/ - Recent Philippine media articles
purport that an inquiry by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights is being
conducted into the Didipio development project. OceanaGold has received no
correspondence or invitation to participate in any Philippines Commission on
Human Rights (CHR) inquiry. However, we will continue to have ongoing
discussions with the many interested government agencies regarding the Didipio
project.
View full article---> http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2008/14/c4550.html
Oceana rejects abuse allegations
Home » News » Business
By Simon Hartley on Wed, 16 Jul 2008
News: Business
Oceana Gold has for the second time in a year rejected allegations of human rights abuses at its $418 million Didipio gold and copper development mine in the northern Philippines.
Oceana vice-president of corporate and investor relations Darren Klinck yesterday rejected the conclusion of articles which he said had recently appeared in the Philippine media claiming an inquiry by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights was under way at the Didipio development.
View full article---> http://www.odt.co.nz/news/business/13460/oceana-rejects-abuse-allegations
Philippines to investigate mining company for human rights abuses
Andrew Gilmore at 10:27 AM ET
[JURIST] The Philippine Commission on Human Rights (CHR) [official website] announced Thursday that it will investigate Australian mining company Oceana Gold [corporate website] for possible human rights violations at the site of a planned gold and copper mine in Didipio, Philippines. According to CHR chairwoman Leila M. De Lima [official profile], Oceana Gold has been involved in the destruction of local homes near the mine site, as well as the physical intimidation, assault, and shootings of local residents opposed to construction of the mine. AFP has more. The Philippine Daily Inquirer has local coverage.
View full article---> http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2008/07/australian-mining-company-to-be.php
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5goC1uBtV2qahlBTQcicyjaOSQF3g
Aussie mine firm under probe for rights abuses
Web posted at: 7/11/2008 1:38:1
Source ::: Agencies
MANILA • An Australian mine operator in the Philippines will be investigated for alleged human rights abuses, including harrassment of locals and links to shootings, the Commission on Human Rights said yesterday.
View full article --> http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=world_news&month=july2008&file=world_news200807111381.xml
CHR looks into human rights violations in Nueva Vizcaya
COMMISSION on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Leila De Lima has directed the CHR Region 2 office to validate reports on alleged human rights violation committed by an Australian mining firm against the indigenous peoples (IPs) of Barangay Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Viscaya.
De Lima ordered the officials of CHR Region 2 to validate the report of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and Alyansa Tigil Muna that Oceana Gold Philippines Inc, has violated the human rights of the community.
The report said that the wrecking crew of Oceana Gold as of March 2008 has already demolished 187 houses of indigenous people in Didipio. The demolition started in December 2007.
View full article ---> http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/july/12/yehey/prov/20080712pro3.html
OceanaGold looks at JV or sale for Philippine project
MANILA (Reuters) - Australian miner OceanaGold (OGC.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)(OGC.AX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is talking to financial firms and rival gold miners about investing in or even buying its troubled copper and gold project in the northern Philippines, the company said on Wednesday.
The Didipio project is viewed as a test case for foreign ownership in the Philippine minerals sector, but has been hit by rising costs and turbulent equity markets. OceanaGold halted heavy operations at the site last month while it seeks to raise $185 million through a variety of options.
View full article --> http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSMAN26926020080723
salamat ng marami din sa oxfam . . .
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
OceanaGold Mining’s demolition of Didipio houses declared illegal
Press Release
June 19, 2008
OceanaGold Mining’s demolition of Didipio houses declared illegal
Mining company OceanaGold Phils., Inc. in its act of demolishing houses of the indigenous peoples in Didipio, Nueva Vizcaya to give way to their mining operation is illegal.
The Regional Trial Court in Bayombong has declared this in its order saying that the OceanaGold’s act of demolition is “tainted with irregularity and contrary to law.” OceanaGold carried out its demolition activities in contravention of Didipio residents' constitutional right to property and not to be deprived thereof without due process of law.
“This means that while the case is pending, defendants OceanaGold and those acting on its behalf, including the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Mines and GeoSciences Bureau (MGB), may not demolish the houses of all our clients,” says Atty. Grace Villanueva, lead counsel of this case, from the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC/Friends of the Earth-Phils.).
The order is a response to the complaint filed by the lawyers of LRC on behalf of 13 Ifugao households living in Barangay Didipio,municipality of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. In its petition, LRC questioned the legality of the demolition of houses in Barangay Didipio, as the mining company has not produced a special order of demolition issued by the regular courts of law; and seeks for preliminary injunction to prevent the demolition of the houses of its clients.
“This decision of the court is a welcome respite for the community members who have been opposing the large-scale mining operations of the OceanaGold in Didipio,” says Atty. Grace Villanueva. “While this decision may be a temporary relief for the Didipio families, this gives them hope in the law, that they can still be protected from unjustified taking of their properties by any other person, individual or corporations.”
OceanaGold, an Australian mining company, argued that they were losing millions of pesos every day in the delay of their operation because of the preliminary injunction issued by the court. The court, however, recognised that the injunctive order may cost losses to the mining company but it cannot allow the loss OceanaGold may inflict “in tampering with the Constitutional right of every person to due process of law for it is not quantifiable in terms of monetary value.”
As of April 2008, about 187 houses had already been demolished by the wrecking crew of the company since it started in December last year. In a fact-finding mission held in the area last month, LRC, along with the other members of the fact-finding team, found out that those whose houses have been destroyed were not paid in full, if at all, or were not paid the fair and just price of their property and the value of the damage caused them. Furthermore, the demolitions took place without a clear plan for relocation or resettlement.
The demolition activities of OceanaGold have become very aggressive, to the point of being violent. Highlighted in the mission report was the incident where a Didipio resident has been shot by the company security guard during a demolition on Black Saturday this year. Emilio Pumihic was shot at close range while he was trying to stop the demolition of a neighbor’s house, whose owner was inside taking a nap. Pumihic was hospitalised for several days for his gun shot injuries.
“Throughout these controversies besetting OceanaGold, the Secretary of the DENR has been very protective of it. We then ask Secretary Atienza why does he continue to protect a company which violates constitutional rights of the people? What is more important than the protection of people’s basic human rights?” LRC asked.
The Didipio gold-copper project, the first Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) in the country has been marred with a lot of controversies involving social acceptability and human rights violations. It also faces a string of legal challenges. The case filed by Mayor Romeo Tayaban on behalf of the municipal government of Kasibu is up for decision by the Supreme Court for bypassing the authority of the local government to give consent to the mining project. There was also the recent conflict between the OceanaGold and the provincial government of Nueva Viscaya involving the collection of local taxes.
end
for more info – Ronald (LRC Luzon) at rgregorio@lrcksk.org, (+63)(0) 917‐548‐1674
(63 2) 926‐4409, (63 2) 434‐4079,
www.lrcksk.org / www.lrcluzon.multiply.com
June 19, 2008
OceanaGold Mining’s demolition of Didipio houses declared illegal
Mining company OceanaGold Phils., Inc. in its act of demolishing houses of the indigenous peoples in Didipio, Nueva Vizcaya to give way to their mining operation is illegal.
The Regional Trial Court in Bayombong has declared this in its order saying that the OceanaGold’s act of demolition is “tainted with irregularity and contrary to law.” OceanaGold carried out its demolition activities in contravention of Didipio residents' constitutional right to property and not to be deprived thereof without due process of law.
“This means that while the case is pending, defendants OceanaGold and those acting on its behalf, including the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Mines and GeoSciences Bureau (MGB), may not demolish the houses of all our clients,” says Atty. Grace Villanueva, lead counsel of this case, from the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC/Friends of the Earth-Phils.).
The order is a response to the complaint filed by the lawyers of LRC on behalf of 13 Ifugao households living in Barangay Didipio,municipality of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. In its petition, LRC questioned the legality of the demolition of houses in Barangay Didipio, as the mining company has not produced a special order of demolition issued by the regular courts of law; and seeks for preliminary injunction to prevent the demolition of the houses of its clients.
“This decision of the court is a welcome respite for the community members who have been opposing the large-scale mining operations of the OceanaGold in Didipio,” says Atty. Grace Villanueva. “While this decision may be a temporary relief for the Didipio families, this gives them hope in the law, that they can still be protected from unjustified taking of their properties by any other person, individual or corporations.”
OceanaGold, an Australian mining company, argued that they were losing millions of pesos every day in the delay of their operation because of the preliminary injunction issued by the court. The court, however, recognised that the injunctive order may cost losses to the mining company but it cannot allow the loss OceanaGold may inflict “in tampering with the Constitutional right of every person to due process of law for it is not quantifiable in terms of monetary value.”
As of April 2008, about 187 houses had already been demolished by the wrecking crew of the company since it started in December last year. In a fact-finding mission held in the area last month, LRC, along with the other members of the fact-finding team, found out that those whose houses have been destroyed were not paid in full, if at all, or were not paid the fair and just price of their property and the value of the damage caused them. Furthermore, the demolitions took place without a clear plan for relocation or resettlement.
The demolition activities of OceanaGold have become very aggressive, to the point of being violent. Highlighted in the mission report was the incident where a Didipio resident has been shot by the company security guard during a demolition on Black Saturday this year. Emilio Pumihic was shot at close range while he was trying to stop the demolition of a neighbor’s house, whose owner was inside taking a nap. Pumihic was hospitalised for several days for his gun shot injuries.
“Throughout these controversies besetting OceanaGold, the Secretary of the DENR has been very protective of it. We then ask Secretary Atienza why does he continue to protect a company which violates constitutional rights of the people? What is more important than the protection of people’s basic human rights?” LRC asked.
The Didipio gold-copper project, the first Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) in the country has been marred with a lot of controversies involving social acceptability and human rights violations. It also faces a string of legal challenges. The case filed by Mayor Romeo Tayaban on behalf of the municipal government of Kasibu is up for decision by the Supreme Court for bypassing the authority of the local government to give consent to the mining project. There was also the recent conflict between the OceanaGold and the provincial government of Nueva Viscaya involving the collection of local taxes.
end
for more info – Ronald (LRC Luzon) at rgregorio@lrcksk.org, (+63)(0) 917‐548‐1674
(63 2) 926‐4409, (63 2) 434‐4079,
www.lrcksk.org / www.lrcluzon.multiply.com
Friday, May 16, 2008
Unconscionable Mining Contract
PRESS RELEASE
15 May 2008
Unconscionable Mining Contract
The monetary benefits of mining investments and operations in the Philippines is now being questioned as the provincial government of Nueva Viscaya has taken a bold step to stop OceanaGold mining company from its earth moving operations in Didipio for failing to pay Twenty Five Million Pesos (P25,000,000) in local taxes.
Contrary to what Secretary Atienza of the DENR has been promoting, the promised income from the mining project seems to be a mere pipe dream. That the local government of Nueva Viscaya needs to resort to legal action to collect taxes appears to be a red light signaling the great possibility that the Philippines will not benefit at all from this mining project.
The Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC-KsK/FoE Phils) has always maintained that the DENR crafted a seriously flawed mining fiscal regime (DAO 07-12). Under this department order, the state’s revenue collection from a Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) is limited to (1) the contractor's corporate income tax, (2) excise tax, (3) special allowance, (4) withholding tax due from the contractor's foreign stockholders arising from dividend or interest payments to the said foreign stockholder in case of a foreign national and (5) all such other taxes, duties and fees as provided for under existing laws.
The enumerated items merely represent the “inherent” and legal right of the state to collect taxes from businesses, in exercise of its taxation and police power. These are the very same taxes collected in other types of businesses operating in the country, not necessarily involved in the exploitation and destruction of the country’s national wealth.
What has not been explicitly spelled out in the DENR policy is the nation’s share in the profits of mining operations. If the DENR equates the above tax items to represent the governments share, it sadly miscomprehends the meaning of governmental share in the exploitation of the national patrimony.
Our position and understanding is that an FTAA is a corporate undertaking done by the state in partnership with a private mining corporation and a foreign capitalist for that matter. Had it been the state that operated the mining operations, it would benefit from the profits wholesale.
Entering into a business venture, it is simply logical that the state should partake in the profits of that business venture aside from exercising its regulatory functions such as taxation.
The more questionable provision is that government’s share in the FTAA shall commence only after the FTAA contractor has fully recovered its pre-operating expenses, exploration, and development expenditures and other expenditures that may be added as part of. A case is now pending in the Supreme Court to question the unconscionable FTAA contract and its unconstitutionality.
The flawed fiscal regime is further highlighted in the case of Lafayette’s mining project in the Bikol region. The government received less than one percent of the PhP 3.6 billion worth of minerals extracted in 3 years of operation. The company has now stopped its operations.
What makes matters worse is that the natural destruction accompanying mining operations place communities at risk of severe hunger and intensified disasters. The OceanaGold Project has converted the fertile rice lands in Didipio into its mining operations and runs the risk of contaminating water sources in the agricultural provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan Valley, Isabela and Central Luzon together with the other two pending large-scale mining projects also in the same province – Royalco Phils. in Barangay Pao and FCF-MTL Metals in Barangay Runrunno.
Nueva Viscaya hosts 3 watershed areas - 2 proclaimed: Dupax Watershed Reservation (Proclamation 720) covering 425 hectares, and the Casecnan River Watershed in Dupax del Norte and Dupax del Sur, (Proclamation 136) covering 85,519 hectares , and 1 unproclaimed: Magat River watershed. These watershed areas serve approximately a total population of 400,000 including neighboring provinces such as Cagayan Valley, Isabela and northern parts of central Luzon. At least two of these watershed areas are in proximity to the mining site.
It is elementary that if these watershed areas are compromised due to contamination of the water, it will greatly affect the agriculture production in the said provinces that will contribute more to the worsening situation of our food production.
OceanaGold’s open pit mining method and tailings dam for mine waste disposal will be susceptible to seepage and collapse that will greatly affect the rivers and waters in the province. Ironically, DENR Secretary Atienza himself identified the province of Nueva Viscaya as part of the typhoon belt area.
The negative impacts of mining projects in the Philippines outweigh its envisioned benefits. You cannot find any single mining operation in the Philippines that has brought progress to local communities, only a devastated environment, and an impoverished community. The people of Marinduque can tell us their experience; Marcopper mining operations has inundated two major rivers in their province. Mayor Hagedorn of Puerto Princesa has taken the position against mining operations for clearly understanding the negative impacts.
With the recent developments, the biased positioning of Secretary Atienza for OceanaGolds operations is a complete disregard of the sentiments of the people in the province and the local communities who have been opposing the project for the adverse impacts directly felt by them. How arrogant can Secretary Atienza be in saying "they can barricade all they want".
For further questions and inquiries please contact us at +63 2 926-4409, +63 2 434-4079, +63 917-548-1674 (Ronald/Campaigns/Paralegal) or visit us at 87B Madasalin St., Teachers Village, Diliman, Quezon City.
15 May 2008
Unconscionable Mining Contract
The monetary benefits of mining investments and operations in the Philippines is now being questioned as the provincial government of Nueva Viscaya has taken a bold step to stop OceanaGold mining company from its earth moving operations in Didipio for failing to pay Twenty Five Million Pesos (P25,000,000) in local taxes.
Contrary to what Secretary Atienza of the DENR has been promoting, the promised income from the mining project seems to be a mere pipe dream. That the local government of Nueva Viscaya needs to resort to legal action to collect taxes appears to be a red light signaling the great possibility that the Philippines will not benefit at all from this mining project.
The Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC-KsK/FoE Phils) has always maintained that the DENR crafted a seriously flawed mining fiscal regime (DAO 07-12). Under this department order, the state’s revenue collection from a Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) is limited to (1) the contractor's corporate income tax, (2) excise tax, (3) special allowance, (4) withholding tax due from the contractor's foreign stockholders arising from dividend or interest payments to the said foreign stockholder in case of a foreign national and (5) all such other taxes, duties and fees as provided for under existing laws.
The enumerated items merely represent the “inherent” and legal right of the state to collect taxes from businesses, in exercise of its taxation and police power. These are the very same taxes collected in other types of businesses operating in the country, not necessarily involved in the exploitation and destruction of the country’s national wealth.
What has not been explicitly spelled out in the DENR policy is the nation’s share in the profits of mining operations. If the DENR equates the above tax items to represent the governments share, it sadly miscomprehends the meaning of governmental share in the exploitation of the national patrimony.
Our position and understanding is that an FTAA is a corporate undertaking done by the state in partnership with a private mining corporation and a foreign capitalist for that matter. Had it been the state that operated the mining operations, it would benefit from the profits wholesale.
Entering into a business venture, it is simply logical that the state should partake in the profits of that business venture aside from exercising its regulatory functions such as taxation.
The more questionable provision is that government’s share in the FTAA shall commence only after the FTAA contractor has fully recovered its pre-operating expenses, exploration, and development expenditures and other expenditures that may be added as part of. A case is now pending in the Supreme Court to question the unconscionable FTAA contract and its unconstitutionality.
The flawed fiscal regime is further highlighted in the case of Lafayette’s mining project in the Bikol region. The government received less than one percent of the PhP 3.6 billion worth of minerals extracted in 3 years of operation. The company has now stopped its operations.
What makes matters worse is that the natural destruction accompanying mining operations place communities at risk of severe hunger and intensified disasters. The OceanaGold Project has converted the fertile rice lands in Didipio into its mining operations and runs the risk of contaminating water sources in the agricultural provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan Valley, Isabela and Central Luzon together with the other two pending large-scale mining projects also in the same province – Royalco Phils. in Barangay Pao and FCF-MTL Metals in Barangay Runrunno.
Nueva Viscaya hosts 3 watershed areas - 2 proclaimed: Dupax Watershed Reservation (Proclamation 720) covering 425 hectares, and the Casecnan River Watershed in Dupax del Norte and Dupax del Sur, (Proclamation 136) covering 85,519 hectares , and 1 unproclaimed: Magat River watershed. These watershed areas serve approximately a total population of 400,000 including neighboring provinces such as Cagayan Valley, Isabela and northern parts of central Luzon. At least two of these watershed areas are in proximity to the mining site.
It is elementary that if these watershed areas are compromised due to contamination of the water, it will greatly affect the agriculture production in the said provinces that will contribute more to the worsening situation of our food production.
OceanaGold’s open pit mining method and tailings dam for mine waste disposal will be susceptible to seepage and collapse that will greatly affect the rivers and waters in the province. Ironically, DENR Secretary Atienza himself identified the province of Nueva Viscaya as part of the typhoon belt area.
The negative impacts of mining projects in the Philippines outweigh its envisioned benefits. You cannot find any single mining operation in the Philippines that has brought progress to local communities, only a devastated environment, and an impoverished community. The people of Marinduque can tell us their experience; Marcopper mining operations has inundated two major rivers in their province. Mayor Hagedorn of Puerto Princesa has taken the position against mining operations for clearly understanding the negative impacts.
With the recent developments, the biased positioning of Secretary Atienza for OceanaGolds operations is a complete disregard of the sentiments of the people in the province and the local communities who have been opposing the project for the adverse impacts directly felt by them. How arrogant can Secretary Atienza be in saying "they can barricade all they want".
For further questions and inquiries please contact us at +63 2 926-4409, +63 2 434-4079, +63 917-548-1674 (Ronald/Campaigns/Paralegal) or visit us at 87B Madasalin St., Teachers Village, Diliman, Quezon City.
Friday, May 09, 2008
DIDIPIO GOLD-COPPER PROJECT: FAR FROM A DONE DEAL
URGENT ALERT
26 March 2008
DIDIPIO GOLD-COPPER PROJECT: FAR FROM A DONE DEAL
(Demolition of houses in Didipio continues)
Blood spilled on Black Saturday
Residents now fear for their lives as one community member (Emilio Pumihic) was shot and hospitalised when he tried together with other neighbours to prevent a team of demolition crew from demolishing the house of Samuel Bidang who was then taking a nap inside. Accounts from witnesses said that Pumihic was restrained by two security personnel of OceanaGold and was then shot from behind by another security guard (Whitney Dongiahon). (related article available at-http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080324-126059/Shooting-mars-Lent-in-mining-village).
Emilio Pumihic is a descendant of Juan Pumihic, the first Barangay Captain of Didipio and also one of the first families to settle in Didipio.
In another act to intimidate anti-mining officials and residents, OceanaGold and its cohorts in Didipio harassed Councilor Eduardo Ananayo at 10 o’clock in the evening also on Black Saturday. After attending a meeting in Sitio Dinauyan he was accosted by SPO4 Noel Valdez and brought to the Community Relations Office of OceanaGold without any valid reason t do so, SPO4 Valdez is a member of the Provincial Philippine National Police assigned in Didipio supposedly to keep peace and order in the community. Councilor Ananayo in his affidavit stated that he was slapped on the face by SPO4 Valdez when he introduced himself as one of the baranggay officials in Didipio.
These unfortunate events happened on Black Saturday (where Catholics all over the world observes a week of lent to reflect on the sacrifices and crucifixion of Jesus Christ). The people of Didipio last 17 March sought Bishop Villena’s intervention to ask OceanaGold not to resume demolition activities during the holy week in respect for the people in Didipio who wanted to reflect, pray and celebrate Jesus Christ’s salvation of mankind. The people of Didipio relayed this message through Sr. Eden Orlino, SPC of the Diocesan Social Action Commission who then responded to bring this request to the Bishop.
Sr. Eden’s appeal to the mining company thru Arnel Arrojo, Site Development manager of OceanaGold was not seriously considered since what happened on Black Saturday even Mr. Arrojo gave his word to Sr. Eden that they will accept the request of the people of Didipio to observe a peaceful holy week without any demolition activity. Much worse, 200 more demolition crew arrived on the same day and a shooting incident.
Bishop of Bayombong condemns OceanaGold
Bishop Ramon Villena of the Diocese of Bayombong declared OceanaGold’s acts in demolishing the houses of Indigenous Peoples in Didipio and the shooting of Emilio Pumihic as ‘atrocious’ and ‘monstrous’. He also add that it was made even worse by the mining company’s attempt to cover up for its human rights violations. (related article available at http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080325-126399/Stop-Vizcaya-mining-bishop-asks-GMA).
Ramoncito Gozar, vice-president for communications and external affairs of OceanaGold on the other hand downplayed the shooting incident and tried to discredit and put the blame on the victim by saying that Emilio Pumihic was drunk at the time and tried to engage the security forces of OceanaGold. Police officials in Didipio, however, find Gozar’s version of the incident as “incredible”.
Breakdown of Law and Order
The Baranggay Council of Didipio with the present development and incidents now happening in the community is virtually non-existent or incapacitated to protect its constituents in the face of serious human rights violations being perpetrated by OceanaGold. The council has made several appeals to the mining company to settle first with the owners of houses and farmlands before they conduct demolitions activities but it seems this appeal fell on OceanaGold’s calloused and deaf ears.
OceanaGold showed its blatant disrespect to the public authority in Didipio for what they did to Councilor Edwardo Ananayo.
Arrogant mining company
OceanaGold’s order to its contractors to “demolish now, negotiate later” expresses utter disregard for due process of law and is highly insensitive to the well-being of the Indigenous Peoples community living in Didipio, even proudly invoking their so-called rights under the Mining Act of 1995.
We reiterate our call on all justice organisations, human rights and indigenous peoples advocates to extend support and solidarity to the Indigenous Peoples in Didipio. WE ASK YOU TO:
1. Be part of the Fact Finding Mission on 1-4 April 2008 in Didipio, to be spearheaded by LRC-KsK, Philrights, TFDP, Amnesty International, Alyansa Tigil Mina and to be joined by other foreign participants from Piplinks. You may contact LRC-KsK - +632 926 4409, TFDP National Office +632 437 8054, Alyansa Tigil Mina - +632 426 6740, Philrights - +632 433 1714;
2. Help the people of Didipio to defend themselves against the onslaught of OceanaGold and demand for the prosecution of the security guard who shot Emilio Pumihic;
3. Extend financial assistance for the legal defence fund, as the mining company will surely resort to take advantage of its huge resources to take the resisting community to the tedious and very expensive legal cases in courts, as what other mining affected communities are experiencing now and even before;
4. Increase awareness and disseminate information of the real situation in Didipio especially with OceanaGold investors and shareholders;
5. We call on all justice and human rights advocates and organizations to join hands with us in solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of Didipio in Nueva Viscaya, Philippines. Let us call to IMMEDIATELY INVESTIGATE and ACT on the shooting of Emilio Pumihic and STOP THE VIOLENCE in DIDIPIO! Let us call on OceanaGold mining company to RESPECT Indigenous and Peoples RIGHTS and to abide, observe and practice good business etiquettes and standards. Write URGENT LETTER of CONCERN to the following:
1. H. E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Tel: +632.564.1451 to 80
Fax:+632.742.1642/929.3968
Cell: +63.919.898.4622 / +63.917.839.8462
Email: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph
2. Hon. Purificacion V. Quisumbing
Chairperson, Philippine Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Blg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City,Philippines
Tel: 928.5655/926.6188
Fax: +632.929.0102
Email: drpvq@yahoo.com
3. Sec. Jose L. Atienza Jr
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Central Office, Visayas Avenue
Diliman, 1100, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel: 928.06.91 to 93 loc. 2003, 2008
Email: osec@dem.gov.ph
4. OcenaGold Corporation
a. Australia
Stephen Orr – Chief Executive Officer
Corporate Office
Level 5, 250 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Tel: +61.3.9656.5300
Fax: +61.3.9656.5333
b. Australia
James E. Askew-Chairman
Corporate Office
Level 5, 250 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Tel: +61.3.9656.5300
Fax: +61.3.9656.5333
c. Philippines
Jose P. Leviste
2nd Floor, CJV Building
108 Aguirre Street, Legaspi Village
1229 Makati City, Philippines
Tel: +6.32.8926643
Fax: +6.32.892.8399
26 March 2008
DIDIPIO GOLD-COPPER PROJECT: FAR FROM A DONE DEAL
(Demolition of houses in Didipio continues)
Blood spilled on Black Saturday
Residents now fear for their lives as one community member (Emilio Pumihic) was shot and hospitalised when he tried together with other neighbours to prevent a team of demolition crew from demolishing the house of Samuel Bidang who was then taking a nap inside. Accounts from witnesses said that Pumihic was restrained by two security personnel of OceanaGold and was then shot from behind by another security guard (Whitney Dongiahon). (related article available at-http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080324-126059/Shooting-mars-Lent-in-mining-village).
Emilio Pumihic is a descendant of Juan Pumihic, the first Barangay Captain of Didipio and also one of the first families to settle in Didipio.
In another act to intimidate anti-mining officials and residents, OceanaGold and its cohorts in Didipio harassed Councilor Eduardo Ananayo at 10 o’clock in the evening also on Black Saturday. After attending a meeting in Sitio Dinauyan he was accosted by SPO4 Noel Valdez and brought to the Community Relations Office of OceanaGold without any valid reason t do so, SPO4 Valdez is a member of the Provincial Philippine National Police assigned in Didipio supposedly to keep peace and order in the community. Councilor Ananayo in his affidavit stated that he was slapped on the face by SPO4 Valdez when he introduced himself as one of the baranggay officials in Didipio.
These unfortunate events happened on Black Saturday (where Catholics all over the world observes a week of lent to reflect on the sacrifices and crucifixion of Jesus Christ). The people of Didipio last 17 March sought Bishop Villena’s intervention to ask OceanaGold not to resume demolition activities during the holy week in respect for the people in Didipio who wanted to reflect, pray and celebrate Jesus Christ’s salvation of mankind. The people of Didipio relayed this message through Sr. Eden Orlino, SPC of the Diocesan Social Action Commission who then responded to bring this request to the Bishop.
Sr. Eden’s appeal to the mining company thru Arnel Arrojo, Site Development manager of OceanaGold was not seriously considered since what happened on Black Saturday even Mr. Arrojo gave his word to Sr. Eden that they will accept the request of the people of Didipio to observe a peaceful holy week without any demolition activity. Much worse, 200 more demolition crew arrived on the same day and a shooting incident.
Bishop of Bayombong condemns OceanaGold
Bishop Ramon Villena of the Diocese of Bayombong declared OceanaGold’s acts in demolishing the houses of Indigenous Peoples in Didipio and the shooting of Emilio Pumihic as ‘atrocious’ and ‘monstrous’. He also add that it was made even worse by the mining company’s attempt to cover up for its human rights violations. (related article available at http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080325-126399/Stop-Vizcaya-mining-bishop-asks-GMA).
Ramoncito Gozar, vice-president for communications and external affairs of OceanaGold on the other hand downplayed the shooting incident and tried to discredit and put the blame on the victim by saying that Emilio Pumihic was drunk at the time and tried to engage the security forces of OceanaGold. Police officials in Didipio, however, find Gozar’s version of the incident as “incredible”.
Breakdown of Law and Order
The Baranggay Council of Didipio with the present development and incidents now happening in the community is virtually non-existent or incapacitated to protect its constituents in the face of serious human rights violations being perpetrated by OceanaGold. The council has made several appeals to the mining company to settle first with the owners of houses and farmlands before they conduct demolitions activities but it seems this appeal fell on OceanaGold’s calloused and deaf ears.
OceanaGold showed its blatant disrespect to the public authority in Didipio for what they did to Councilor Edwardo Ananayo.
Arrogant mining company
OceanaGold’s order to its contractors to “demolish now, negotiate later” expresses utter disregard for due process of law and is highly insensitive to the well-being of the Indigenous Peoples community living in Didipio, even proudly invoking their so-called rights under the Mining Act of 1995.
We reiterate our call on all justice organisations, human rights and indigenous peoples advocates to extend support and solidarity to the Indigenous Peoples in Didipio. WE ASK YOU TO:
1. Be part of the Fact Finding Mission on 1-4 April 2008 in Didipio, to be spearheaded by LRC-KsK, Philrights, TFDP, Amnesty International, Alyansa Tigil Mina and to be joined by other foreign participants from Piplinks. You may contact LRC-KsK - +632 926 4409, TFDP National Office +632 437 8054, Alyansa Tigil Mina - +632 426 6740, Philrights - +632 433 1714;
2. Help the people of Didipio to defend themselves against the onslaught of OceanaGold and demand for the prosecution of the security guard who shot Emilio Pumihic;
3. Extend financial assistance for the legal defence fund, as the mining company will surely resort to take advantage of its huge resources to take the resisting community to the tedious and very expensive legal cases in courts, as what other mining affected communities are experiencing now and even before;
4. Increase awareness and disseminate information of the real situation in Didipio especially with OceanaGold investors and shareholders;
5. We call on all justice and human rights advocates and organizations to join hands with us in solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of Didipio in Nueva Viscaya, Philippines. Let us call to IMMEDIATELY INVESTIGATE and ACT on the shooting of Emilio Pumihic and STOP THE VIOLENCE in DIDIPIO! Let us call on OceanaGold mining company to RESPECT Indigenous and Peoples RIGHTS and to abide, observe and practice good business etiquettes and standards. Write URGENT LETTER of CONCERN to the following:
1. H. E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Tel: +632.564.1451 to 80
Fax:+632.742.1642/929.3968
Cell: +63.919.898.4622 / +63.917.839.8462
Email: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph
2. Hon. Purificacion V. Quisumbing
Chairperson, Philippine Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Blg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City,Philippines
Tel: 928.5655/926.6188
Fax: +632.929.0102
Email: drpvq@yahoo.com
3. Sec. Jose L. Atienza Jr
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Central Office, Visayas Avenue
Diliman, 1100, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel: 928.06.91 to 93 loc. 2003, 2008
Email: osec@dem.gov.ph
4. OcenaGold Corporation
a. Australia
Stephen Orr – Chief Executive Officer
Corporate Office
Level 5, 250 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Tel: +61.3.9656.5300
Fax: +61.3.9656.5333
b. Australia
James E. Askew-Chairman
Corporate Office
Level 5, 250 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
Tel: +61.3.9656.5300
Fax: +61.3.9656.5333
c. Philippines
Jose P. Leviste
2nd Floor, CJV Building
108 Aguirre Street, Legaspi Village
1229 Makati City, Philippines
Tel: +6.32.8926643
Fax: +6.32.892.8399
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Aussie firm in Vizcaya mining changes name again
InquirerLast updated 06:13am (Mla time) 07/22/2007
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=78056
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines—An Australian firm that wants to conduct large-scale mining activities in upland Kasibu town has changed its name for the second time in nearly three years. Company officials claim the move is part of a corporate packaging strategy.
Australasian Philippines Mining Inc. (Apmi) is now known as OceanaGold Phils., Inc., by virtue of a 2006 merger in Australia between Climax Mining Ltd, Apmi’s parent company, and OceanaGold Ltd, said Ramoncito Gozar, the company’s associate director for communications and external affairs.
“Apmi in the Philippines just sought for a change in name (because) we want the company to be international in a sense, because OceanaGold is better known internationally. It’s just branding,” he said.
OceanaGold is aiming to start its proposed gold-copper project in Didipio village amid opposition from the local communities.
Formerly known as Climax Arimco Mining Corp. (CAMC), the company gained entry into the country through a financial and technical assistance agreement with the government in 1994.
CAMC later transferred the FTAA to Apmi in a 2004 agreement. However, it has failed to start actual mining operations after failing to get the consent of local communities, as required by the Local Government Code of 1991.
The change of name became known early this month when the company tried to start exploration activities in Papaya village in Kasibu, drawing opposition from locals.
Villagers said mining should never be allowed in their area because it has been declared through a local ordinance as a watershed for about 10,000 hectares of citrus plantations in Malabing Valley.
“Geologists came insisting that they no longer needed the consent of the community. People there are confused because we are facing an enemy that is constantly changing its looks,” Prescilla Guilao, Papaya village treasurer, said in the dialect.
She said the people also suspected that rich foreign businessmen were using different corporations as dummies.
Guilao noted that another Australian company, Oxiana Phils., was also granted an exploration permit covering about 5,800 ha in nearby Pao village.
Papaya residents said the change of name was meant not only as a “cosmetic remedy” to boost the company’s image before mining investors, or to evade liability for its previous actions. Melvin Gascon, Inquirer Northern Luzon
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=78056
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines—An Australian firm that wants to conduct large-scale mining activities in upland Kasibu town has changed its name for the second time in nearly three years. Company officials claim the move is part of a corporate packaging strategy.
Australasian Philippines Mining Inc. (Apmi) is now known as OceanaGold Phils., Inc., by virtue of a 2006 merger in Australia between Climax Mining Ltd, Apmi’s parent company, and OceanaGold Ltd, said Ramoncito Gozar, the company’s associate director for communications and external affairs.
“Apmi in the Philippines just sought for a change in name (because) we want the company to be international in a sense, because OceanaGold is better known internationally. It’s just branding,” he said.
OceanaGold is aiming to start its proposed gold-copper project in Didipio village amid opposition from the local communities.
Formerly known as Climax Arimco Mining Corp. (CAMC), the company gained entry into the country through a financial and technical assistance agreement with the government in 1994.
CAMC later transferred the FTAA to Apmi in a 2004 agreement. However, it has failed to start actual mining operations after failing to get the consent of local communities, as required by the Local Government Code of 1991.
The change of name became known early this month when the company tried to start exploration activities in Papaya village in Kasibu, drawing opposition from locals.
Villagers said mining should never be allowed in their area because it has been declared through a local ordinance as a watershed for about 10,000 hectares of citrus plantations in Malabing Valley.
“Geologists came insisting that they no longer needed the consent of the community. People there are confused because we are facing an enemy that is constantly changing its looks,” Prescilla Guilao, Papaya village treasurer, said in the dialect.
She said the people also suspected that rich foreign businessmen were using different corporations as dummies.
Guilao noted that another Australian company, Oxiana Phils., was also granted an exploration permit covering about 5,800 ha in nearby Pao village.
Papaya residents said the change of name was meant not only as a “cosmetic remedy” to boost the company’s image before mining investors, or to evade liability for its previous actions. Melvin Gascon, Inquirer Northern Luzon
Monday, December 04, 2006
Didipio mine project gets A-M loan
By, MELODY M. AGUIBA,
http://www.mb. com.ph/BSNS20061 20481422. html
4th December 2006
The Didipio copper-gold project is drawing down this week A million from an ANZ-arranged syndicated loan as it also anticipates 40-million multi-financial instrument deal with a New York-operating international financier. All set to be constructed as the first large-scale mine in Region 2, the Didipio project is nearly complete with all financing requirements totaling to A0 million.
"The forty million Australian dollars, we’ll get that next week. For the 170 million Australian dollars, we’ve had offers from financial institutions in New York, Toronto, London, and Australia," said Stephen Orr, chief executive officer of New Zealand-based Oceana Gold Ltd. (OGL), in an interview during a certificate of merger signing. The A million was syndicated by ANZ Investment Bank together with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The on-going negotiation with several equity institutions which may be finalized in two weeks will involve either a convertible bond or a highyield debt or a combination. OGL, New Zealand’s biggest gold producer, is extra bullish about the prospect of mining in the Philippines both in geologic potential and government policies.
"In terms of geologic prospectivity, it’s one of the best in the world in undeveloped ore deposit particularly copper gold porphyry. In terms of government support, we’ve gotten absolutely positive government support through every department we’ve spoken to from the president down," Orr said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was present at the merger signing of OGL with Australia’s Climax Mining, said the Didipio project along with five other Australia-New Zealand mining projects is among the foreign investments the Philippines had been expecting to host. The copper-gold project in Nueva Vizcaya-Quirino holds a Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) which needs approval of the Office of the President. OGL finds its acquisition of the project strategic not only with its vision in geographic expansion but also in extending its environmental practice outside of New Zealand.
"To us our acquisition of Didipio is transformational. We have a strategy to be a consolidator in the Pcific Rim, and this is our first step. And one of the things we’re looking forward to is in New Zealand, we operate in the highest environmental standard. We want to operate in the Philippines in the same standard," he said. OGL is spending A to A million in exploration for the Philippines as it anticipates more discoveries here. It is separately spending A to A million in exploration in New Zealand.
"Part of our financing was to raise money for exploration. We believe that within one year, we’ll be able to announce a new discovery in the Philippines. That’s how prospective we believe it is. Don’t be surprised to see us drilling in northern Surigao. It will be one of our big focuses. We’re quite optimistic," he said. With the Didipio acquisition, OGL is raising its ability to produce gold from 180,000 ounces to 300,000 ounces as the project is set to be constructed early 2007.
"We acquired a largescale orebody in the Philippines that gave us geopolitical diversity which we didn’t have before and gave us additional revenue sources other than gold because Didipio has copper," he said. While some exploration and mining executives have downgraded the country’s mining environment in a Fraser Institute survey, OGL believes much of a project’s success lies internally in corporate management.
"The Philippines is not any worse than any other place in the world. Companies who have vested interests have to promote their interest to convince the government. And we work very hard to do that and the government has been very supportive," said Orr. The OGL buyout into Didipio also enabled entry of Brazil’s SCRCOR which owns seven percent of OGL and Ospraie Management of New York which holds 11 percent interest. The Didipio project is believed to be the beginning of a string of discoveries in this area. The company has identified new prospects here including the True Blue and the D’Fox which may extend the life of this single mine over many years.
http://www.mb. com.ph/BSNS20061 20481422. html
4th December 2006
The Didipio copper-gold project is drawing down this week A million from an ANZ-arranged syndicated loan as it also anticipates 40-million multi-financial instrument deal with a New York-operating international financier. All set to be constructed as the first large-scale mine in Region 2, the Didipio project is nearly complete with all financing requirements totaling to A0 million.
"The forty million Australian dollars, we’ll get that next week. For the 170 million Australian dollars, we’ve had offers from financial institutions in New York, Toronto, London, and Australia," said Stephen Orr, chief executive officer of New Zealand-based Oceana Gold Ltd. (OGL), in an interview during a certificate of merger signing. The A million was syndicated by ANZ Investment Bank together with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The on-going negotiation with several equity institutions which may be finalized in two weeks will involve either a convertible bond or a highyield debt or a combination. OGL, New Zealand’s biggest gold producer, is extra bullish about the prospect of mining in the Philippines both in geologic potential and government policies.
"In terms of geologic prospectivity, it’s one of the best in the world in undeveloped ore deposit particularly copper gold porphyry. In terms of government support, we’ve gotten absolutely positive government support through every department we’ve spoken to from the president down," Orr said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was present at the merger signing of OGL with Australia’s Climax Mining, said the Didipio project along with five other Australia-New Zealand mining projects is among the foreign investments the Philippines had been expecting to host. The copper-gold project in Nueva Vizcaya-Quirino holds a Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) which needs approval of the Office of the President. OGL finds its acquisition of the project strategic not only with its vision in geographic expansion but also in extending its environmental practice outside of New Zealand.
"To us our acquisition of Didipio is transformational. We have a strategy to be a consolidator in the Pcific Rim, and this is our first step. And one of the things we’re looking forward to is in New Zealand, we operate in the highest environmental standard. We want to operate in the Philippines in the same standard," he said. OGL is spending A to A million in exploration for the Philippines as it anticipates more discoveries here. It is separately spending A to A million in exploration in New Zealand.
"Part of our financing was to raise money for exploration. We believe that within one year, we’ll be able to announce a new discovery in the Philippines. That’s how prospective we believe it is. Don’t be surprised to see us drilling in northern Surigao. It will be one of our big focuses. We’re quite optimistic," he said. With the Didipio acquisition, OGL is raising its ability to produce gold from 180,000 ounces to 300,000 ounces as the project is set to be constructed early 2007.
"We acquired a largescale orebody in the Philippines that gave us geopolitical diversity which we didn’t have before and gave us additional revenue sources other than gold because Didipio has copper," he said. While some exploration and mining executives have downgraded the country’s mining environment in a Fraser Institute survey, OGL believes much of a project’s success lies internally in corporate management.
"The Philippines is not any worse than any other place in the world. Companies who have vested interests have to promote their interest to convince the government. And we work very hard to do that and the government has been very supportive," said Orr. The OGL buyout into Didipio also enabled entry of Brazil’s SCRCOR which owns seven percent of OGL and Ospraie Management of New York which holds 11 percent interest. The Didipio project is believed to be the beginning of a string of discoveries in this area. The company has identified new prospects here including the True Blue and the D’Fox which may extend the life of this single mine over many years.
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