NEWS

Didipio, Nueva Vizcaya–OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI) recently released data on its local economy contributions from its years of commercial production.

The company has given a total of P39.5-billion in the form of taxes, employment, agricultural and social development support to the region. For Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, it has remitted close to 780-million pesos from a combination of 580-million in local business and 210-million in real property taxes.

Didipio– a barangay of about 4,000 people, which has hosted OGPI’s mining operation –is the primary recipient of the company’s tax remittances.

“The various programs that we have implemented in the region are geared towards building the capability of our people and empowering them so that even after we operate in the area, the host and neighboring communities will continue to thrive economically. Our main focus is sustainable and inclusive development, aiming to leave a long-lasting positive legacy for our communities,” David Way, OGPI’s General Manager, says.

In human development alone, OGPI has trained and hired a number of community members, employing 1,500 staff and contractors, and spending PhP 2.5 billion for employee wages.

Apart from the employment spend, OGPI has invested approximately P170 million on employees, community and pre-employment training; provided 2,000 additional livelihood opportunities through partnerships with cooperatives and social development organizations; and allowed for On-the-Job-Training (OJT) placements at the Didipio Mine. OGPI also has partnerships with the Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU), Quirino State University (QSU), Isabela State University (ISU), Saint Mary’s University (SMU), Saint Louis University (SLU), Ifugao State University (IFSU) and University of the Philippines (UP) to provide 246 scholarships in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

In the agriculture sector, OGPI’s collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and local government units, helped fund 13 cooperatives and micro and small enterprises to support vegetable production and coffee production in Kasibu; taught 92 local farmers about how coffee production increases their market opportunities; and engaged 34 local farmers to promote organic farming.

For social and community development, OGPI invested PhP 1.2 billion in the community, the amount being allocated to: Social Development Management Program (SDMP) projects; Development of Mining Technology and Geosciences (DMTG), and CSR projects focused on training, livelihood programs and community empowerment programs.

In a consultation session with the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau on July 3, 2019, Didipio residents and community leaders, attest that beyond the job opportunities, scholarships, and infrastructures, OGPI brought in overall growth and self-reliance to the area. A testament to this is OGPI-initiated DiCorp, the community-owned corporation which has generated P1.5 billion gross revenue for the local community from long term contracts with the Didipio Mine Project.

“Today, DiCorp is plugged into our value-chain–providing three meals a day, seven days a week to more than a thousand workers. What DiCorp achieved is a great case study on how OGPI helped members of the Didipio community achieve economic empowerment and self-reliance, ” concludes Way.

Latest publicly available data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau reveal that the mining industry contributed roughly 26 billion in a quarter alone. The mining industry’s production value is computed at PhP 109.5 billion with a growth of about 5.3 percent, proving there is more that can be gained in the industry, for operators and host communities alike.

OGPI commits to the highest principles in mining as it grows with its partner community.

Source: Inquirer.Net