BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (August 26)—A provincial board member has told Australian OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc. (OGPI) to respect the independence and right of barangay (village) officials in opposing the firm’s mining operation in their village.
“It is harassment when their (barangay officials) independence becomes a reason for the mining firm not to release funds because they are obliged to release such funds for the development of the community where they operate,” board member Edgardo Balgos said.
Also a lawyer, Balgos said OceanaGold must honor the independence and the right of the village officials of the mining firm’s host, Barangay Didipio in Kasibu town, to state their beliefs on various issues and hassles brought about by the mining operation.
The board member’s reaction stemmed from the stance of the barangay council of Didipio when it withdrew its opposition to OceanaGold or the Didipio Mine operation expressed through the passage of a resolution against OceanaGold’s extension.
“The stance of the barangay officials should not be a reason to prevent or restrict the funds for the barangay and our people. OceanaGold must give what is due them,” Balgos said.
He described it as disheartening to learn that the village council has withdrawn opposition to the extension of the Didipio Mine, which has reportedly failed to become compliant in many aspects in its continuance of operation.
On June 3, 2022, the Didipio barangay council passed Resolution 38, which strongly opposed the approved renewal of OGPI’s financial or technical assistance agreement (FTAA) by the national government.
An FTAA is a permit issued to a multinational company sharing technology and resources to explore and extract minerals in the Philippines.
“[T]hat such FTAA renewal did not undergo prior consultation and no Sanggunian resolution from the local government units concerned was obtained as mandated by Sections 27 and 27 of the Local Government Code of 1991,” the resolution stated.
It also alleged that the renewal and resumption of the OGPI operation did not undergo consultation with the community in Didipio; that the company failed to deliver its services to the community through the social development and management program (SDMP); and that it conducted violent demolition of houses and violated human rights, among others.
The barangay council, however, passed Resolution 61 revoking in its entirety Resolution 38, and thus, withdrawing opposition to the extension and operation of OceanaGold.
Henry Guay, Didipio barangay council member, said the revocation of Resolution 38 is just appropriate.
“Since the OGPI’s [FTAA] has been approved, what needs to be done is for the barangay council and the OGPI to continue working together for the implementation of various programs, projects and activities under the SDMP,” Guay said.
He explained that there are pending commitments under the 2013 community memorandum of agreement (MoA) between the council and the mining firm for the welfare of the whole community.
Citing Resolution 61, Guay said the barangay council and the OGPI must continually work and stand together for good.
“The two must be united as one community to achieve a common goal to complete the implementation of all SDMP and MoA projects, programs and activities before the year 2023 ends,” he added.
Guay said the partnership between the council and the OGPI is important to protect the environment, improve the quality of life in the community, and maintain a peaceful and orderly community, all for the good of the community.
On July 14, 2021, the national government renewed the Didipio Mine’s FTAA for an additional 25 years beginning June 19, 2019.
The initial 25-year FTAA took effect on June 20, 1994 and expired on June 20, 2019, a year after OceanaGold lodged its renewal application.