GOV. PADILLA DISAGREES WITH DIDIPIO FTAA
BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO/THE MANILA TIMES
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (July 18)—Gov. Carlos Padilla was disappointed and disheartened by the renewal of the Didipio Mine's financial or technical assistance agreement (FTAA) for another 25 years.
GOV. CARLOS M. PADILLA
"It was indeed very lamentable and disheartening," Padilla said in a statement, adding the renewal, which happened despite their strong opposition to the re-opening of the mines, was "an act of injustice."
On Wednesday, Australian OceanaGold Corp. confirmed the Philippine government renewed the Didipio Mines' FTAA in the upland town of Kasibu for an additional 25-year period beginning June 19, 2019.
"We believe this is an act of injustice not only to our environment, but to our fellow Novo Vizcayanos, who had suffered...