Nueva Vizcaya

BY LEIF C. DAHL After the onslaught of Super Typhoon Uwan, Woggle Corporation deploys its excavator to assist in the clearing of major and secondary roads in Dupax del Norte, ensuring that commuters could quickly regain access and resume their daily activities. RPA PHOTO DUPAX DEL NORTE, Nueva Vizcaya—When Super Typhoon Uwan unleashed its fury on the province, the people of this town knew they could count on one stalwart ally: Woggle Corporation. As the storm raged on, the company's swift and selfless response shone like a beacon of hope, illuminating the darkness. In a remarkable display of corporate social responsibility, Woggle Corporation opened its staff house as a temporary evacuation center, providing a haven for families seeking refuge from the tempest. The company...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO FCF Minerals Corporation - Runruno Gold Project's central nursery in the village of Runruno, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya—FCF Minerals Corporation, operator of the Runruno Gold Project here has generated a staggering P5.71 billion in taxes, fees and duties since the start of its commercial operations in 2017. In a statement, FCF Minerals said, “The project is a testament to the company's commitment to responsible mining practices and community development.” According to available data, the taxes and fees paid by FCF Minerals have significantly contributed to the local economy and national coffers.  Mining companies in the Philippines are typically subject to a range of taxes and fees, including excise tax on miner...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Nueva Vizcaya Police Provincial Office (NVPPO) successfully provided police assistance for the full implementation of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in Dupax del Norte (DDN) on October 17, 2025. The TRO, issued by the Regional Trial Court – Bayombong, Branch 30, presided by Judge Paul Attolba, directed residents and anti-mining groups to refrain from installing or maintaining any barricade and from obstructing or barring Woggle Corporation from accessing and conducting exploration activities in Sitio (sub-village) Keon, Barangay (village) Bitnong in Dupax del Norte. Personnel from Dupax del Norte Police Station and the First and Second Nueva Vizcaya Police Mobile Force Company were dispatched to the area to maintain peac...

BY LEIF C. DAHL The Regional Trial Court, Branch 30, in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, issues a temporary restraining order against anti-mining groups that have been maintaining barricades since October 6, 2025, preventing government-sanctioned Woggle Corporation’s employees and contractors from entering the exploration site in Dupax del Norte town. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—A court decision has restrained anti-mining groups from blocking Woggle Corporation's access to a mineral exploration site in Dupax del Norte in this province with the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO). The TRO, which also prevents further obstruction, allowing the Woggle to proceed with its exploration activities, will remain in effect until October 30, unless withdrawn earlier by t...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO THE Piggatan Bridge in Alcala town in Cagayan province collapsed on Monday, rendering the route impassable to all vehicles. Collapsed Piggatan Bridge in Alcala, Cagayan. PHOTO COURTESY OF VINCENT DUMON RAMOS The bridge gave way while several ten-wheeler trucks were passing, leaving them stranded. The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in Alcala confirmed the bridge's collapse, prompting immediate response from authorities. Personnel from the MDRRMO, Philippine National Police- Alcala, and Bureau of Fire Protection conducted rescue and clearing operations. The cause of the bridge collapse is still under investigation, with authorities working to determine if anyone was injured or missing in the incident. The local gov...

IN a bid to harness its renewable energy (RE) potential, the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya has taken a proactive approach to attract investors in renewable energy, particularly hydro and solar power projects. It started by hosting its first Connecting Low Emission Alternatives Energy Investment Forum at the Carlos Padilla Convention Center in the capital town of Bayombong on Sept. 11. In attendance were private sector entities, and officials and representatives from government agencies, including the Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Investments, Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines. According to Edgardo Sabado, p...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO FCF Minerals Corporation hosts the 3rd Intercompany Visit of large-scale mining companies - OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc. (OGPI) and Dinapigue Mining Corporation (DMC) - together with representatives from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region 2 on October 1-2, 2025. FCF PHOTO QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya—In a remarkable display of collaboration and commitment to responsible mining practices, FCF Minerals Corporation recently hosted the 3rd Intercompany Visit at its mining site in Nueva Vizcaya from October 1 to 2, 2025. The event, attended by leaders from OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc. and Dinapigue Mining Corporation, along with representatives from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region 2, aimed to strengthen industry partnerships and share best p...

September is Philippine Bamboo Month. In its celebration, the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) of the Community Relations Office of FCF Minerals Corporation in partnership with the Barangay Local Government Unit of Runruno, conducts a bamboo planting activity and bamboo-made craft competition dubbed as “Bamboo Awareness Day: Weaving Sustainability and Culture on September 26, 2025, at Runruno, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya—In celebration of Philippine Bamboo Month, FCF Minerals Corporation's Community Relations Office - Information, Education and Communication (IEC) in partnership with the Barangay Local Government Unit of Runruno, held a bamboo planting activity and craft competition on September 26, 2025. Anch...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya—FCF Minerals Corporation, a leading mining company in the Philippines, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Best Practices in Mineral Processing (Metallic Category) at the 4th ASEAN Minerals Awards (AMA).  Engineer Mario Ancheta, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 2 Director, said this recognition underscores the company's commitment to “responsible, efficient and innovative operations that align with regional sustainability standards." Citing the AMA as an esteemed initiative by the ASEAN mining ministers to recognize best practices and exemplary models in sustainable mineral mining, processing and distribution among its member countries, Ancheta said FCF Minerals Corporation's shortlisting highlights its contributions to the indu...

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya—The death toll has now reached five, including two rescue volunteers and three small-scale miners, following the loss of another rescue volunteer involved in the retrieval operation inside the mine tunnel in Sitio Balcony in Barangay Runruno here. TRAGEDY IN THE DEPTHS. Rescue efforts marred by loss, as the death toll reaches five in a small-scale mining incident in Sitio Balcony, Barangay Runruno, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya. LCD PHOTO The second rescue volunteer who died was Johny Ayudan, 38, the brother of Lipihon Ayuda, 56, who was one of the three miners who were previously trapped and died inside the tunnel. Johny, along with John Philip Guinihid and another volunteer, entered the tunnel on Wednesday, June 25, at dawn to assist in th...