The programs cover Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, supporting projects such as irrigation systems, farm-to-market and village roads, water facilities, health and child development centers, multipurpose building rehabilitation, livelihood support, and scholarships.

The SDMP focuses on Barangay Didipio and 10 neighboring barangays, while the CDF now reaches nearly 200 barangays across both provinces. The PDF funds provincial priority programs identified by local government units.

Both CDF and SDMP are implemented with guidance from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region II and involve consultations with other agencies including the CHR, NCIP, DEPDev, and DILG.

Under the Didipio Mine’s Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA), the CDF and PDF equal 1% and 0.5% of gross mining revenue, while the SDMP represents at least 1.5% of annual operating costs, as mandated under the Philippine Mining Act.

These programs aim to support basic services, infrastructure, and livelihood opportunities in host communities.

OGP remitted an LBT of PHP198.9M to Kasibu town in Nueva Vizcaya, and paid ₱119.3M and ₱79.6M to the municipalities of Nagtipunan and Cabarroguis in Quirino, respectively. 

This year, Kasibu and Cabarroguis joined Nagtipunan as first-class municipalities based on their respective average annual incomes for the last three years. First class municipalities are those earning an average of ₱200 million or more annually, based on Republic Act number 11964 or the Automatic Income Classification of Local Government Units Act.

Atty. Joan Adaci-Cattiling, OGP President and General Manager of External Affairs and Social Performance, expressed her appreciation to the officials for their support of the Company’s Didipio Mine. 

“We are all working for the continuing operations of the mine so that we are able to continue giving benefits to our communities, agyaman kami (thank you),” she said.

Peter Sharpe, OGP Chairman of the Board, said that the Company is sharing its success with local communities through its taxes and other benefits.

“We are a part of the community and it is pleasing to share our success with the broader community. This is a partnership, a relationship…this is an example where we are giving back as much as we can,” he said. 

OGP paid a total LBT of ₱421.9M and ₱326.2M to the three municipalities in 2024 and 2023, respectively.  

Kasibu Mayor Romeo Tayaban acknowledged the impact of OGP’s tax contributions on local development.

“We, the people of Kasibu, are grateful for OceanaGold’s tax payments, which have significantly helped improve the lives of our residents. Our local government is focused on enhancing infrastructure, particularly road networks, to facilitate economic activities in various barangays,” he stated in Ilocano.

Similarly, Cabarroguis Vice Mayor Francisco Dulnuan, Jr., speaking on behalf of Mayor Avelino Agustin, Jr., emphasized the importance of OGP’s continued operations.

“We hope that the mine continues its operations, as it enables us to extend further support to our constituents,” he remarked in Ilocano.

Nagtipunan Mayor Noel Lim noted that the municipality successfully completed its public market and funded various social and environmental projects through the 2024 LBT payment from OGP.

“The local business tax payments from Didipio Mine have been a tremendous help to every municipality,” he said.

The municipalities also pledged, through their respective memorandum of agreement (MOA) with OGP, to allocate no less than PHP5 million from their own LBT share to fund projects

Of the total ₱421,862,289.95 LBT, OGPI paid ₱210,931,144.98 (US$3.80 million) to the municipality of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya; while ₱84,372,457.99 (US$1.52 million) was paid to the town of Cabarroguis in Quirino. Another Php126,558,686.99 (US$2.28 million) went to the municipal coffers of Nagtipunan, also in Quirino. 

The LBT payment this year is higher by almost PHP100 million compared to last year’s payment of ₱326,153,544.78. 

“The LBT we paid this year is higher compared to last year’s because of the higher 2023 revenue of our mine, brought about by our good production and higher prices of gold,” Atty. Joan Adaci-Cattiling, Didipio Mine President and General Manager for External Affairs and Social Performance, said.

OGPI also entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the three municipalities covering the scope of and the undertakings of the local government units regarding the LBT payment, especially the allocation of not less than Php5 million to fund environmental management, protection, and conservation in their respective LGUs.

Mayor Romeo Tayaban of Kasibu thanked the Didipio Mine, saying that its LBT payment is a blessing and that everyone agrees with the sharing. 

Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region 2 director Engr. Mario Ancheta, meanwhile, said that the constituents of the three municipalities would greatly benefit from the LBT.

Adaci-Cattiling added that the Didipio Mine remains committed to working with its stakeholders to create meaningful partnerships.

“Through the taxes we pay, we are happy that we are able to contribute to the further socio-economic development of our host municipalities. I am hopeful that with the increased tax payments, it will strengthen and diversify the delivery of positive social and economic outcomes across our host communities,” Adaci-Cattiling said.

“We continue to work with our stakeholders and forging meaningful partnerships to bring a lasting beneficial legacy to our communities,” she added. 

OGPI’s Didipio Mine, an underground gold-copper mine that straddles the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, entered into an FTAA with the Republic of the Philippines in June 1994. The FTAA’s initial term expired in June 2019 and its renewal was confirmed in July 2021 effective June 2019 by the Philippine Government upon compliance with all requirements. 

OGPI is a subsidiary of OceanaGold Corporation (OGC), which also operates the Waihi and Macraes mines in New Zealand and Haile mine in the United States.

The mine, straddling the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, produced a total of approximately 138,500 ounces (oz) of gold, higher than the approximately 113,200 oz produced in 2022.

Meanwhile, copper production decreased only by 1% from approximately 14,400 metric tons (mt) in 2022 to approximately 14,200 mt in 2023.

“We are glad to have exceeded the top end of our 2023 production guidance ranging from 125,000 to 135,000 oz of gold and 12,000 to 14,000 mt of copper. Our performance signifies not only the mine’s productivity but also the talent, dedication, and hard work of our employees,” Atty. Joan Adaci-Cattiling, Didipio Mine president and external affairs and social performance general manager said.

The increase in gold production has been partly due to higher-grade breccia stopes being mined in the fourth quarter, which was facilitated by the crown pillar strengthening project’s completion. The project strengthened the bottom of the Mine’s ground surface directly above the underground mine, allowing for safer underground mining activities.

With production complemented by strong gold sales and a 9% increase in average gold prices per ounce from US$1,811 to US$1,974 and a 1% increase in copper prices per pound from US$3.82 to US$3.87 in the period of 2022 to 2023, the Didipio Mine has also increased the amount of production taxes paid to the Philippine government from US$15.2 million (PhP 836 million) in 2022 to US$26.3 million (PhP 1.46 billion). Furthermore, the Didipio Mine is also set to remit an additional government share of US$20.3 million (PhP 1.1 billion) pursuant to its Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement that entitles the Philippine government to 60% of the net revenue (less costs, taxes, duties, fees and other expenses paid or accrued by OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc.).

For 2024, the Didipio Mine aims to produce around 120,000 to 135,000 oz of gold and 12,000 to 14,000 mt of copper.

Atty. Joan Adaci-Cattiling, Didipio Mine President and General Manager for External Affairs and Social Performance, said that the award is a testament to the company’s commitment to having not only a safe working environment for its workers, but also protecting communities and the environment.

“This award is a validation of our responsible mining operations, that we ensure that our workers work and go home to their families safe and sound every day; while making sure that our host and neighboring communities, as well as the environment, are protected,” Atty. Adaci-Cattiling added.

The Didipo Mine implements technologies such as remote and semi-auto bogging that ensure not only productivity but more importantly, eliminates the exposure of underground operators to open stopes. Other safety features inside the Didipio Mine include self-rescuers, refuge chambers, escapeways, and tracking of personnel.

David Bickerton, Didipio Mine GM for Operations, added that the award is a collective effort of all mine employees and contractors.

“Part of our values is care, and we try to demonstrate this trait every day. We look out for each other, and we continuously encourage everyone to call out unsafe acts and behavior no matter who the person is, and then learn and apply the lessons that the situation gives,” Mr. Bickerton said.

“Part of our responsible mining operations is continuous improvement, and this award only motivates us more to sustain and even surpass the high standard we have achieved,” Atty. Adaci-Cattiling added.

Meanwhile, Charles Pangalina, one of Didipio Mine’s production drillers, was also named the Best Miner – Underground.

“Mr. Pangalina is an inspiration and example to us all. Safety starts with each one of us, and combine that with our operational systems, then we can achieve the right safety mindset,” Mr. Bickerton said.

The ANMSEC is an annual gathering dedicated to the country’s mining industry. It is organized by the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB).