LRC-KsK Supports the move of the SP of Nueva Vizcaya

24 June 2008

LRC-KsK Supports the move of the SP of Nueva Vizcaya

(as they withdraw support to the Didipio gold-copper project)

The Legal Rights & Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC-KsK/FoE-Phils.) welcomes and applaud the move of the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya as they withdraw support and oppose the Didipio gold-copper project of mining company OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. operating in the upland village of Didipio, Kasibsu, Nueva Vizcaya.

We are very pleased to hear that finally the provincial government has come to their senses and discarded the hypnotic and spellbinding dream of development and progress offered by OceanaGold mining company.

The conflict as generated by the controversies is due to the inconsistencies and often conflicting laws that are being taken advantage of by mining companies. Challenging OceanaGold’s mining operations in the last ten years encountered a lot difficulty because of varied positions taken by the different levels of the local governments of Nueva Viscaya. The eventual withdrawal of support will vindicate all the people’s organisations and anti-mining advocates who have been opposing the Didipio gold-copper project since its inception.

We ask the provincial government to take the necessary and concrete steps if they really are serious in challenging OceanaGold mining company’s operations in Didipio. The more appropriate action now is for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to formally declare a rejection of OceanaGold’s mining project by way of a resolution and therefore withdrawing the previous endorsement they rendered in 2005 that became instrumental for the mining company to have their Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) approved. This is their opportunity to actually redeem themselves from that great mistake.

We urge them to take their own legal steps against this arrogant mining company. If they do so, the provincial government in essence will unite and join the fight of Mayor Romeo Tayaban of the municipality of Kasibu , Nueva Vizcaya in asserting the right of local government units to withhold consent. The Mayor in 2006 filed a legal case against Australasia Philippines Mining Incorporated (APMI) now OceanaGold Phils., Inc. for proceeding with the mining project despite its failure to secure the consent of the Kasibu municipal government. The case now is in the Supreme Court.

By doing so, there is practically no more local government consent to the Didipio project at all levels and the social acceptability of OceanaGold mining company’s operation is now more questionably highlighted. Together with Bishop Villena, churches, peoples organisations, and individual advocates of Nueva Vizcaya they now have the big opportunity to push OceanaGold out of Didipio and further banish them out of Nueva Vizcaya.

For further questions and inquiries please contact us at +63 2 926-4409, +63 2 434-4079, +63 917-548-1674 (Ronald/Campaigns/Paralegal) or visit us at 87B Madasalin St., Teachers Village, Diliman, Quezon City.