By Leander C. Domingo

KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya: The national government has finalized the updated financial and technical assistance agreement (FTAA) with Australian-Canadian mining firm OceanaGold Philippines Inc. (OGPI).

Photo Courtesy: OceanaGold Philippines

OGPI’s 25-year FTAA became effective on June 20, 1994 and its initial term expired on June 20, 2019, a year after it lodged its renewal application. Its mining operation is considered among the most environment-friendly in the Philippines.

An FTAA is a permit issued to a multinational company that will share technology and resources to explore and extract minerals in the Philippines.

The Mines Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) said its national office has concluded its discussions on OceanaGold’s license renewal and that the new FTAA awaits the signature of Secretary Roy Cimatu of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources.

According to the MGB, after Cimatu’s signature, the FTAA will be forwarded to the Office of the President for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.

Once finalized, MGB said the new deal under the new FTAA between the government and OGPI will give the government a predetermined share in the mining project.

MGB Director Wilfredo Moncano said OceanaGold’s renewal is still with Cimatu for his signature on the recommendation made by the Philippine negotiation panel comprised of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the MGB and the Department of Finance.

Didipio residents said they look forward to going back to their jobs that OGPI created either directly or indirectly.

MGB Director Wilfredo Moncano said OceanaGold’s renewal is still with Cimatu for his signature on the recommendation made by the Philippine negotiation panel comprised of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the MGB and the Department of Finance.

Didipio residents said they look forward to going back to their jobs that OGPI created either directly or indirectly.

Meanwhile, while waiting for its FTAA renewal, OGPI continues to extend help to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Lawyer Joan Adaci-Cattiling, OGPI president, said despite not operating in the past months, the company has assisted their host and neighboring communities by shelling out close to P20 million in Covid-related needs since the virus outbreak in mid-March last year.

For 2020, Adaci-Cattiling said OGPI extended help to frontliners in Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela and Cagayan provinces in Region 2, including the province of Ifugao in the Cordillera region.

Help extended included face masks, medical coveralls, alcohol, surgical gloves, rapid antigen test kits, medical gowns, washable suits, rice and food packs.

She said the beneficiaries were 18,294 individuals and 20,747 households including 11 social development management program villages (barangay) and non-impacted villages in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

Beneficiaries include regional, provincial and municipal hospitals and health offices; the Philippine National Police offices in the region; disaster risks and reduction management offices; and other government agencies.

Other Covid-related needs were also provided to the Department of Education in Kasibu such as printers, photocopying machines and bond paper.

Source: The Manila Times