6 March 2018

...Several provincial officials of Nueva Vizcaya province have promised to block the renewal of a soon-to-expire permit of OceanaGold Philippines Incorporated (OGPI), a foreign mining firm.

Board Member Flodemonte Gerdan, chairman of the Committee on Environment of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, said the board will prevent the renewal of OGPI's permit, citing environmental and human rights issues the company allegedly neglected.

...Several anti-mining groups in the province had sought for help from local officials on the alleged violations of the mining firm.

...[P]rovincial Governor Carlos Padilla...called OGPI's mining operation as an "environmental disaster," accusing OceanaGold of destroying 975 acres of grasslands, forests and species habitats, inciting strife and theft, and causing respiratory problems in neighboring communities.

He said the mining company has put “great risk” at the watersheds in Nueva Vizcaya and had also exhausted wells and rice irrigation canals.