May 17, 2008
N. Vizcaya’s ‘luxury buses’ draw flak
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–Officials and residents here denounced the alleged anomalous purchase by the provincial government of two brand new luxury buses worth P10.2 million, at a time when the country was suffering from severe food crisis and high power rates.
Board member Patricio Dumlao Jr. said the “questionable” purchase of a new 45-seater and a 25-seater Hyundai buses was made without the required public bidding, raising suspicion that this could be another graft-ridden deal entered into by unscrupulous provincial officials.
“This is highly anomalous because the province had to buy from a Korean supplier through direct purchase, when there are many other suppliers in the country that could have provided the same vehicles, maybe at less cost to the government,” Dumlao said.
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May 16, 2008
Gov’s allies want ‘kalabasa’ award for DENR’s Atienza
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–A provincial board member here on Wednesday filed a resolution awarding the “kalabasa” (squash) award to Environment Secretary Jose “Lito” Atienza, for “mishandling” the
controversy between the provincial government and a foreign mining firm operating here.
Board member Efren Quiben said Atienza deserves the award for favoring and defending OceanaGold Philippines, Inc., an Australian firm, and “betraying” the local government code which empowers provinces to collect quarry taxes.
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May 15, 2008
N. Vizcaya gov’t squeezes Aussie mining firm
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–The provincial board on Wednesday continued to add pressure on a foreign company here when it initiated a resolution withdrawing its support to the firm’s gold-copper project over its “blatant” refusal to pay quarry taxes to the local government.
The 13-member Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) voted to pass on first reading the resolution filed by board member Edgardo Balgos, which also took to task OceanaGold Philippines, Inc., an Australian firm, for the “unfulfilled promises” as well as human rights violations allegedly committed against the people of Didipio in Kasibu town.
Observers who witnessed Wednesday’s SP deliberations, however, noted that the resolution could be a bluff, an arm-twisting strategy to compel the company to negotiate with the provincial government.
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May 9, 2008
N. Vizcaya gov’t stops mining operations over tax dues
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya - The provincial government has blocked earth-moving operations by an Australian mining firm for its refusal to pay taxes imposed by the local government.
On Tuesday, a group of about 50 provincial officials, department heads and police and security personnel went to Barangay Didipio in Kasibu town to stop the operations of OceanaGold Philippines Inc. and Delta Corp., a subcontractor of earth-moving activities there.
Lawyer Desiderio Perez, provincial legal officer, said officials, led by Gov. Luisa Cuaresma, have vowed to stay in the area to prevent the company from resuming its activities until it agrees to pay the estimated P30 million business license and quarry fees.
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May 8, 2008
Tribes score mining firm for ‘lack of concern’ for villagers
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–Tribal leaders in an upland community here on Tuesday criticized the supposed apathy shown by an Australian mining firm by claiming that its project was underway, despite widespread clamor for its stoppage over controversies.
Village officials of Didipio in upland Kasibu town assailed the alleged claims by officials of OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. that downplay the conflicts surrounding its construction of the US$117-million gold copper project in the area.
“Makitatayon ti agpayso nga kulay daytoy nga kumpania nga awan nga pulos panangimasakitda ti tattao, ta ti napateg laeng kaniada ket ti minas (We are now seeing the true color of this company, that it does not care at all about the welfare of the people because all it cares about is the mines),” said village councilor Carmen Ananayo.
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May 1, 2008
N. Vizcaya tribes turn to gods amid woes
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–Tribal leaders here are imploring the aid and protection of their deity “Kabunian” amid hardships suffered by tribes, especially involving various mining controversies in the province.
Tribal priests from various indigenous groups in Nueva Vizcaya staged the “Baki ni Halupay” at the provincial office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) here Thursday following the
series of “unfortunate” events that have been plaguing indigenous communities.
NCIP Commissioner Rizalino Segundo said the ritual is meant to block bad spirits and mislead the mind of enemies that are believed to have been responsible for the difficulties currently faced by the tribes.
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April 25, 2008
Agency seeks to stop demolition of tribe’s houses in N. Vizcaya mining project
KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya–The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) called for the stoppage of the operations of an Australian mining company amid the alleged violations of human rights it has committed against tribal peoples of an upland village here that is the site of a large-scale mining project.
Lawyer Basilio Wandag, NCIP legal affairs director, asked OceanaGold Philippines, Inc., owner and operator of the proposed Didipio gold-copper project, to stop demolition of properties of tribal residents until their complaints are addressed by the company.
Wandag made the call upon the recommendation of eight-member NCIP team led by NCIP Commissioner Rizalino Segundo that conducted a field investigation in the area earlier this month.
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April 23, 2008
Mining watchdog seeks probe of Aussie firms’ rights ‘abuses’
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–The Australian mining ombudswoman has called on the Commission on Human Rights in the Philippines to investigate the alleged human rights abuses committed by a Melbourne-based mining firm in remote Didipio village, site of its proposed US$117-million gold-copper project.
Shanta Martin, Oxfam Australia mining ombudsman, made the call amid reports of escalating human rights violations by OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. highlighted by last month’s shooting of an Ifugao native by a company-hired security guard.
“I urge the (CHR) to please investigate the situation as an independent party, and to assist the communities of Didipio to defend their human rights,” she said in a letter to Dr. Purificacion Valera-Quisumbing, CHR chair.
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April 10, 2008
N. Vizcaya farmers, officials hit diversion of rice funds
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–Officials and residents here have assailed the provincial government for sacrificing funds for a rice program in favor of road construction and a bulldozer.
Documents showed that a P2 million allotment for the province’s rice modernization program has been used to fund farm-to-market roads worth P500,000 and the purchase of a bulldozer for Kasibu town worth P1.5 million.
“This questionable move is highlighted now that the entire country is on the verge of a food crisis. At a time when we were supposed to improve rice production, roads and bulldozers are given priority,” said Board Member Patricio Dumlao Jr.
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