The Commission for Human Rights (CHR) of the Philippines urged the government to withdraw the FTAA due to large evidences of rights abuses [2;3]. However, the government apparently sided with the company, which claimed to do “ethical, responsible, and sustainable mining” [2]. Construction was completed in 2012 and commercial production started on April 1, 2013 [1]. Since production started, increasing contamination of rivers by heavy metals has been recorded, significantly exceeding the standard safety limits, thus, strongly affecting the environment and the livelihood of local communities [4]. People living next to the river, as well as downstream, are concerned about declining fish stock and irrigation of nearby agricultural fields [4]. Increasing noise and air pollution adds to the situation, while the company was further accused of avoiding tax payments [6]. Nowadays, petitions and protests against the Didipio mine, targeting the company and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issuing the permits, go on. On the national level, the OceanaGold mine is one of many mines, causing severe tensions between corporate interests in search of new commodity frontiers and indigenous communities, aiming to preserve their identities, opposing these trends which they call “development aggression” [5].

***** This text has been updated on October 1, 2016.

A previous version misstated that the mine was located on ancestral Bugkalots lands. Indeed, the area has been inhabited by many indigenous people to whom the land has been a crucial part of their livelihoods and identity. However, they came originally from other places for which reason they cannot formally claim ancestral domain over Dipdio. Information retrieved from: [3]

(Note that in 2012, a moratorium on new mining concessions was ordered, which however did not affect ongoing concessions such as the FTAA granted to OceanaGold Corporation.)

Gold and Chalcopyrite (sulphide mineral of copper and iron) are the main relevant minerals of interest in the deposit. Reserves are estimated to amount to 1.59 million ounces of gold and 0.21 million tons of copper. The mine has an expected life of 16 years [1].

Mining methods include both open-pit (2013-2026) and underground methods (2019-2028). Production forecasts indicate annual average production of 100,000 ounces of gold and 14,000 tons of copper [1].

Production has been marketed under an agreement with Trafigura, which buys 100% of copper-gold concentrate produced by the mine [1].

Total investment size was reported to amount to 320 million USD [7].

The banks ANZ and HSBC are reported to be among the main funders of OceanaGold; and have received protests and petitions to stop funding the project [8].

200 houses were reported to be demolished during project implementation. Many house-owners refused the offered compensation [7].

They indigenous people living in the area are originally from other areas, for which reasons they cannot claim direct ancestral domain over Dipido [3].