Listed mining company OceanaGold Philippines (OGP) Inc. said it has so far paid PHP397.8 million in local business tax to three municipalities in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino this year.

In a statement Monday, OGP said it remitted PHP198.9 million to Kasibu in Nueva Vizcaya, and paid PHP119.3 million and PHP79.6 million to Nagtipunan and Cabarroguis in Quirino on Feb. 11.

“We are all working for the continuing operations of the mine so that we are able to continue giving benefits to our communities, agyaman kami (thank you),” OGP President and General Manager of External Affairs and Social Performance Joan Adaci-Cattiling said.

Last year, OGP paid a total local business tax of PHP421.9 million to the three municipalities.

OGP operates the Didipio Mine, an underground gold-copper mine that straddles the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

The company entered into a Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) with the Philippines in June 1994.

The FTAA’s initial term ended in June 2019 and was confirmed renewed in July 2021 by the government with the execution of the FTAA addendum and renewal agreement.

OGP is a subsidiary of OceanaGold Corporation, which also operates the Waihi and Macraes mines in New Zealand and the Haile mine in the US. (PNA)