By Rachel Magday
NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc. (OGP) has earmarked P768.43 million for the eventual closure and rehabilitation of its Didipio Mine, with P551.4 million already secured in a government-mandated trust fund as of 2026, underscoring the company’s long-term commitment to responsible mining and environmental restoration even as operations continue.
The rehabilitation fund will continue to increase through the company’s required annual contributions under its mine closure program, ensuring sufficient financial resources are available to restore the site once mining operations end.
“Responsible mining means planning for rehabilitation throughout the life of the mine and closure long before operations eventually conclude,” said OGP President and General Manager for External Affairs and Social Performance Joan D. Adaci-Cattiling.
“By progressively rehabilitating our operating areas and steadily building the rehabilitation fund while operations continue, we are ensuring the resources, systems and plans are in place to support a safe, responsible and sustainable transition beyond mining,” she added.
The company said the Didipio Mine occupies a relatively compact operational footprint of about 340 hectares within its 975-hectare approved mining permit area.
Of the active mining area, around 100 hectares have been identified for progressive rehabilitation while the mine remains operational. By the end of 2025, more than 55 hectares had already been rehabilitated, with the remaining areas scheduled for restoration in phases throughout the life of the mine.
Upon the completion of mining operations, approximately 221 hectares are expected to undergo final rehabilitation. Another 58 hectares, including the open pit and selected mine camp facilities, have been earmarked for potential post-mining community uses instead of conventional revegetation.
Earlier consultations with host communities identified several possible future uses for these areas, including agriculture, forestry, a freshwater lake and an enterprise tourism development zone.
OGP emphasized that these proposals remain subject to detailed technical studies to determine their safety, suitability and long-term sustainability before implementation.
The company’s Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Plan (FMRDP) is reviewed and updated every two years to incorporate rehabilitation accomplishments, revisions to the mine plan, new technical findings, stakeholder feedback and government requirements. The next review is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026.
“We have been part of the Didipio community for 20 years, building enduring partnerships founded on mutual respect and shared progress,” Adaci-Cattiling said.
“As our operations continue in the years to come, we are already investing in rehabilitation and closure planning to help ensure positive and sustainable outcomes for the environment and our host communities well into the future,” she added.
OGP said the FMRDP will continue to be refined as engineering designs for mine closure advance and post-mining land-use studies become more comprehensive.
