Better Roads, Better Opportunities for the Communities

Life in Didipio between the 1970’s to 1990’s was difficult if you wished to travel around the local area. There were no regional, local or all-weather roads connecting Didipio to the National Highway and even access to other barangays was limited. It once took 7-8 hours to visit nearby places and worse, sometimes a day or so to go to the next town as there were no fixed trails. With this scenario, people’s livelihood was greatly affected.

Victor Ananayo (Mang Victor) a resident of Purok 7, Sitio Waterfalls, Barangay Didipio remembers the difficulties encountered by he and his neighbors.

Having been in the barangay since 1969, he recalls some of the hardships that he himself and other locals went through during those days. People then were dependent on slash and burn or “kaingin” and planting crops as their main source of living. After harvesting crops, they still had to travel far to transport their produce to other towns. Mang Victor said that during the 70’s they walked for two days to reach the town to trade two cans of ginger (approximately 10 kilograms each can) in exchange for 5.00 pesos (2.50 each). Their effort and time were not proportionate to the value of the money from selling which had been their routine for the longest time.

During the interview, Mang Victor mentioned that with the entry of OceanaGold’s Didipio Gold-Copper Project, there was a remarkable change in the barangay and in the entire province as well. Roads were built. People could now travel from one place to another more readily and in less time as well as transfer their fresh crops and agricultural products with greater ease.

Didipio is now accessible from the north commencing at the National Highway at Cordon, Isabela and continuing along a concrete paved road to Cabarroguis, Quirino. A graveled all-weather road is now available to Debibi traversing a concrete bridge over the Debibi River and graveled-paved road to Tucod. OceanaGold is building and maintaining a 22-kilometer road from Debibi to Didipio.

OceanaGold’s Community Relations Office led by Manager Arnel Arrojo was involved in the
negotiations with the residents before any road construction activities started.Social concerns were identified and immediate resolutions to any issues arising from construction activities were made. The Community Relations representatives explained to the residents the benefits and importance of having better roads.

Information meetings were conducted with communities attended by barangay officials and
residents. There were presentations on the road plan indicating the extent of work, Road Right of Way policies, crops and structure inventory, crop compensation schemes, improvements on affected claims and conduct of safety and environmental procedures. The meetings also notified the affected land owners of the cutoff period when land claimants may no longer plant compensable crops.

Having briefed with all the benefits ahead, Mang Victor and his fellow residents were encouraged to cooperate and became open-minded and decided to sell their crops.

Mang Victor invested the money for a piece of land in another town where he plants crops like rice or “palay” for livelihood and family consumption. He also plants red chandler, ginger and banana from which he earns additional income.

The new roads are part of OceanaGold’s commitment to assist in the development of the area
as the Didipio mine is constructed. OceanaGold has provided job opportunities for locals of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces including one of Mang Victor’s children who works as a carpenter at the Didipio Project. Mang Victor himself has assisted the company by building and supplying boxes for drill core.

Skills enhancement programs and artisan training have also been part of the programs delivered in the local community. These include training in mechanics, welding, automotive, clonal techniques, electrical wiring system, etc.

Mang Victor shared that the residents were given the opportunity to get involved in the various training programs and would later share and apply the knowledge and skills with other residents. One of his sons attended training on clonal/ cloning technology in a nursery held at Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya.

Mang Victor in final reflection emphasized that he would like to see OceanaGold stay for many years to come and to continue to assist in making their province a better place to live in….