BAGUIO CITY: Tribal folk from Nueva Vizcaya and Ifugao picketed the gates of the open pit mining site of Oceana Gold Philippines Inc. (OGPI) in Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya calling for the company’s expulsion from the Philippines and El Salvador. The international protest action was held in coordination with anti-mining groups from the Philippines, El Salvador, Canada, the US and Australia, following the scheduled verdict of the World Bank tribunal on the case of Pacific Rim/OceanaGold vs. El Salvador this month. OceanaGold used unjust investment laws under pro-corporate trade agreements to sue El Salvador in 2009 for not approving its mining permit, Kalikasan added. They also call for OceanaGold to immediately discontinue all of its operations in El Salvador. The mines produce 40 percent of the multi-national mining company’s gold and 30 percent of its copper.

Source: Manila Times October 11, 2016 12:56 UTC