The Didipio Gold-Copper Mine has set aside P169 million for its Community Development Fund this year. The budget is a 24 percent increase from last year and will benefit nearly four dozen barangays in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.
“We have expanded the CDF coverage to 52 barangays in 2024 from 44 last year. This is proof of our commitment of mining gold for a better future for our communities in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino,” said Joan Adaci-Cattiling, Didipio Mine president and external affairs and social performance general manager.
To help determine the projects for CDF implementation, the Didipio Mine is hosting a series of technical working group meetings with stakeholders. The TWG is chaired by the Mining and Geosciences Bureau Region 2. Its members are representatives from the Commission on Human Rights, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and representatives from the different municipalities.
The fund will finance farm-to-market roads, road improvements, and multipurpose buildings for the beneficiary barangays.“These consultations with the communities under the guidance of the MGB, CHR, and the NCIP ensure that we are on the right track by listening to the proposals of our beneficiaries, allowing us to provide the appropriate multi-sectoral support to our communities,” Adaci-Cattiling said.
The P136 million CDF last year was used for the construction of multipurpose buildings, concrete and all-season farm-to-market roads, village roads, health centers, canals and flood river control systems, water systems, school buildings and facilities, hanging bridges and the CDF-Indigenous peoples scholarship program, among others.
The CDF was first implemented in 2022 and considered a “one of a kind” component of the Didipio Mine’s financial or technical assistance addendum and renewal agreement.
Didipio Mine also provides funding for other social development projects.
