OceanaGold Philippines Inc. (OGPI) has allocated P768.43 million under its Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Plan (FMRDP) for the Didipio gold and copper mine that spans Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces. In a statement released Sunday, the listed mining firm confirmed that P551.4 million has already been placed in a trust fund. The company said the fund will keep growing in line with required annual contributions as it moves forward with rehabilitation and closure preparations while the mine remains active.
“Responsible mining means planning for rehabilitation throughout the life of the mine and closure long before operations eventually conclude,” said OGPI president and general manager for external affairs and social performance Atty. Joan 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.”
The Didipio mine operates on a compact site, with about 340 hectares of actual working area within its 975-hectare approved mining permit. Around 100 hectares are set aside for progressive rehabilitation during operations; more than 55 hectares had been fully rehabilitated by the end of 2025, with remaining sections to be restored in stages over the mine’s active life. Once operations cease, some 221 hectares will undergo final rehabilitation, while 58 hectares covering the open pit and selected camp facilities are being considered for special post-mining community uses instead of standard replanting.
Based on discussions with local host communities, proposed future uses include agriculture, forestry, a freshwater lake and an enterprise tourism development zone. These plans will go through further technical checks to confirm they are safe, appropriate and sustainable for each part of the site. The FMRDP is reviewed and updated every two years to reflect rehabilitation progress, changes to mine plans, new technical data, feedback from stakeholders and government rules, with the next review scheduled for the third quarter of 2026. The plan will also be adjusted as closure designs and post-mining land studies become more detailed.
Earlier this year in March, OGPI reported that updated technical assessments show the Didipio mine has enough mineral reserves to remain operational until 2037. The company also projected that for 2026, the mine is expected to produce between 85,000 and 105,000 ounces of gold, along with 13,000 to 15,000 metric tons of copper.
