Introduction
It should be noted that mining companies often need to handle various issues when operating in foreign territories. According to an article by The Alyansa Tigil Mina (2019), OceanaGold is a middle-scale company, which faced opposition from the side of local people in Didipio, Philippines, when conducting copper-gold mining activities. Notably, the company did not have the appropriate social license, which prevented it from obtaining the license required for performing such operations on site. Local communities also had the support of municipal officials, which prevented OceanaGold from initiating large-scale activities.
Discussion
Importantly, the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources did not ban the company from acquiring a mine on the territory. The area is a crucial biodiversity corridor and agroforestry center. Although the enterprise had no active license, the Department granted it a temporary permit to continue mining (The Alyansa Tigil Mina, 2019). The local authorities could not affect the situation, given the fact that its decision-making was submissive to the national government.
The local people were forced to block the site to prevent the company from continuing its devastating mining activities. They received support from the side of Canadian and Australian organizations. Apart from provincial officials, the President of the country also supported the indigenous people and did not approve the license renewal, and OceanaGold had to stop mining in the territory.
Conclusion
Thus, the activities of mining companies can cause serious environmental damage to regions. The authorities of countries such as the Philippines gradually restrict the activities of such enterprises (that of foreign ones in particular) and conduct an extensive audit of projects. Such decisions, on the one hand, significantly complicate the operations of mining companies. On the other hand, the goal of the government is to protect both the ecological and economic potential of the state.
Reference
The Alyansa Tigil Mina. (2019). OceanaGold Philippines shut down – villagers blockade site, permit renewal withheld. Web.