Making the record of being the first Cabinet Secretary to visit the mining project, Reyes urged the local government to contribute to the fast-tracking of the mine’s construction and development. This, he said, "will consequently benefit natives of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino."
"We all need to support this project so that the province and community can start enjoying its benefits," Reyes told a crowd of provincial government leaders, indigenous people and residents.
The copper-gold mining project located in Brgy. Didipio, Casibu, Nueva Vizcaya, will allocate over its mine life an estimated P150 million under its Social Development and Mining Program and P447 million for its Environment Protection and Enhancement Program. Both SDMP and EPEP are mandated under Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act.
Reyes is known for advocating reforms in government’s regulation of mining operations. In an effort to downplay people’s gnawing memory of the country’s sad experience in mining in the past, he has imposed more stringent monitoring of any adverse impact of mining activities on the environment or on host communities.
Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma assured the local government unit’s participation in the effort to protect the environment and in uplifting welfare of the people.
The project is seen as an alternative source of employment for illegal small-scale miners. It is estimated to employ 1,000 during the construction and 500 at development stage.
The project, through Australisian Phils. Mining Inc. (APMI), holds a contract with the government (a financial and technical assistance agreement) over the Didipio Valley which will turn out to be the first large-scale mine in a string of potential mineral discoveries in Region 2.
Even before it starts construction, AMPI has already invested in community welfare works in Dipidio including construction of roads, schools, and health clinics. APMI, whose parent company originates from Australia, had spent at least 15 years exploring and proving the economic viability of operating the project.
To sustain livelihood of the community even after the project’s 15-year mine life, APMI has funded livelihood and training projects for people within the mining’s impact area in a tie-up with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and state colleges and universities and state colleges and universities in the Nueva and Quirino.