Quirino town backs mining venture

NAGTIPUNAN, Quirino — The proposed Australian-funded gold and copper project in a village at the mountain boundary of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya has gotten a big boost after this town’s Sangguniang Bayan expressed its support for the controversial mining venture.

Meanwhile, pro-mining residents of the mineral-rich village of Didipio picketed the provincial legislative building in Nueva Vizcaya yesterday to convince the 13-member provincial board to endorse the proposed mining project of the Australian firm Climax Arimco Mining Corp (CAMC).

The municipal council of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya earlier had rejected the project.

Disappointed by the town council’s rejection, many Didipio folk, who support the CAMC project, have begun registering as residents of this Quirino town, threatening to trigger anew the boundary dispute between Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.

As of last Monday, the local Commission on Elections office said more than 50 residents have already registered as Nagtipunan voters, with hundreds more with pending applications.

Dominated by Ifugaos and Igorots, Didipio, located in the Nueva Vizcaya-Quirino boundary, is about four hours from the Nueva Vizcaya capital town of Bayombong.

There is a shorter route, however, to the village from Cabarroguis, the capital town of Quirino.

Didipio’s Dinkidi Hill, the center of the proposed CAMC project, is believed to have gold and copper deposits valued at least P50 billion, which are to be mined for 15 years if the project pushes through.

At present, Didipio villagers are more identified with the Nueva Vizcaya town of Kasibu. Based on records, however, the village is under the territorial jurisdiction of Quirino.

Nagtipunan Vice Mayor Rexmel Decapia said the town council, of which he is the presiding officer, would endorse the mining project.

He said they are fully aware of the economic benefits which the project would bring to their town and to Quirino as a whole.

Nagtipunan Mayor Rosario Camma said he respects the decision of the Didipio folk to be registered as residents of his town.

Nueva Vizcaya Vice Gov. Jose Gambito expressed apprehension over the Didipio residents’ changing their residency status, saying the province might be "on the losing end," especially now that Nagtipunan officials, unlike their Kasibu counterparts, have declared support for the CAMC project.

Both Gambito and Camma, however, expressed confidence that their respective local governments could work together in exploring the potentials of Didipio for each other’s benefits, despite the boundary dispute over the village.

Quirino used to be part of Nueva Vizcaya until 1971 when then Congressman Leonardo Perez authored its creation as a separate province. However, until now, their boundary has yet to be clearly delineated.