OceanaGold is a multinational, mid-tier gold mining company. It owns large-scale mining in Didipio, Philippines. The company promises to help alleviate poverty in the Philippines and to prepare its communities with a better life. Thus, the company invests heavily in the Philippines human Capital.
The Investment
Started from 2013 the company has been actively investing in Philippines human capital. Up to 2018, OceanaGold has invested around Php 226 million ($ 5.3 million). The investment was in the form of literacy and educations programs. The programs have directly assisted more than 4,500 individuals.
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OceanaGold has opened opportunities for learning and capacity-building at different levels. The levels range from the provision of basic to higher education for its communities. Besides, it also gives various training programs to community residents, pre-employment training, and education program for its employees.
Meanwhile, the Didipio mine employs around 1,500 individuals.
OceanaGold’s 11 beneficiary barangays have approximately 15,000 residents. Most of those residents are originally from Ifugao and have migrated to Didipio and its neighboring barangays.
Previously, the area only had primary school offering from Grades 1 to 4. After the students finished the fourth grade, they will relocate to the nearest town to finish elementary and high school.
That requires the students to walk for more than 20 kilometers every day. Seeing the plight of the students, employees of the previous mining company who conducted exploration in Didipio contributed money to build the first high school facility for the children of Didipio.
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Then, once OceanaGold came and through its community development projects, additional elementary and high school buildings were constructed. Thus, the locals now have access to school equipment.
With better facilities now, the school can provide more efficient learning experiences for the students and host more school activities.
