NV BOARD WITHDRAWS SUPPORT FOR AUSSIE MINING FIRM	June 26 , 2008

The provincial board passed on a second reading a motion withdrawing support to Australian-owned OceanaGold Philippines, national government-backed contractor of the US$117M Didipio Gold-Copper Project here, which had been  endorsed by the same agency three years ago.

The move to totally withdraw support and endorsement of the firm, which would take effect on passage of the motion on third reading later this month, came amid the ongoing impasse between the province and the mining firm over payment of local taxes.

The vote on second reading of the motion introduced by Board Members Edu Balgos and Merlie Talingdan, passed with a vote of 7-4, with one abstention, and one absence.

Voting for the resolution to withdraw support to OceanaGold were Balgos, Talingdan and their partymates in the majority Nacionalista Party/Abante Vizcaya, namely, board members Glenn Afan, Efren Quiben, Tony Dupiano, Evangeline Burton of the sangguniang kabataan federation and Amado Mangaoang of the Liga ng Barangay Federation.

Coming out against the motion were minority board members Patricio Dumlao Jr., Maybelle Blossom Dumlao, Reina Nita Liza Tidang and Filma Dulay-Perez from the Lakas CMD/Kampi coalition, while their partymate, James Toledo of the provincial councilors league, abstained.

Ironically, the minority floor leader, Board Member Santiago Dickson, although earlier present,  was not present during the voting.#NVPC-PAIAD