“Today is a sad day for the company and for the many hundreds of workers and their families whose livelihoods have been impacted by the local government blockade of the public road pending the FTAA renewal, which has constrained our ability to continue operations over the past 15 months,” OceanaGold President and CEO Michael Holmes said. “The company has actively participated in community-led dialogue supported by the majority of the village and municipal governments, along with the majority of local residents in Didipio.”

Despite these efforts, OceanaGold said a small group of local leaders have refused to consider access arrangements that would have preserved jobs. “The FTAA renewal remains with the Office of the President for decision,” the company said. “We continue to engage with the national government who express their support and endorsement of the renewal.” The company said it would work quickly to rehire workers and restart operations should the FTA be renewed or blockade lifted. said.