OceanaGold avows payment of taxes

MANILA, Philippines - OceanaGold pays dutyfully and in full its tax obligations to the province of Nueva Vizcaya, and to all other government entities it is obligated to do likewise or, in case of technical issues, as it may be directed by the court.

This affirmation was made by Bradley Norman, OceanaGold country director, to correct reports that OceanaGold has an unsettled tax obligation with the province of Nueva Vizcaya.

“The misimpression that OceanaGold is remiss in the payment of real property taxes arises from the fact that the issue of where to pay them is currently uncertain and is yet to be decided by the court. Neighbors Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino province have both sent OceanaGold real property tax assessments, to which of them should OceanaGold pay the tax is our dilemma,” Norman said.  

The issue continues to be the subject of the interpleader case pending before Branch 142 of the Regional Trial Court of Makati City. The interpleader case will decide the boundary-jurisdiction confusion between Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino and finally decide where the real property taxes should be paid.

“Unless a concrete information from an authorized third party surfaces, we have no preference as to which of the two provinces should receive the real property taxes, both of them have equal rights to pursue what benefits they perceive as rightfully theirs. Our only wish is that as always our taxes would benefit the whole region,” Norman said.

In the meantime, Norman assured all affected parties in the jurisdictional dispute that OceanaGold is ready, willing and able to pay all applicable taxes. “From the start of the tax dispute, OceanaGold deposited to the court the full amount of real property taxes for 2013. The company likewise moved for the court to authorize the deposit with the court the amount of real property taxes for the year 2014.”

Norman said while awaiting the decision of the court. For this purpose OceanaGold has filed another motion with the court — a Motion for Approval of an Interim Arrangement.

Norman said it’s ironic that OceanaGold should be reported negligent in paying its taxes. “The company is one big supporter of Nueva Vizcaya’s tax campaign launched last year. We in fact have been cited for topping the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s list of taxpaying corporations in the province. The BIR district office said OceanaGold is one of the highest tax- paying companies in Cagayan Valley.” 

The collection of taxes from the mining industries in Nueva Vizcaya has contributed to a 45- percent growth rate in their collections in the province , according to assistant revenue district officer Maria Isabel Utit. 

OceanaGold continues to comply with its other financial commitments such as the release of the Social Development and Management Program fund from its mining operations to the seven barangays within the province.

OceanaGold is the contractor of the multimillion peso Didipio gold – copper project which lies along the mountain border of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces.