Stop magnetite mining, solons asked
DAGUPAN CITY—Fearing what it called a “black sand massacre” in the Lingayen Gulf and nearby coastal areas, a federation of fisherfolk organizations has asked lawmakers in the Ilocos to stop the onshore and offshore black sand mining in the region and in nearby Zambales.
“We are appalled [by] the clear and present danger posed by the black sand mining for magnetite,” the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a letter to the region’s representatives last week.
The letter said there were 158 applications with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for magnetite mining in onshore and offshore areas in La Union, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
But Carlos Tayag, MGB Ilocos director, said only 18 applications were being processed by his office. He said Pamalakaya’s figure could be referring to the number of villages covered by the applications.
“This grand slam black sand escapade in [the Ilocos] is inviting a near future red carpet massacre of people’s livelihood, the grand slam plunder and catastrophic death of Lingayen Gulf in the hands of magnetite mining syndicates,” Pamalakaya said.
The letter, signed by Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap and vice chair Salvador France, was addressed to Representatives Rodolfo Fariñas and Imelda Marcos of Ilocos Norte, Ryan Singson and Eric Singson Jr. of Ilocos Sur, Victor Ortega and Eufranio Eriguel of La Union, and Jesus Celeste, Leopoldo Bataoil, Rachel Arenas, Gina de Venecia, Kimi Cojuangco and Marlyn Primicias-Agabas of Pangasinan.
Tayag said his office has issued exploration permits to Monta View Resources and Min Process Group to cover the towns of Dasol, Lingayen, Labrador, Binmaley and San Fabian, and Dagupan City in Pangasinan, and to Colossal Mining Corp. to cover Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and parts of Pangasinan.
He clarified, however, that the permits are for exploration only.
The permit issued to Monta View Resources for Dasol was given in 2005 and renewed in 2007 and this year. Colossal Mining’s permit covering Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan and La Union given in 2007, had been renewed this year.
“The applicants will get sample to analyze whether these areas are feasible for magnetite mining. Then they will apply for a mining permit, which needs environmental compliance certificate, clearance from local governments and a certification that no indigenous peoples groups would be [displaced by the operations],” Tayag said.
In calling for the recall of magnetite mining permits, Pamalakaya cited the results of a fact-finding mission organized by the Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan Laban sa Dayuhang Kontrol na Pagmimina in August in Camalaniugan and Aparri towns in Cagayan, where villagers have been opposing mining activities conducted by foreign firms in their villages.
In Allacapan, Cagayan, the fact-finding mission report said, residents have expressed alarm over the eroding riverbanks that destroyed houses and roads during recent typhoons.
The report said residents of Barangays Sapping and Dugo in Camalaniugan recounted that before the magnetite mining operations started, riverbank erosion was limited to a depth of only a meter. But after the extraction activities, residents, even those living in higher grounds, reported experiencing flooding as water started topping the banks.
Fishermen also complained of diminishing catch, which they attributed to the murkiness of the water after mining operations.
