Campus writers condemn Pangasinan sand mining

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Campus writers from Luzon condemned the extraction of black sand in coastal villages here, saying such activity is not a concern only of Pangasinan but also the entire country.

At least 30 student writers attending a convention of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) in Dagupan City on Tuesday went to Malimpuec village here, where black sand hauled from nearby Sabangan village are stockpiled, to learn about the effects of sand extraction on the coastal environment.

Anna Patricia Santos, CEGP vice president for Luzon, said provincial information officer Orpheus Velasco went to the CEGP convention to explain that no black sand mining is taking place in Lingayen.

She said Velasco explained that the area was being developed for an ecotourism project.

“But we told him we did not see any kind of development except black sand extraction,” Santos said.

Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino and other officials were sued on Jan. 16 for allegedly allowing black sand mining in Lingayen.

The governor and other officials were charged with allowing two Chinese firms—Alexandra Mining and Oil Ventures and Xypher Builders Inc.—to haul black sand from coastal villages.

CEGP’s Santos quoted Velasco as saying the removal of black sand is needed to allow grass to grow in a golf course being built as part of the ecotourism zone.

“When we asked him why the black sand is being sold, Velasco said it was payment to the company doing the extraction,” Santos said.

Czarina Claustro, CEGP secretariat member, said security guards prevented CEGP from entering the area where black sand is stockpiled.

Santos and Claustro, accompanied by reporters and a village councilor, were later allowed to enter the area.

Vicente Oliquino, Sabangan village councilor, said government vehicles barricaded the ecotourism site, but Velasco said the vehicles are just parked there.

The area is covered by a cease and desist order issued in January by the Environmental Management Bureau for lack of an environmental compliance certificate. Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon