Senate asked to probe DENR on black sand stockpile

MANILA, Philippines–Residents of Lingayen, Pangasinan, are asking the Senate to investigate the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for its alleged inaction on a stockpile of illegally mined black sand on the Lingayen coast.

Rosendo So, president of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura, and Rolando Rea, who initiated the graft case against Pangasinan officials for the illegal mining, said they will give their request letter Wednesday to Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources.

They said the DENR could be liable for failing to confiscate the mountain-like pile of illegally mined black sand in the coastal barangay (village) of Malimpuec and for allowing the construction of a 3-kilometer-long concrete wall that was apparently put up to hide the illegal mining activity.

The wall, which spans three barangays, was hampering fishermen’s access to their livelihood, they said.

“We would like the Senate to look into why the DENR sat on this case. We want to know if the DENR has any liability,” So said.–Dona Z. Pazzibugan