DENR must declare moratorium on magnetite mining–Pamalakaya
THE Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) is mulling the declaration of a moratorium in the mining of magnetite in the Ilocos region following reports of the massive extraction by foreign and local mining companies.
Pamalakaya reiterated its call to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to junk a total of 158 applications for onshore and offshore mining of magnetite in four provinces in the Ilocos Region.
The group issued the appeal to Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje as it also called on lawmakers in the Ilocos region to look into the massive extraction of magnetite, also known as black-sand, particularly in Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.
Pamalakaya, in a statement, expressed surprise why the DENR chief is mum on the issue of black sand mining, which the group said is threatening the lives and livelihood of the people in coastal areas in the Ilocos region.
There are 15 magnetite mining applications in the onshore and offshore areas of the following towns in La Union: San Juan (2, offshore), Bacnotan (2 offshore), Balaoan (2 offshore), Luna (1 offshore), Bangar (2, 1 offshore, 1 onshore), Pugo (1 onshore), Burgos (1 onshore), Santol (1 onshore) and Sudipen (3 onshore).
In Ilocos Sur, there are 57 black sand mining applications, with 4 in Tagudin, 4 in Sta.Cruz, 5 in Sta. Lucia, 4 in Candon City, 4 in Santiago, 4 in San Esteban, 5 in Sta. Maria, 5 in Narvacan, 8 in Santa, 5 in Caoayan, 4 in Sta.Catalina, and 4 in Vigan City.
In Ilocos Norte, there are 86 applications for magnetite mining which cover the towns of Badoc (6), Pinili (3) Paoay (3), Laoag (3), Currimao (4), Bacarra (3), Pasuquin (13), Burgos (4), Bangui (1), Pagudpud (2), Batac (1), Banna (5), Nueva Era (7), Marcos (6), Solsona (3), Carasi (5), Dingras (5), Vintar (6), Adams (2), Piddig (3) and Dumalneg (1).
Pamalakaya claimed that the Vancouver-based Canadian firm Colossal Mining holds 5 individual exploration and mining permits which will cover 80 percent of offshore magnetite mining for iron in the Northwestern Luzon along Lingayen Gulf encompassing the provinces of La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, including its offshore activity in Cagayan province.
Fernando Hicap, chairman of Pamalakaya, said the exploration and mining permits given to Colossal Mining will allow them to explore at least 15,700 hectares of offshore areas in Northwestern Luzon.
Pamalakaya also revealed that the mining firm Grand Total Exploration and Mining Corp. will explore at least 33,00 hectares in the offshore and onshore areas of Tagudin, Sta. Cruz, Sta. Lucia, Candon City, Santiago, Narvacan, Santa, Caoayan, Sta. Catalina, San Vicente, Vigan, Sto.Domingo, Magsingal, San Juan and Cabugao in Ilocos Sur.
The same company headed by Randy Singson will conduct magnetite mining explorations on 21,753 hectares of offshore waters in the towns of Bauang, Caba, Aringay, Agoo and Sto. Tomas in La Union, Pamalakaya added.
Lawmakers in the congressional districts covered by Lingayen Gulf from Zambales to Ilocos Sur, the governors of Zambales, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte were asked through a letter by the left-leaning fisherfolk group to oppose the massive destruction of the coastal areas of the Ilocos region provinces.
“These magnetite giants are literally and figuratively moving heaven and earth in search for huge profits at the expense of human lives, the livelihood and the environment.
They are removing Lingayen Gulf from the surface of this earth courtesy of large-scale black-sand mining,” the group added.
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