By
Charlie Lagasca
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Even the fragile
islands in the Babuyan Channel along the country’s northernmost coast are not
spared from black sand mining.
This, as an
environmental group reported that clandestine black sand mining is also being
conducted in the Babuyan group of islands, especially along the coastline of
Camiguin island in Cagayan.
Citing reports from
local communities, the Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists Inc.
said two big Taiwanese vessels have been alternating in going to Camiguin to
siphon off black sand along the coastline using huge and extended hoses.
The Babuyan group of
islands in northernmost Luzon consists of four other major islands – Calayan,
Dalupiri and Fuga, all in Cagayan, and Babuyan in Batanes Strait.
Black sand or
magnetite, also found on the coastlines of Ilocos and Zambales, commands a high
price in foreign markets, as it is used as additive in manufacturing concrete
and steel products, magnets, paint, ink, paper, jewelry, and cosmetics.
The Mines and
Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in the region said it has not issued any permits for
black sand mining or quarrying especially on the islands.
“Besides, mining is
prohibited on islands as it poses danger to the islanders as well to the marine
ecosystem,” said Mario Ancheta, MGB-Cagayan Valley director.
Ancheta though
admitted that they had received reports of Chinese vessels frequenting the area
before “but they were no longer seen along the coastline.”
Earlier this month, the MGB-Cagayan Valley
ordered two mining firms – Land Wealth Resources Inc. and Lian Xing Philippines
Curving Corp. – to stop their black sand mining operations in Cagayan due to
environmental violations.
The two firms, Ancheta
said, were found operating beyond their respective areas or within the
prohibited or protected zone to extract black sand.
Land Wealth, a
Filipino-owned firm, and Lian Xing, said to be Chinese-Taiwanese-owned,
reportedly extended their operations along the coast of Barangay Caraoan in
Gonzaga town, outside the MGB-authorized mining areas.
Then it is time, the sleeping Phil. government waking up and do something to preserve these most northern Islands of the Philippines and not just lots of celebrations here , cutting ribbon's there and not lots of just empty blahblahbalh!
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