Cagayan black sand mining continues despite halt order

By Charlie Lagasca

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines  – Two of the mining firms engaged in black sand mining along the northern Cagayan coast are reportedly still operating despite a recent stoppage order issued by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) due to environmental violations. 

According to reports, the operations of Lian Xing Philippines Curving Co. and Land Wealth Resources Inc. go unabated in Gonzaga town despite the MGB’s July 2 cease-and-desist order against them for extending their operations beyond their permitted area or within a protected or prohibited zone. 

Mario Ancheta, MGB-Cagayan Valley director, said they are now validating the reports of the two firms’ continued operations despite the stoppage order.

The two firms were among those granted permits by the MGB and the provincial government to extract black sand or magnetite along the coastlines and rivers in northern Cagayan towns, supposedly for dredging purposes.

Earlier, Ancheta said they had asked police assistance to carry out the MGB order. Residents, however, said the two firms were still operating in Gonzaga town.

Church-led anti-mining advocates alleged that instead of dredging, the mining proponents were really after the extraction of black sand or magnetite, which could lead to environmental disasters such as massive flashfloods and destruction of marine species.

Black sand 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.

In neighboring Santa Teresita town, aqua farm operators have expressed alarm over a possible fish kill due to the continued black sand mining operations along their coastlines.

Engineer Danilo Tamayo, one of the aqua operators, expressed fear that the continued black sand extraction would even lead to massive fish kill affecting some 100 hectares of vannamei shrimp farms due to contamination.

Earlier, reports said Taiwanese vessels have been going to and from the Babuyan group of islands, especially Camiguin island, in the country’s northernmost coast, siphoning off black sand using huge and extended hoses.