Chiz: Senate to probe black sand mining in Pangasinan

By Liezle Basa Inigo

DAGUPAN CITY – Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Thursday he would make sure the Senate will investigate the reported black sand mining in Pangasinan and eventually uncover those responsible for it.

“Black sand mining is prohibited,” said Escudero, who chairs the Senate committee on environment.

“It is only right that the MGB (Mines and Geosciences Bureau) here issued a cease order and prohibited black sand mining operations in this province,” he added in Filipino.

In her letter to MGB Regional Director Carlos Tayag, Lawyer Geraldine Baniqued said: “Seemingly inconsistent statements made over the issue of black sand mining appears to undermine the integrity of PMRB (Provincial Mining Regulatory Board), as well as the national agency that you represent, considering that your good office previously made statements affirming the fact that there was no mining activity in the golf course area.”

Baniqued was citing Tayag’s recent order to confiscate some 9,588 cubic meters of magnetite sand extracted from the site of a proposed 18-hole golf course within the eco-tourism zone in Barangay Sabangan in Lingayen.