Agri group wants Senate probe on black sand mining

By March 23, 2015Business, News

ROSALES—The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), an umbrella group of agriculture stakeholders, wants the Senate to conduct an inquiry into the possible culpability of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for affirming that there was no alleged illegal black sand mining along the coastal areas of Lingayen.

SINAG president Rosendo So said he will present his letter request to Senator Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

So said the alleged illegal black sand mining happened in 2011 and the continued presence of the heavy equipment and black sand separator used to quarry and haul magnetite are proofs of the illegal mining activity in Barangay Malimpuec in Lingayen.

“The stockpile of black sand is also there. How come the DENR has not yet confiscated these (sic)?” he asked. “We want to know if the DENR has any liability (sic),” So said.

He also cited the presence of the 3-kilometer wll perimeter was constructed which he claims was not covered by the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) it issued for golf course project in 2013. He said the DENR did not cause its demolition.

One of the complainants in the illegal black sand mining case, Rolando Rea, had written to President Aquinio earlier detailing the same issues.

However, in a statement Saturday issued by the Provincial Information Office, copy of which was furnished The PUNCH, in reaction to Rea’s claims, it said “the black sand mining issue which now snags the eco-tourism zone and golf course project of the provincial government of Pangasinan was raised as an issue to malign Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr and prop up the candidacy of his opponent in the 2013 gubernatorial elections.”

“Today, as the campaign season draws near for the 2016 local and national elections, the political detractors of Gov. Espino are reviving the black sand issue with perverted claims that the provincial government built a high wall to hide illegal mining activities in the area,” it added.

It cited the report on the February 17, 2015 on-site inspection conducted in the area by Environment Management Bureau Acting Regional Director Ma. Victoria Abrera and a team of technical personnel conducted on instruction of DENR Secretary Ramon Paje.

It quoted Abrera as saying, “Mining operations? None was seen during the inspection. There was no activity, nor earth movements related to the claimed black sand mining. We noticed something, stockpiled black sand. But the pile is under the care of the Mines Bureau.”

The SINAG president said the complaint filed by Rea and other complainants before the Ombudsman has already resulted in the dismissal of the provincial administrator and head of the Provincial Housing Urban Development Council Office, for grave misconduct. (Tita Roces)

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