Capitol cites MGB’s inconsistencies
BLACK SAND CONFISCATION
LINGAYEN–Inconsistent!
This was how Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued described the decision of the regional office of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB) that ordered the confiscation of some 9,588 cubic meters of magnetite sand in Lingayen after affirming earlier that…”there was no mining activity in the golf course area.”
The golf course area, located within the Lingayen barangays of Sabangan, Estanza and Malimpuec is part of the Eco-Tourism complex project being developed by the provincial government in partnership with foreign investors.
She cited an aired interview by ABS-CBN North-Central Luzon two years ago, where MGB Regional Director Carlos Tayag said ” .. extraction of magnetite sand was not a mining activity but only for the purpose of expelling the elements that adversely affect the growth of turf grass needed in the golf course project.”
In the same interview, Tayag was quoted as saying. . .“pag na-separate na ‘yun, the provincial government can make use of it when the proper permits are obtained.”
Baniqued, in a letter to Tayag last week, said “The inconsistent statements made over the issue of alleged black sand mining appears to undermine the integrity of PMRB. (Provincial Mining Regulatory Board), as well as the national agency (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) that you represent.”
She reminded the MGB official that the PMRB which he chairs, favorably and unanimously endorsed the application for a government gratuitous permit of the Pangasinan Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Office and its service contractor, Xypher Builders, through the issuance of a resolution.”
Baniqued also reminded Tayag that it was on the basis of the PMRB’s recommendation that the gratuitous permit had been granted by the provincial government, recalling that then Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan had then requested Tayag’s office for an inventory of the recovered magnetite materials pursuant to the requirements of the gratuitous permit.
Tayag could not be reached for his reaction at presstime.
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