Limestone deposits remain untapped
PANGASINAN’S MINING INDUSTRY
SHOULD mining be further encouraged in mineral-rich Pangasinan?
Mine management division chief Roel Collado of the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau said the province holds great potential given its rich limestone deposits that could be mined for at least 100 years.
One example he cited is Sison town, which is already being mined by Northern Cement Corporation.
Another area that Collado listed to be rich in limestone, the main ingredient of cement, is western Pangasinan.
He noted that there were proposals several years ago to build a cement plant in Bolinao and later in Agno but these did not push through due to strong opposition from the local communities and environmental conservationists.
Collado, however, stressed that mining could be pursued responsibly by balancing the utilization of mineral resources with environmental protection.
“Dapat responsible ang pagmimina,” he said during the Pantongtongan Tayo radio program of the Philippine Information Agency last week,
Silica is currently also being mined in western Pangasinan particularly Bugallon, Aguilar and Agno.
“Kaya nga gusto nilang magpatayo sa Agno kasi andoon na ang silica,” he said.
Northern Cement in Sison procures its silica supply from small scale miners from these three municipalities.
OTHER MINERALS
Aside from limestone and silica, the province also has rich deposits of magnetized sand off the Lingayen Gulf shoreline, particularly in the towns of Sual and San Fabian, where explorations have been ongoing for two years now.
Magnetized sand is made into iron ore.
Deposits of the “wonder mineral” zeolite, which can be used for filtering, absorption, and water treatment, are also found in Mangatarem town.
Copper is also found in Dasol and Mabini towns while areas traversed by the Agno River have gold deposits. (DOS/PIA Pangasinan)
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