LINGAYEN–A mining company that volunteered to help the provincial government in its golf course project at the eco-tourism zone here has proven to have a hidden agenda.

Alexandra Mining and Oil Ventures, which was issued a small-scale mining permit by the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB) after securing an invitation from the provincial government, was supposed to simply remove unwanted materials from the sand then cover it with several layers of garden soil to make the planned area suitable for a golf course.

Alexandria Mining volunteered its services, equipment and manpower.

However, the company has since started extracting magnetite sand, including supposed gold, from the shoreline of Barangay Sabangan and set up a mineral processing facility.

The MGB, which is under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), already issued a cease and desist order but the company continues with its operation.

In an October 18, 2011 memorandum, an investigating team from the MGB recommended the cancellation of Alexandra Mining’s permit.

The memorandum was signed by Noel Baga, legal officer, Ruben Soriano, engineer and Amalia Menzi, senior science specialist.

MGB has also penalized the company for putting up a mineral processing plant without an Environmental Compliance Certificate from the DENR.

PETITION

More than 1,000 residents from Sabangan and three other neighboring barangays have signed a petition calling for the firm to stop the illegal mining operation that already destroyed the foreshore area.

The petition was initiated by Sabangan residents in August after seeing the threat to the Lingayen shoreline.

They said the destruction could cause flooding, soil erosion and damage to crops not only in Barangay Sabangan but also in the nearby Estanza, Malimpuec and Capandanan every time big waves hit the shore.

The Lingayen municipal council held a session last week on the issue but Alexandra Mining did not send a representative to respond to the petition.

Council members figured in a   heated debate during the discussion of the problem condemning the illegal operation.

Following the petition of the residents, Gov. Amado Espino Jr. informed MGB Regional Director Carlos Tayag that “the whole provincial government of Pangasinan and its officialdom are one with the residents/petitioners in their concern for the environment of their barangay”.

Espino explained that Sabangan was identified as the pilot area for the eco-tourism development project which covers a 264-hectare area as decreed under Presidential Proclamation 1258 issued by then President Fidel Ramos for that purpose.

He confirmed that when he assumed the governorship in 2007, he ordered the start of clearing operations in the area for a golf course of international standard.

When it was determined that the sandy soil turned out to be unsuitable for the required vegetation and landscape, the governor directed the provincial administrator to identify and negotiate with another company with an expertise on this matter on a build and operate basis.

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