No illegal mining in Lingayen — mines official
LINGAYEN—A top official of the Bureau of Mines and Geo-Sciences (BMGS) have assuaged fears that illegal mining is ongoing along the Lingayen shoreline.
BGMS Director Carlos Tayag said the extraction of magnetite sand, also called black sand, in a portion of the shoreline in the capital town is not a mining activity but a normal part of golf course development.
“Actually, this is not a mining activity but only in connection with the development of the golf course as plants will not grow in the soil with magnetite sand,” he clarified based on the outcome of an investigation by his office.
Residents of the surrounding barangays Sabangan, Estanza, Malimpec and Capandanan recently launched a signature campaign to petition a stop to the activity.
The development of the planned 18-hole golf course, part of the more than 200-hectare area of the Pangasinan eco-tourism zone, was initiated by Gov. Amado Espino Jr.
The area of the eco-tourism zone was allocated under a proclamation signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos in 1995.
However, initial studies showed that the area was not conducive for growing the necessary greens due to the presence of magnetite sand, a material used for making steel.
The provincial government, through Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan, then signed a memorandum of agreement in June this year with the Alexander Mining Corporation for the removal of black sand in the area.
Baraan explained that the extraction of black sand “was only incidental” to the overall objective of building a world-class golf course.
Residents who protested the alleged mining activity feared that the extraction was a threat to the environment and could lead to flooding in their areas.
STILL ILLEGAL
The municipal council of Lingayen, through its committee on environment and sanitation headed by Councilor Judy Vargas, launched a probe into the matter and invited officials of the BMGS to look into it.
A team from the BMGS did find that Alexander Mining Corporation was remiss in its operations and did not have the necessary permit.
A cease and desist order was issued to the company.
Tayag said the company’s permit for small-scale mining issued by BMGS has been canceled.
Tayag added that the golf course development can now proceed with the landscape plan.
