LINGAYEN—The Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives is expected conduct an inquiry on the alleged illegal mining operations here in relation to the planned golf course project of the provincial government.

Bayan Muna party list Rep. Teddy Casiño, following a visit two weeks ago to the province, filed a resolution directing the committee to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the alleged illegal black sand mining operations in Pangasinan, Cagayan and other provinces.

Resolution number 2097 cited the suspected illegal magnetite mining operations in the foreshore lands of Lingayen, Pangasinan that are ongoing in the villages of Sabangan, Malimpuec, Estanza and Capandanan since July 2011.

Casiño said the current operations in the area by Alexandra Mining and Oil Ventures, later renamed Xypher Builders Inc., is tantamount to large-scale mining, which also involves the operation of a mineral processing plant, for which the company has no environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

He noted that the permit for the operations has been revoked by the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB) but it has been continued on the pretext of removing “unsuitable” soil material for the golf course.

He added that local government officials and hundreds of local residents are against the magnetite mining operations in the area since it would destroy the foreshore lands and coastlines of Lingayen, diminish fish catch and bring about disasters when natural calamities strike.

POLITICAL AGENDA

Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan said the provincial government welcomes the congressional inquiry. (See related story on page 1).

At the same time, Baraan said in a news conference last week that Casiño seems to simply want to get “media mileage for their bigger political plans at the expense of the provincial government of Pangasinan”.

“If we are doing something illegal, if we are hiding something, Teddy Casiño would not have seen the pile of magnetite sand and use it for his political agenda,” Baraan said.

Governor Amado Espino Jr., meanwhile, said in a radio interview that the allegation is nothing but “a demolition job and politically motivated”.

“We are not destroying the Lingayen Gulf. That is unfair. If there is somebody who should love and protect the environment, that is us as proven by our Hall of Fame award on coastal management from 2008 to 2010 and other environmental awards because of our programs to protect the environment,” the governor said.

He added, “We are investing efforts and money here to develop the area. Why should we destroy the environment as alleged by our political opponents?”–Eva Visperas

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