TWO MORE COMPANIES’ APPLICATION PENDING

THE People’s Strike for the Environment strongly protested the planned massive offshore mining in the Lingayen Gulf and called on the public to oppose all forms of destructive mining.

Off shore mining over an area of Lingayen Gulf will be started by two big mining companies: Iron Ore, Gold and Vanadium Resources (Phils.) Inc. and Altamina Exploration Resources Inc.

The two are set to conduct offshore mining operations over a large area of the Lingayen Gulf after their respective applications for Financial Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) were approved by the Office of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Vanadium Resources’ FTAA application covers 10,000 hectares of the Lingayen Gulf off Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan City and San Fabian while the Altamina Resources’ application covers 9,588 hectares outside the areas applied by Vanadium company, also off Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan City, San Fabian but including Alaminos City.

“As we, Filipinos, elect our new set of leaders, we call on everyone to reject all those who favor environmental destruction and plunder for the benefit of the few against the interest of the citizenry,” the group said in its recent statement .

During the Talindeg: Pangasinan People’s Rally at the CSI helipad in Dagupan on April 8, a streamer caught the attention of Vice President Leni Robredo , a presidential candidate, in the middle of her speech. It reads: “No to Offshore Mining. SAVE THE LINGAYEN GULF”.

In reaction, Vice Presidente Robredo said: “We will not let anyone to destroy the environment. Kahit anong perang papasok sa pamahalaan, kung ikasisira ng kalikasan, hindi po natin papayagan”. 

Meanwhile, the Pangasinan Youth Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PYDRRM) revealed that two more mining companies have filed applications for FTAA to cover other parts of the Lingayen Gulf.

These are the Pangasinan Ferro Resources Corporation that intends to cover 2,959 hectares; and the Hong Kong-based Ferro Resources Corporation that applied to conduct offshore mining in 6,740 hectares.

All companies seek to recover magnetite sand and other precious metals, including gold, from the bottom of the Lingayen Gulf.

Based on the hearings conducted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan early this year, Vanadium is set to start its offshore mining operations by the time a new administration has taken over by July this year. (Leonardo Micua)

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