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Date Posted: Thu, Feb 16 2012
North-based lawmakers slam over snub of appeal vs. blacksand mining
Manila : Philippines | Feb 08, 2012 at 8:39 PM PST
By GerryAlbert
By Gerry Albert Corpuz
MANILA, Philippines- The activist fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamaakaya) on Tuesday said it was dismayed with the political snub it received from 12 congressmen in Ilocos Region regarding their complaint against black sand mining operations in Lingayen Gulf that encompasses the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.
"We don't deserve this kind of cold treatment and outright snub from the congressmen of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte provinces. Nobody has the right to snub and take for granted the legitimate inquiry of the small fishermen in the region The letter of appeal against black sand mining was sent to their offices at the House of Representatives on the first week of December last year. It is now February 2012, but we have yet to receive any official response from the 12 congressmen. To the congressmen of Region 1, please break your silence, say something and address the issue of destructive magnetite mining in the region fair and square and in accordance with Ilocano people's interest," said Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap in a press statement.
On the first week of December last year, Hicap together with Pamalakaya vice chaireprson Salvador France delivered their latter of appeal to Rep. Rodolfo Farinas Jr (1st district, Ilocos Norte), Rep. Imelda R. Marcos (2nd district, Ilocos Norte), Rep. Ryan Singson (1st district, Ilocos Sur), Rep. Eric Singson Jr (2nd district, Ilocos Sur) Rep. Victor Ortega (1st district, La Union), Rep. Eufranio Eriguel (2nd district, La Union), Rep. Jesus Celeste (1st district, Pangasinan), Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd district, Pangasinan), Rep. Rachel Arenas (3rd district, Pangasinan) Rep. Gina P. De Venecia (4th district, Pangasinan), Rep. Kimi Cojuangco (5th district, Pangasinan) and Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (6th district, Pangasinan) in their respective offices in the House of Representatives.
"In behalf of the small fisherfolk in Lingayen Gulf encompassing the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, we in Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), a national federation of small fisherfolk organizations with chapters and allied fishermen associations along Lingayen Gulf appeal to your sense of urgent concern in connection with the gulf wide black sand mining in Region 1", the Pamalalaya letter said.
The Pamalakaya letter reads: "Honorable lawmakers in Ilocos Region, we are appalled with the clear and present danger posed by onshore and offshore mining for magnetite along the entire coastal areas of Lingayen Gulf which is composed of Zambales in Central Luzon and Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte provinces."
In their letter to congressmen, the Pamalakaya leaders said there are 15 magnetite mining applications in the onshore and offshore areas of San Juan (2, offshore), Bacnotan (2 offshore), Balaoan (2 offshore), Luna (1 offshore), Bangar (2, 1 offshore, 1 onshore), Pugo (1 onshore), Burgos (1 onshore), Santol (1 onshore) and Sudipen (3 onshore) in La Union province. In Ilocos Sur, there are 57 blacksand mining applications in Ilocos Sur province, with 4 in Tagudin, 4 in Sta.Cruz, 5 in Sta. Lucia, 4 in Candon City, 4 in Santiago, 4 in San Esteban, 5 in Sta. Maria, 5 in Narvacan, 8 in Santa, 5 in Caoayan, 4 in Sta.Catalina and 4 in Vigan City.
In Ilocos Norte, 86 applications for magnetite mining in Ilocos Norte province are pending before the Mines and Geosciences Bureau ( MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which cover the towns of Badoc (6), Pinili (3) Paoay (3), Laoag (3), Currimao (4), Bacarra (3), Pasuquin (13), Burgos (4), Bangui (1), Pagudpud (2), Batac (1), Banna (5), Nueva Era (7), Marcos (6), Solsona (3), Carasi (5), Dingras (5), Vintar (6), Adams (2), Piddig (3) and Dumalneg (1).
Hicap and France also said there are fifteen blacksand mining in La Union, 57 in Ilocos Sur and 86 in Ilocos Norte for a grand total of 158 applications for offshore and onshore magnetite mining, therefore this grandslam blacksand escapade in Region 1 is inviting a near future red carpet massacre of people’s livelihood, the grandslam plunder and catastrophic death of Lingayen Gulf in the hands of magnetite mining syndicates. "We learned the Vancouver based Canadian firm Colossal Mining holds 5 individual exploration and mining permits which will cover 80 percent of offshore magnetite mining for iron in the North Western Luzon along Lingayen Gulf encompassing the provinces of La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, including its offshore activity in Cagayan province," the two leaders added. The exploration and mining permits given to Colossal Mining will allow them to
explore at least 15,700 hectares of offshore areas in North Western Luzon. Next to Colossal Mining company is the mining firm Grand Total Exploration and Mining Corporation will explore at least 33,00 hectares in the offshore and onshore areas of Tagudin, Sta.Cruz, Sta Lucia, Candon City, Santiago, Narvacan, Santa, Caoayan, Sta. Catalina, San Vicente, Vigan, Sto.Domingo, Magsingal, San Juan and Cabugao in Ilocos Sur.
This is another grand colossal case of plunder and destruction. The Grand Total firm, the company headed by Randy Singson will conduct magnetite mining explorations on 21, 753 hectares of offshore waters in the towns of Bauang, Caba, Aringay, Agoo and Sto. Tomas in La Union.
"Honorable congressmen and congresswomen as elected officials of the Philippine Republic, it is your duty as lawmakers of congressional districts covered by Lingayen Gulf from Zambales to Ilocos Sur, the governors of Zambales, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte to oppose the spread of offshore and onshore mining activities along the coastal areas of Lingayen Gulf and prevent this highly predictable killer of livelihood and environment. It is your sworn duty to prevent a looming across-the gulf plunder and destruction of Lingayen Gulf and protect the livelihood rights of tens of thousands of small fisherfolk families," the Pamalakaya leaders noted.
Hicap and France told the 12 congressmen that these magnetite giants are literally and figuratively moving heaven and earth in search for huge profits at the expense of human lives, the livelihood and the environment. They are removing Lingayen Gulf from the surface of this earth courtesy of large-scale black sand mining.
" We hope the Solid North lawmakers would come to terms and effectively use all the powers in their disposal to stop the Lingayen Gulf wide magnetite mining in the name of people’s livelihood, patrimony rights and for the protection of marine and coastal environment," they said in their letter last year.
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MANILA, Philippines—(2ND UPDATE) A Northern Luzon congressman said he will oppose black sand mining in his province as he assured anti-blacksand mining groups of his support to the cause in his capacity as member of the Philippine parliament. Veteran lawmaker and one of the north's political thespians-- La Union Rep. Victor Ortega guaranteed small fishermen affected by blacksand mining in the province that he will oppose mining activities along the coastal shores of Lingayen Gulf
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