DENR urged to reject black sand mining applications

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The country’s biggest fishermen’s organization has urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to junk 158 applications for black sand mining over wide areas in the Lingayen Gulf.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) warned of environmental disaster that would arise from such mining in the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

Pamalakaya also earlier sent petitions to Ilocos Sur Rep. Imelda Marcos and 11 other congressmen from Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan to block the approval of the mining applications covering at least 70,450 hectares within their jurisdictions.

“In behalf of the small fisherfolk in Lingayen Gulf encompassing the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, we appeal to your sense of urgent concern in connection with the gulf-wide black sand mining in the areas,” the Pamalakaya said. 

It noted that 15 magnetite or black sand applications are pending before the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in La Union, 57 in Ilocos Sur, and 86 in Ilocos Norte.