2 Cagayan black sand mining firms told to stop operations

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has ordered two mining firms engaged in black sand mining in Cagayan to stop their operations due to environmental violations.

Mario Ancheta, MGB director for Cagayan Valley, ordered Land Wealth Resources, Inc. and Lian Xing Philippines Curving Corp. to “cease and desist” from extracting black sand here for extending their operation outside their mining area.

Black sand, which commands a high price in foreign markets, is used as additive in manufacturing concrete and steel products, magnets, paint, ink, paper, jewelry and cosmetics.

In an order dated July 2, the two firms were found to have been conducting their operations beyond their permitted area or within the prohibited or protected zone to extract black sand.

Land Wealth, a Filipino-owned firm, and Lian Xing, said to be Chinese-Taiwanese owned, reportedly extended their operations along the coast of Barangay Caraoan in Gonzaga town, which is already outside of the MGB-authorized mining areas. 

“Maybe we will be imposing damages against these firms or file charges against them,” Ancheta said.

Land Wealth and Lian Xing are among the firms engaged in black sand mining along the coastlines and rivers in the northern part of the province, which Church-backed anti-mining groups have been opposing.

In an earlier statement, Tuguegarao Archbishop Sergio Utleg asked residents to remain vigilant against the presence of the mining firms accused of destroying the coastlines of northern Cagayan.

The bishop has been leading other environment advocates against the extraction of black sand along the northern coastal towns of Gonzaga, Aparri, Lallo, Buguey, Santa Ana and Santa Teresita.

These mining operations, according to the anti-mining advocates, put the lives of the residents at risk and destroy the environment. 

The Philippine Network for the Environment (PNE)-Kalikasan said that the continued extraction of magnetite sand could also lead to massive destruction of marine resources in the area.