TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Unabated black sand mining has been blamed for the floods that submerged several areas in Aparri town, Cagayan at the height of Typhoon Ompong last week.
Running priest Robert Reyes yesterday deplored the alleged continuous sand mining in the municipality despite a ban imposed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
Reyes urged Cagayan Gov. Alvaro Antonio to be serious in implementing the ban, citing alleged quarrying in Aparri and in the municipalities of Gonzaga and Sta. Teresita.
He said some municipal governments in the province have been allowing black sand mining in the guise of dredging the Cagayan River.
Chief Inspector Mina Domingo said it was the first time for the town to be under five feet of floodwater, particularly the village of Dodan, where black sand mining is allegedly rampant.
Early this year, barangay councilman Danilo Balao was killed while his wife Elena, the village chief, was wounded in an attack by men identified with a mining operator in Aparri.
The Balaos were supporters of a campaign against black sand mining.