Pangasinan exec defends eco-tourism project

LINGAYEN, Philippines – A ranking official of the Pangasinan provincial government has defended an eco-tourism project here against criticisms.

“The project is being politicized by people who have not achieved anything for Pangasinan and by those who have plans to pursue their political ambitions,” provincial administrator Rafael Baraan said during a press briefing Monday.

Baraan dismissed as “illogical and unfounded yarns” reports on the eco-tourism project in the adjoining barangays of Sabangan, Estanza, Malimpuec, and Capandan, all in the western part of Lingayen.

“We have investments and we have our names to protect. This is not politics; this is governance,” he said.

Baraan said the discovery of magnetite sand at the project site which has whipped up the controversy was purely incidental.

He said it just so happened that in a particular portion of the proposed golf course, engineers of the Korean contractor discovered black sand deposit, which does not sit well with the development of the golf course because it could hinder the growth of fresh vegetation.

Baraan said a much bigger portion of the area is covered with lahar which also needs to be removed and replaced with garden soil.

He said the provincial government has been pursuing the multibillion-peso project with utmost transparency.

According to Baraan, extraction of the magnetite sand was being done with the approval of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and in full view of the public “because we are not hiding anything.”

MGB records show there are 15 pending magnetite mining applications for La Union, 57 for Ilocos Sur, and 86 for Ilocos Norte, but none for Pangasinan.

Provincial Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Office chief Alvin Bigay said the portion of the proposed golf course where black sand was discovered is limited only to Barangay Sabangan and a small portion of Estanza.