BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Criticisms are mounting on the alleged inaction of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Region 1 over complaints of illegal “magnetite mining” in various Ilocos Sur towns.
Donna Peta, spokesperson and convenor of the advocacy group Defend Ilocos Against Mining Plunder (DEFEND Ilocos) on Thursday assailed the alleged inaction of the agency on illegal sand and gravel and mineral processing operations for magnetite sand in Caoayan, Sta. Catalina, San Vicente and Sta. Cruz towns.
“We submitted a formal complaint with the necessary documents and photographs to prove the existence of illegal blacksand extraction in the province which the people have been complaining since 2009, yet for almost a month now, MGB Region I has not lifted a finger to conduct an investigation on the matter," Peta said.
Documents and photographs provided to the MGB-Region 1 show magnetite processing facilities in barangay San Sebatian, San Vicente; Caparacadan in Caoayan; and Tamorong in Sta. Catalina while active magnetite sand extractions are reportedly taking place in San Vicente and Caoayan towns.
Earlier, protesters against magnetite or black sand mining in Santa town emerged victorious after the Supreme Court granted a Writ of Kalikasan against Alta Mira Mining in its black sand extraction operations in the said town.
Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Singson, who earlier supported the mining activities, had made a turn-around and banned black sand mining in Ilocos Sur.