Mining body asks Palace to stop black sand extraction
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) passed a resolution last week asking Malacañang to stop all black sand mining operations in the country.
A Palace official, who asked not to be named, said the MICC, which approved the resolution last Wednesday, cited the adverse effects of black sand mining to coastal communities and the ecosystem.
The MMIC, co-chaired by Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, is under the Office of the President.
The council, according to the Palace official, is recommending to the President to stop black sand mining operations whose permits were issued either by local government units or the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
“We expect that the President would come out with a decision within the month. He is seriously considering the (MICC) recommendation,†the official said.
Besides Cagayan province and the Ilocos region, black sand mining is also reportedly rampant in Zambales and parts of the Visayas.
A rich resource along the country’s coastlines, black sand or magnetite is used as an additive in the manufacturing of concrete and steel products, magnets, paint, ink, paper, jewelry and cosmetics, making it a lucrative commodity in foreign markets such as in China and Taiwan.
Companies extracting black sand in Cagayan are reportedly owned or being run or financed mostly by Chinese and Taiwanese nationals.
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