Guv wants scrutiny of permit application

DUMAGUETE CITY , Philippines   â€” There are four things the provincial government would want to make sure in issuing permits for dredging in any of the rivers of Negros Oriental, including the controversial dredging project or black sand mining in Tanjay City.

Governor Roel Degamo has directed the Environment and Natural Resources Division, headed by Mercy Teves, and its technical personnel, Ruperto Badon Jr. and Junar Sevilla, to look into the application of Sino-Italy Construction Philippines, Inc for a dredging permit.

Aside from the environmental compliance certificate (ECC), Degamo required Sino-Italy to ensure the safety of  people in the surrounding areas, make sure their livelihood is not affected, not to jeopardize the environment and comply with the required documents, such as endorsements from the City Risk Reduction Management Council and the Barangay and City Councils.

Badon and Sevilla told The Freeman the paper works have been complied with, while the rest have to be validated considering that some fishermen in the area were complaining they cannot dock their bancas in the shore anymore because it is being fenced by the company.

During the City Council's special session earlier, Badon enjoined the Sino-Italy construction not to proceed with the dredging operations unless the governor issues the permits. This developed after another magnetite mining was reported in the shorelines from Sta. Catalina town to Bayawan City, as confirmed by Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Oscar Magallones.

Magallones, however, disclosed, a cease and desist order was issued by the Bayawan City LGU against the mining operation of a Chinese firm due to lack of permits. 

Heightened discussions against black sand mining started with the pronouncements of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima who urged the public to report any mining of black sands in their respective areas and immediately report it to the NBI. 

The NBI-Dumaguete City field office, headed by Dominador Cimafranca, has started its own investigation regarding the alleged mining activity, in compliance with the directive of De Lima

Magallones said that, for now, while operations in Tanjay City have not yet commenced, people must be vigilant and continue monitoring the activities of Sino-Italy. A team from PENRO will be visiting the site soon for an inspection of the activities undertaken by the firm that some quarters said were already in preparation stage for dredging, he said.

On the pronouncements that dredged materials will be used as backfill materials for a proposed reclamation project and the proposed port in Tanjay City, Magallones cautioned proponents to comply first with all the necessary requirements such as an environmental impact study. 

Sino-Italy's lawyer Rayfrando Diaz II, who also attended the session, lamented over allegations that the dredging project was anti-environment and even illegal. He appealed to the City Council to look at the facts first and see if the project is good for Tanjayanons.

Under the MOU, Tanjay River will be reengineered into an ideal river where water can flow unimpeded and prevent it from overflowing like what happened during Sendong and Ondoy.

Tanjay City Vice Mayor Jose Orlino, partymate of Mayor Lawrence Teves who approved the project as chairman of PAMB Cluster I, voiced out his objection to the black sand mining in the guise of a dredging project.

He clarified that he is not against the dredging project per se for it will enable water from the mountains to flow freely to the sea and reduce the possibility of flooding, but he said that 15 million metric tons of silted materials mean large amounts of money can be derived from deposits of black sands in the area.

Orlino and Councilor Juanito Condes believed that the underlying reason for the dredging project is the black sand deposit, saying that one shipment of black sands to China can already recover the expenses for the dredging.

Diaz had mentioned during the session that the price of the black sands in the world market is pegged at $70 per metric ton, magnetite being the best ingredient in producing iron. (FREEMAN)