Ilocos Sur Governor Jeremias Singson has denied alleged black sand mining activities off the coast of Barangay Rancho in Santa, Ilocos Sur. 

“Ayaw naman naming silang payagan pag-hindi kumpleto [ang permits],” Singson said, after residents in the area raised concerns. 

Residents reportedly approached the ship allegedly conducting the operation and suspected it was taking black sand. 

“Hindi nila maitatanggi na mining iyon kasi kinula nila ‘yung black sand,” Rey Formoso, Barangay Rancho chairman, said.

DREDGING

“The program is dredging mainly dredging. [Pero] kagaya ng sinasabi ko, hindi naman maiiwasan na may mga mineral dyan… pero may katumbas ‘yan na fee [o] payment,” Singson said.

Based on the ore transport permit issued by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MBG), the sand collected from the dredging operation will be used for the Manila Bay reclamation project in Pasay City.

The passage of the ship through Barangay Rancho, questioned by barangay officials, is part of the dredging location plan for the project.

The ship will pass through two river channels of the Abra River for dredging up to Bantay, Ilocos Sur, approximately nine kilometers.

Dredging heavily-silted river channels as part of river restoration efforts falls under DENR Administrative Order Number 2020-07.

The provincial government incurs no costs for the project reportedly, and is paid by the company conducting the dredging.

If tests reveal more than six percent mineral content in the dredged materials, the barangay will receive 40 percent of the payment, while the local government unit (LGU) and provincial government will each receive 30 percent.

“As per dun sa tax ordinance natin, ang babayaran, if it is sand and gravel is P30 per cubic meter… if it is predetermined na lagpas sa threshold ng metallic mineral content, ayun ‘yung additional na taxes na babayaran din ng company,” Edgar Yabes, Head of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), said.

BLACK SAND MINING

According to the Jubilee Australia Research Centre, black sand mining extracts iron ore from magnetic sands through extensive sea or river floor dredging.

It causes severe environmental harm like habitat destruction, erosion, mangrove damage, and reduced fish stocks.

Black sand mining is regulated and could only be done in specific areas in the country.

The Mining Act of 1995 prohibits mining within 500 meters offshore and 200 meters onshore from the mean low tide level.