Northwestern University hosts black sand mining forum

Students are all ears during the forum (Tina Tan photo)

By Stephen T. Barreiro

IT staff

Northwestern University, in line with its progressive thrust in tackling the latest issues, hosted the first forum on the controversial issue of black sand mining in Ilocos Norte on August 20, 2014.

Dubbed “The 1^st Black Sand Mining Forum” in Ilocos Norte, the forum was organized by the Kwago Society, a cause oriented citizen watchdog group based in NU led by its president, Jenny Simon, together with the Natural Sciences and  Social Sciences and Humanities departments of NU, Kabataan Party List, Defend Ilocos, and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines.

The forum was a “revelation” according to the organizers. Forum organizer and NU professor Shermon Cruz stated that students, professors and concerned citizens, were exposed to the real dynamics of mining particularly black sand mining and its effect and impact on public safety and its risks, government enforcement issues, economic risks and food security concerns, poverty incidence, resilience, and climate change.

Further, Mr. Cruz stated that conclusions that were derived from the forum were that the threat of continued black sand mining (BSM) is real with a possibility that mining operations may even expand significantly in the near future with over 50 BSM applications pending and awaiting approval from the national government.

The forum panel (Tina Tan photo)

Also discussed was that resistance efforts and initiatives from local government units and particularly from an enlightened and vigilant citizenry are “game-changers” in the fight to prevent mining activities and its well documented adverse effects.

Mr. Cruz also called on the local governments to enforce the provisions of the Ilocos Norte Environment Code of 2007 which mandates transparency and public consultation in all mining applications, large and small scale.

The organizers also thanked the panel of speakers and reactors that included representatives from the local government, national government agencies, concerned citizen and pro-environmental groups, and the media.

Panelist and Sanggunian Panlalawigan member Atty. Joel Garcia clarified his stand in authoring the initial resolution calling for a total ban on black sand mining then authoring another, a subsequent “infamous” resolution amending the total ban to one allowing a rationalized approach in allowing black sand mining; a draft resolution that was later withdrawn after a public hearing on the issue that was participated in by cause and pro-environmental groups including the Roman Catholic Church all of whom expressed their opposition to all black sand mining.

SP member Atty. Joel Garcia (Tina Tan photo)

Atty. Garcia also raised the issue that whereas the provincial government has expressed the sentiment that they are against black sand mining in Ilocos Norte, the national government through the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 can overrule the local government and allow black sand mining operations to continue in the province.

Atty. Garcia however said that he will attempt to oppose all such resolutions in the future.

The panel of reactors, led by Veronica Tina L. Tan and Madonna Rabang, who represented the NGO and pro-environment groups, exhorted the audience to be vigilant, to speak out and let their voices be heard and to write letters to their congressmen, opposing mining activities in Ilocos Norte.