MGB claims Region 1 is free of black sand mining

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has maintained Ilocos Norte province and the entire provinces of Region 1 is free of black sand mining.

While there had been efforts of the MGB Regional Office in Region 2 to regulate black sand mining in Cagayan Valley, Ilocanos in this northern part of Luzon has maintained their position to totally ban black sand mining here.

Black sand, or magnetite, is a component of steel production.

Many black-sand miners in the Philippines export to smelters in China. The Philippines exports around one million tons of magnetite to various buyers annually.

However, due to unabated environment degradation and complaints on water contamination due to black sand extraction, environment advocates and church-based organizations continue to oppose proposed mining applications here citing there are other alternatives where the province can generate local revenue without sacrificing its fragile environment.

While mining operation is considered as a top revenue source of local government units, the MGB reported that there are no existing black sand operations in Region 1.

Roel Collado, officer-in-charge of Mine Management Division said in a media forum held at a Laoag hotel on April 28 that majority of the activities are along the river system and these are mainly sand and gravel quarrying.

Also, there is an intermittent operation of feldspar is Pasuquin town and there is an on-going processing of permit for silica extraction needed by a cement factory based in La Union.

On October 2013, the Ilocos Norte board unanimously passed a resolution banning black sand mining in the province.

The passage of said resolution resulted to the recall of permits issued by government agencies and voided endorsements by local governments to mining applicants.

Next to tourism and infrastructure development, mining is among the top five preferred investment areas of Ilocos Norte, as advertised in the provincial government website

In November 2014, it may be recalled that the MGB imposed a moratorium on approval of black sand export permits, or the mineral ore export permits (MOEP) for magnetite operations while it was reviewing existing magnetite operations.