As I was browsing the net a night ago, I came across a headline news mentioning a resolution made by the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) co-chaired by Sec. Ramon Paje (DENR) and Sec. Cesar Purisima (DOF) which is under the Office of the President. The MICC Resolution was about the black sand mining industry in the Philippines. The news pointed out that the resolution was meant for the suspension, if not totally stopping, of the black sand mining across the entire archipelago. The resolution was yet to be signed into law by the President of the republic. And he was most likely to approve it, the news said. (Ref.: http://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/01/13/1278040/mining-body-asks-palace-stop-black-sand-extraction )
For Zambales, That's Unfair.
As we all (the whole world) know, the Mt. Pinatubo's eruption in 1991 devastated the three surrounding provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga and Zambales where the volcano is nestled. Many people were displaced, particularly the "aetas" whose domain was the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo and its adjacent mountains. Among the three provinces, Zambales got the most indelible mark of devastation in terms of infrastructure and economic livelihood. Since the volcanic eruption, Zambales has to cope with the perennial damages of floodwater and lahar (pyroclastic material) cascading from the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo during heavy rainy days. Houses and bridges are washed away. Agricultural farms and products are never spared. Why this decades-long catastrophe? The rivers of the province remain clogged with lahar up to present days.
Dredge the River Channels
As a recourse to remedy the damages brought about by floodwater during rainy days, the provincial government opened its doors to dredging contracts. The river channels have to be desilted and bring the rivers back to their normal depth to contain the water coming down from Mt. Pinatubo's slopes. The idea was never a mining gesture at first. The dredging was free for anyone. The dredgers were treated as symbols of good samaritans trying to save a province from total immersion in floodwater.
The Advent of Black Sand Mining in Zambales
The free dredging went on for a while. The material to be taken out of the rivers was lahar sand. Lahar is a volcanic material.So there must be useful and precious mineral elements that compose it. Mining technology was applied. And as a result of mineral assaying, magnetite iron sand (Fe; 58%) and titanium dioxide (TiO2; 6%) proved to be abundantly present in the river channels! From thence, free dredging was never free again. But it had to continue. The rivers must be desilted, free or charged. The lahar sand that once brought havoc to the province had suddenly become a manna from heaven to nourish the failing economy with enormous investments. Flocks of investors came in - local and foreign. Job opportunities opened up. "Burubod" word popped-up. Becoming the most popular word in Zambales instantly like magic! Hundreds of "burubod" gatherers are needed everyday. The "aetas" are given preference. The investors provide them block magnets and sacks. They gather manually. Now the volcano-displaced indigenous people (IPs) are feeding themselves. Not anymore from charitable institutions nor from politicians with vested interests. But from the gains they get from the lahar-filled-mineral-rich RIVERS of Zambales. The "aetas" have become self-reliant. They have become socio-economic-minded people of the society by becoming indispensable contributors to the black sand industry.
Please Limit Your Cry!
"STOP BLACK SAND MINING!", as many people cry. But these people mean about their "SHORELINES". They care about their shorelines at the back of their houses. They want to preserve it. They are scared of being eroded and being carried away from the ground to the ocean deep. They want the government to stop the unscrupulous operations of black sand mining in the SHORELINES of their community more particularly in Cagayan, Ilocos, Bicol and in some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao islands. But please, NOT in Zambales where black sand mining is done in RIVER channels. The activity is desilting the rivers from pyroclastic materials while keeping the economic values of the black sand in it.
The question now is, is it wrong to earn a living while saving the province from further floodwater damages?
The Inevitable Outcome of the Stoppage Resolution, If Approved
Stopping black sand mining in Zambales is stopping the on-going desiltation programs of the local government. Once stopped, floodwater is imminent to ravage the agriculture and infrastructures of the province during stormy weather.It shall also result to unemployment of a large number of indigenous people complementing desiltation. They shall be back on the streets begging for alms. They shall remain displaced. Once by Mt. Pinatubo, now by some selfish principles of the law.
Instead, We Recommend to the Government
1 - Stop black sand mining in the country EXCEPT in Zambales RIVER CHANNELS.
2 - Stop awarding permits to foreign operators; let them stay as BUYERS only.
3 - Stop the monopolistic grant of permits to selected operators.
4 - Lessen the requirements for black sand mining permit in order TO ERADICATE FACILITATION COSTS in the bureaus concerned.
5 - Amend the Mineral Processing Permit (MPP) requirements; allow MANUAL processing.
6 - Terminate with finality ALL PENDING EXPLORATION PERMITS On Appeal to give way to other applicants on equal, unbiased, distributive manner.
