Edited Chronological Events on Black Sand Mining in Gonzaga and Buguey, Cagayan Province

BLACK SAND MINING IN GONZAGA, CAGAYAN PROVINCE
By Esperlita Garcia, Retired University Mentor and Former Municipal Councilor
President, Gonzaga Alliance for Environmental Protection and Preservation (GAEPP)
Auditor and Spokesperson, Federation of Anti-Mining Advocates of Cagayan Province(FAMAC)
(0927) 704-4739 E-mail-perlinggarcia60@yahoo.com
Home Address- Calayan, Gonzaga, Cagayan 3513
There are two black sand mining operators located in Barangays Calayan and Batangan in the
Municipality of Gonzaga, Province of Cagayan.
(1) Lian Xing Phils. Stone Carving Co., and
(2) Huaxia Mining and Trading Corporation;
Figure 1. Location of two (2) Black Sand Mining Operations in Gonzaga, Cagayan
2006 Start of operations of Lian Xing Phils. Stone Carving Co., Corp.
The black sand mining operation is in Barangays Calayan and Batangan and a
half meter to 100 meters from the Barangay Hall, Church buildings, and
residential units.
Jan. 2011 Start of operations of Huaxia Mining and Trading Corporation, with black sand
mining site in Calayan, Gonzaga, Cagayan and strongly opposed since there
was no public consultation undertaken and there is existing Lianxing mining
operation.

Feb. 2011 I emailed a letter to His Excellency President Benigno C. Aquino III at
<op@president.gov.ph>, previously, comments were posted on the President’s
FB page requesting for stoppage of the two black sand mining operations.
Letters were also emailed to the Hon. DENR Sec. Ramon Paje and the Hon.
DILGSec.JesseRobredo.
.
March 12, 2011 Anti-Mining Rally was done to protest the mining operation of Huaxia Mining and
Trading Company for there was no prior public consultation and the mining site is
within residential and coastal communities and to call for the stoppage of Lianxing
Phil. Stone Carving mining operation considering that the mining location is within
the 200meters from the mean low tide level along the beach and within the 100
meters from public and private works and structures which are prohibited areas for
extraction under the IRR of RA 7942. Around 3,000 rallyists attended although
no permit was granted by the Mayor.
March 19; 2011 Same Anti –Mining Rally was conducted with around 2,000 rallyists, but as
In the March 12 rally, no permit was issued again to the protesters.
April 5, 2011 Inspection by 4 DENR USEC for Field Operations Officials/ specialists, Diliman,
Quezon City on black sand mining operations in Gonzaga in response to emailed
reports by me,Esperlita Garcia, a resident of Barangay Calayan, Gonzaga,
Cagayan.
April 29, Issuance of Memorandum to MGB and EMB Bureau Directors by DENR USEC
for Field Operations Secretary Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo, Jr. (Attached as Annex A)
April 30, 2011 Aborted Anti-Mining Rally with starting venue at Saint Anthony’s Academy of
Gonzaga(SAAG), a walking distance to the Municipal Hall for there were around
50 PNP FULLY ARMED AND UNIFORMED OFFICERS near the entrance gate
of SAAG, BFP Firetrucks, and some Military vehicles, and Mayor Carlito F.
Pentecostes, Jr. and his bodyguards, hindering the entry of rallyists.
May 2011 Lian Xing Phils. Stone Carving Co., Corp. installation of pipe directed to the sea
which is believed as an outlet of liquid waste or tailings.
Figure 2. Photos of Black Sand Mining Taken in Gonzaga, Cagayan on May 3, 2011

May 25, 2011 I emailed a follow up letter to His Excellency President Benigno C. Aquino III at
<op@president.gov.ph>, previously, comments were posted on the President’s
FB page requesting for stoppage of the two black sand mining operations and
tagging the President on mining pictures to have these posted in his FB wall with
accompanying appeal for the stoppage of mining within residential and coastal
communities.
Figure 3. Photos Taken October 2011 of Black Sand Mining in Gonzaga, Cagayan

September 2011 Sent soft and/or hard copies of a resolution by Gonzaga Alliance for
Environmental Protection and Preservation Office (GAEPP) earnestly requesting
the Hon. DENR Sec. Ramon Paje and the Hon. DENR USEC for Field
Operations, Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo,Jr. for the immediate, full and strict
implementation of the DENR USEC Memorandum of 29 April 2011, signed by
Hon. Adobo, with copies furnished to: His Excellency President of the
Philippines, The Honorable Senate President, The Honorable Chairman of the
Senate Committee on Environment, The Honorable Chairman of the House
Committee on Environment, The Honorable Congressman of the First District of
Cagayan, The Honorable DILG Secretary, The Honorable Provincial Governor

and Vice Governor of Cagayan, The DENR Region II Director, The Very
Reverend Archbishop of Tuguegarao City, The Reverend Parish Priest of St
Rock of Gonzaga, The Honorable Mayor and Vice Mayor of Gonzaga, Cagayan,
I-SAGIP, OUR VOICES.
Oct. 7, 2001 A pastoral letter is issued byHis Excellency Archbishop Sergio L. Utleg, DD of the
Archdiocese of Tuguegarao not to allow or permit mining in Cagayan (Attached
as Annex B)
Nov. 20, 2011 An Anti-Mining Provincial Prayer Rally in time for the Feast of Christ The King
was held in Tuguegarao City on November 20, 2011 at 1:00pm.
Figure 4. Photo of Black Sand Mining In Gonzaga, Cagayan Taken November 20, 2011
Until today, the black sand mining operations are ongoing 24/7 causing fear, tension,
sleeplessness, sinking of some areas near the mining sites, and super inconveniences for
only the mining dumptrucks and other heavy vehicles can pass on our uncemented
muddy roads that even our highway is so muddy and worst, our beaches can hardly be
reached by our local and foreign tourists ,so the mining operations hinder tourism
development, which is an excellent alternative to the illegal mining in our glittering
beaches.
There are other mining operations in the Municipality of Gonzaga being conducted by the Yinyi
Mining Company and Well Resource Mining Company in Barangays Amunitan with location just
At the back of Amunitan Elementary School, Sta Cruz just adjacent to the Municipal Cemetery,
Baua with location just at the back of Baua National High School, and San Jose just at the back
Of San Jose Elementary School wherein a grade school kid was over run by a magnetite
Dumptruck which caused his instant death.

Figure5. Photos of Black Sand Mining In Gonzaga, Cagayan Taken November 20, 2011

Figure 5. Photos of Black Sand Mining in Gonzaga, Cagayan Taken November 20, 2011

Figure 6. Photos of Prayer Rally against Mining in Cagayan

BLACK SAND MINING IN BUGUEY
Art T. Alariao
Spokesperson
Alliance of Buguey for Community Development Advocacy (ALBUCODA)
& THE CONCERNED PEOPLE OF BUGUEY
Contact No. (0935) 899- 2131
There are two (2) identified black sand mining operators in Buguey:
(1) Lutra; and
(2) San You Philippines, Inc.
Jan. 23, 2009 The Provincial Governor of Cagayn, upon recommendation by the Provincial
Mining and Regulatory Board of Cagayan issued a small scale mining permit to
extract and remove magnetite sand in barangay Minanga Este, Municipality of
Buguey to Mr. Renato Alariao.
In 2009 The people of Buguey and its Mayor and Municipal Council protested the black
sand mining operations on grounds of environmental degradation.
Feb. 24, 2009 Regional Task Force from MGB Region II recommended permittee shall continue
extraction along the mouth of Buguey Lagoon pending issuance of a clearance
from the DENR Secretary pursuant to PD 265 and DAO 96-40. The Tasks force
went to Buguey and an inter-agency validation team looked at the mining
activities there, if any.
Feb.25, 2009 DENR OIC Regional Director of MGB Region II issues a memorandum to the
DENR Secretary seeing for clearance for the continued operation of magnetite
and small scale mining permittee on the following grounds:
(a) the necessity of removing the sand bar to avoid flooding of the Buguey
Lagoon and erosion in nearby area;
(b) mode of mining is non-destructive since magnetite sticks are used to recovr
the black sand magnetite;
(c) the project is covered by an ECC issued by the EMB Regional office;
(d) the project was endorsed by the concerned residents of Minanga Este;
(e) the project provides employment and livelihood opportunities to about 200-
300 barangay residents.
Mar. 12, 2009 The DENR Secretary Jose L. Atienza issues memorandum to all MGB Regional
Directors of the existing policies on the prohibition of sand and gravel extraction
from beaches and that offshore areas within the 500 meters from the mean low
tide level and onshore areas within 200 meters from the mean low tide level
along the shore are closed to mining applications pursuant to DAO 96-40, as
amended, and pursuant to the foregoing a Cease and Desist Order is issued to
any mining permittee, operator, or other person conducting magnetite sand
extraction along the beach and/or sand in Buguey, Cagayan, and the Region II is
directed to implement strictly this Order and submit report of compliance within
fifteen (15) days.
Attached as ANNEX A.

Apr, 22, 2009 DENR Secretary Horacio Ramos issues a Cease and Desist Order pursuant to
his Memorandum of March 12, 2009 regarding the existing policies under Batas
Pambansa Bilang (PD, in another memorandum) 265. The order prohibits
issuance of permits for sand and gravel extraction from beaches and offshore
areas within the 500 meters from the mean low tide and onshore areas within
200 meters from the mean low tide level along the coast are closed to mining
application pursuant to the provisions of DAO 96-40, as amended.
Attached as ANNEX B
Dec. 2009 MGB Director Mario Ancheta provides the following in a report:
(a) The team reported that it went to Pattao, Buguey, Cagayan, and had a short
meeting with Mayor Ignacio Taruc and the members of the Alliance of
Buguey for Community Development Advocacy (Albucoda). A video footage
of the Korean vessel supposedly sucking black sand from the shoreline of
Minanga Weste and Villa Leonora was shown.
(b) The team also interviewed a fisherman, Jerry S. Cuaresma, who said that his
group, together with other fishermen, witnessed the presence of a vessel in
the Minanga area on the morning of Oct. 13, 2009. They said they
approached the vessel out of curiosity and were able to count seven crew
members. He also narrated that the vessel, with Chinese characters and the
number 0037 painted on its side, continuously disposed of water through a
tube in its side.
(c) A resident, Elizabeth Villalon, said that she saw a vessel sucking sand on
Oct. 11, 12, and 13, 2009, starting at about 10 a.m., for about three to five
hours each day within the prohibited zone.
(d) Another resident, Ronnie Arellano also saw the same vessel on Oct. 13, and
said it appeared to be loaded and heavy about noontime.
(e) While the team was at Minanga Weste, where the video of the vessel was
taken, residents began to approach the group. Taking advantage of their
presence, the team interviewed some of them. They claimed that they saw a
vessel off the shores of Minanga Weste on Oct. 13, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m.
(f) Together with Albucoda members, the team was then transported by boat to
Minanga Weste, the site covered by the SSMP. The group saw decaying and
torn sandbags scattered in the area, but there was no mining activity.
(g) The group then went to the Bureau of Customs in Aparri, Cagayan. Customs
records showed that mv/Min Fu Jian Hou No. 0037, with Chinese crewmen,
arrived at the port of Aparri on Sept. 23, 2009.
(h) The Bureau of Customs showed the team a copy of the shifting permit that
the PPA-Aparri issued on Sept. 24, 2009, as requested by John Perez, the
vessel agent. The purpose of the shifting of the vessel from Aparri to Buguey
was to test river sand of Buguey, Cagayan.
(i) The customs inspector, Oliver Lazo, said he boarded the vessel when it
proceeded to Minanga, Buguey, on Oct. 11 and 12, 2009. He confirmed to
the team that the vessel indeed extracted sand for sampling.

(j) During its visit, the team saw that the vessel was still docked at the western
bank of the Cagayan River.
(k) Findings and observations were as follows:
(i) It was confirmed that the vessel MV/ Min Fu Jian Hou No. 0037
with Chinese crew that docked at the port of Aparri on Sept. 23,
2009 is the same vessel referred to by the Albucoda as having
been seen offshore of Buguey on Oct. 11, 12 and 13, 2009.
(ii) The vessel extracted sand for sampling purposes in Minanga
Weste, Buguey, as supported by the shifting permit and by BoC
inspector Oliver Lazo.
(iii) At the time of the team’s visit of Oct. 28, 2009, there was no
ongoing mining operation in Minanga Weste where a Small-
Scale Mining Permit was earlier approved.
Meanwhile back sand mining continued.
Figure 1. Black Sand Mining in Buguey, Photos taken August 10, 2011
San You Philippines, Inc, Barangay Minanga Weste, Buguey

Figure 2. Black Sand Mining in Buguey, Photos taken September 3, 2011
Oct. 7, 2011 MGB personnel go to Buguey for investigation.
Oct. 11, 2011 OIC Regional Director Mario A. Ancheta issues Stoppage Order pursuant to
investigation of MGB personnel, pursuance to October 7, 2011 investigation of
MGB Team and surprise inspection of the beaches of Buguey by Director
Ancheta on October 8, 2011 in response to a call he received about the
continuous magnetite extraction and installation/operation of Mineral Processing
Plan along the beaches of (Villa Leonora) Buguey withour a permit by an entity
identified as LUTRA, and the Task Force is directed to strictly implement the
order and submit report of compliance within fifteen (15) days from receipt
thereof.
Attached as ANNEX C.
On the same day, Director Mario A. Ancheta issued a Cease and Desist Order to
operator positively identified as SAN YOU Philippines, Inc. pursuant to the CDO
issued by Sec. Atienza, and, that the CDO is not yet lifted and hence in effect.
The CDO to SAN YOU likewise cites that the revised rules and regulations of RA
7942 (Philippine Mining Act of 1995) provides that no person shall engage in the
processing of minerals without a Mineral Processing Permit.
SAN YOU and any other mining permittees, operators or persons conducting
magnetite sand extraction along the beach and/or sand bar in Buguey, CAgayan
are ordered to strictly comply with the CDO issued April 22, 2009 and further
ordered from refraining from installing/operating any Mineral Processing Plant in
the subject area. The Regional Task Force is likewise directly to implement the
order strictly and to submit report of compliance within 15 days.

Copy furnish to: Hom. Licerio M. Antiporda III, Municipal Mayor, Buguey,
Cagayan and the Chief of Police of Buguey, Cagayan.
Attach as ANNEX D.
Oct. 14, 2011 Receipt of the CDO issued by Director Ancheta by LGU and PNP.
Still black sand mining continues in Buguey.
Figure 3. Photo of Black Sand Mining in Buguey, Photo taken November 19, 2011

Figure 4. Black Sand Mining in Buguey, Photo Taken November 19, 2011
Figure 5. Black Sand Mining in Buguey, Photos Taken November 19, 2011

Figure 6. Black Sand Mining in Buguey, Photos Taken November 19, 2011

Edited Chronological Events on Black Sand Mining in Gonzaga and Buguey, Cagayan Province

Edited Chronological Events on Black Sand Mining in Gonzaga and Buguey, Cagayan Province

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Edited Chronological Events on Black Sand Mining in Gonzaga and Buguey, Cagayan Province