Espino welcomes black sand probe

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN – Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. said he welcomed a congressional inquiry into the reported “black sand quarrying” in Lingayen, the province’s capital town which had turned overnight as a controversial issue.

“The sooner, the better for the inquiry to end once and for all the controversy,” the governor said in a press statement, as he assured the provincial government will open its doors to the congressional team in its probe on the alleged black sand quarrying.

Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño on February 2 House Resolution 2097 directing the committee on natural resources to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the allegedly illegal black sand mining operations that are adversely affecting the foreshorelands, shorelines and ecosystems in Pangasinan, Cagayan and other provinces in the country

Espino invited Manila-based news networks to conduct an in-depth investigative reporting on the issue.

“There should be no white-wash; the probers must go for the truth,” the governor, a former congressman, said.

The press statement said two groups of Korean investors interested in venturing into retirement village and electric car manufacturing in the province have stopped its research and planning activities, according to Espino.

But a separate group of Korean investors keen on putting up a plant for “boat house” manufacturing and an enterprise on seaborne tourism expressed support to the governor’s investment thrust and urged environment authorities to take positive action on development, it added.

The provincial government has started site development works on a 286-hectare government reservation area near the foreshore land of the Lingayen Gulf that will be transformed into an Eco-Tourism Zone.

As work progressed, a developer for an 18-hole golf course within the Eco-Tourism Zone project discovered that a particular portion of the area is heavily silted with magnetite sand (black sand), as well as lahar and other unwanted elements in other parts.

A team of soil analysts confirmed that black sand will spoil any planting activity for turfgrass, including ornamental plants and trees needed in the development of the golf course.

Following advice of the soil analysts, the developer started extracting the black sand but subsequently replaced by garden soil.

But the mines agency stopped the extraction, as it recommended that the provincial government had to first secure a gratuitous permit.

Alvin Bigay, head of the provincial government’s housing project department, said the gratuitous permit was issued by MGB Regional Director Carlos Tayag said in a text message to the Inquirer that it was Governor Amado Espino Jr. who issued the gratuitous permit.

There is “no need anymore for a permit from our office. The gratuitous permit issued by the governor is co-terminus with the project of the provincial government. However, they are not exempted from securing other permits (like the ) environmental compliance certificate as regards the eco-tourism project,” Tayag said.