Father Soc: Stop black sand mining

By Yolanda Sotelo
DAGUPAN CITY – Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas advised the provincial government of Pangasinan to stop the black sand extraction in the coastal villages of Lingayen, and to remove all equipment and machineries used for the activities in the area.
Villegas made the advice during a dialogue between the residents of the four coastal villages of Lingayen, environment officials and provincial government officials, last February 15 at the Archbishop’s Palace.
Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan, along with his small delegation, represented the provincial government. On the other hand, Brgy. Kagawad Vicente Oliquino of Sabangan, Lingayen, led the complainants on the table. The group of complainants, including barangay officials, come from the four affected barangays of Sabangan, Estanza, Capandanan and Malimpec in Lingayen.
When informed by Baraan that the mining has stopped, Villegas said, “We are thankful (for that), but are there no more equipment there? If there is no more (black sand) extraction, why are the machineries there? For the sake of peace and so the people wont be afraid that you will resume again, can we remove the equipment?”
Baraan promised to remove the equipment “immediately.” He also committed that there will be no more black sand extraction in the area in the future.
Villegas said the equipment should be removed because “there will always be a threat that someday, there will be extraction again” and told the residents to be vigilant that the provincial government officials will be faithful to their commitment.
Baraan explained to the residents that it was not the provincial government’s intention to mine the area for magnetite, but to prepare it for eco-tourism projects.
Villegas told the residents to accept the fact that it was too late to return the mined area to its original situation as it is “already damaged.”
Then he advised the provincial officials to put garden soil in the area mined to make it ready for grasses and tree planting, “but there should be no more expansion of areas where magnetite will be removed (but) revise plan so there will be no more extraction.”
As for the eco-tourism project, he said before it proceeds, the provincial government should secure an environmental compliance certificate from the Environment Management Bureau.
“Without ECC, there should no action as regards environment,” Villegas said.

With regards to reparation issue, Villegas left the decision to the complainants if they will still file legal damages against the government for extracting black sand in their place. However, he warned them that if they were to file such complaints, they must do it not because of any personal reason but because they want to protect the environment and they want to have good governance.
At the end of the dialogue, Villegas summarized the common ground achieved in the discussion, “we want Lingayen to be better… we want the environment to be protected.”
He also advised each party to always resort to “dialogue, openness and truth” once misudertanding again arises. “The sooner we return to good will, the better for everyone,” he added.
The dialogue lasted for an hour and a half and was ended with a shaking of hands of both parties.