Philippines' Black Sand Mining Continues Amid Environmental and Security Concerns

Philippine Congress Representative Leila de Lima has called out the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for allowing the continuous mining of black sand across the country, citing ecological and security concerns. De Lima underscored the need for the agency to take a proactive stance against the practice, which she believes has disastrous effects on the environment and local communities. The issue has been a long-standing concern for environmental groups, with studies showing that black sand mining operations contribute to the depletion of fisheries, erosion of land, and severe flooding in coastal and riverside communities.

Key Takeaways:

• Representative Leila de Lima has filed House Bill (HB) No. 1843, which seeks to declare the mining of the country's black sand and other important minerals illegal, to address growing concerns about the activity's impact on local ecosystems.
• Studies by environmental groups in areas with black sand mining show that operations contributed to the depletion of fisheries, erosion of land, and severe flooding in coastal and riverside communities.
• The bill would require those seeking dredging permits to first present a prior certification from the Mining and Geosciences Bureau of the DENR on whether black sand or magnetites exist in the proposed mining sites.
• Those who continue to mine black sand along coastal areas and river deltas will face a prison sentence ranging from six years to 12 years, and a fine of between P1 million and P10 million.
• Progressive groups and fisherfolk organizations have opposed dredging operations along the Cagayan River, citing fears that dredging in the area actually targets black sand.
• The daily earnings of local fisherfolk in Aparri have dropped from around P7,000 to P9,000 to just P900 due to the impacts of black sand mining.

Statistics:

• 30-70 years predicted timeframe for areas mined for magnetite or black sand to sink and be underwater (Source: Explanatory note of HB No. 1843)
• P1 million - P10 million fine for those who continue to mine black sand along coastal areas and river deltas (Source: HB No. 1843)
• 6-12 years prison sentence for those who continue to mine black sand along coastal areas and river deltas (Source: HB No. 1843)
• P7,000 - P9,000 daily earnings of local fisherfolk in Aparri, Cagayan Valley (Source: Makabayan bloc)
• P900 current daily earnings of local fisherfolk in Aparri, Cagayan Valley (Source: Makabayan bloc)

Sources:

• Philippine Daily Inquirer
• Manila Times
• House Bill No. 1843
• Makabayan bloc
• Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya)
• ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro