Presented by DEFEND ILOCOS AGAINST MINING PLUNDER

during the multi-sectoral dialogue on magnetite (blacksand) mining in the Province of Ilocos Sur organized by the

Social Action Center-Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia on July 5, 2013 at the Aula Nuestra Senora de Caridad, Vigan City

This presentation was made possible by the joint documentation, research and sacrifice by the residents of affected communities through

the guidance and encouragement by the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia, Defend Ilocos Against Mining Plunder and other concerned

non-government organizations and institutions.

STRIPPING OUR SAND,

DAMNING OUR FUTURE LEGAL ISSUES & CONCERNS ON BLACKSAND MINING IN ILOCOS SUR

"You shall not pollute the land in which you live... you shall not defile the land in which you live, in which I also dwell.“ Numbers 35:33-34

Ilocos Sur sits astride a major typhoon path in Northern Luzon – UNP-NIGS identified Vigan City and its neighboring towns vulnerable to same flooding experienced in Cagayan de Oro.

According to Philvocs and Coordinating Committee for Geosciences Programmes in East and Southeast Asia – the entire Ilocos coast is highly vulnerable to coastal erosion, liquefaction, and 10 meters high tsunami. Greenpeace studies, Ilocos Sur falls within the “high” category for climate change related disaster, topping the list of vulnerable area from one meter rise of the sea level with 7, 808, 400 square meters of land to be affected. Same study indicated that the province is among the Top 10 most vulnerable province to climate disaster with very low ability to prepare and provide mitigating measures.

HOW FRAGILE AND VULNERABLE IS THE PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR?

PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT & PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLAN The primary technical guide and vital tool towards the development of the province as well as defines its overall vision for the people.

3.1.4 Mineral Resources (p. 41) Irresponsible extraction of magnetite sand may be a threat to coastal areas hence proper consultation and monitoring shall be conducted before and during extraction activities …

Mineral Resources (p. 57) Mining along coastal areas shall likewise be monitored as they also aggravate erosion unless protective mechanism and safety nets in the form of seawall and permanent dikes are installed and constructed.

Of the 35 mining tenement covering the province, 11, including 2 ISAG permit (31.43%) are for magnetite sand exploration and extraction distributed in the 17 coastal municipalities and two cities in Ilocos Sur are for ironsand extraction

STRIPPING OUR SAND

PRIMARILY COMPOSED OF

The most common iron ore. Iron liberated from the ore is usually used to make steel.

very low capital and operating cost usually contain gold, vanadium, titanium & other rare metals

WHAT IS SO PRECIOUS ABOUT IRON SAND?

COMMERCIALLY PROFITABLE

Top officials in the province defended the extraction of black sand along the coastal areas here, saying its (extraction) has been approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and concerned local government units (LGUs). … the requirements being imposed by authorities to the operators had been approved by DENR and the LGUs … Manila Bulletin, 4-30-2013 issue Published online by Yahoo!

TRUE… but then again, there are laws to be followed

under the mining law, which the mining companies violated. Furthermore, two mining companies are operating in the province without the necessary permit.

COMPANY LOCATION AREA (HAS) COMMODIT

Y TYPE & STATUS

OF PERMIT

Altamina Exploration & Resources, Incorporated.

Entire coastal area of Ilocos Sue except Sta. Lucia, Sta. Cruz & Tagudin.

5610.49 Magnetite sand

Approved FTAA dated 06-29-2010

Collosal MiningCorporation Sta. Catalina, Vigan City & Caoayan

6426.99 Magnetite sand

Approved EP

Hong Ze Mining Company San Sebastian, San Vicente 19.8970 Magnetite sand

Approved MPP dated 10-09-2012

Isla Verde Mining Company Rancho, Santa dredged materials

Magnetite sand

Approved MPP dated 10-10-2012

I.O. & G. Processing Corporation

Sidaoen, Sta. Cruz dredged materials

Magnetite sand

Approved MPP dated 11-06-2012

R & D Properties Development, Incorporated

Tagudin, Sta. Cruz, etc. 4425.27 Magnetite sand

EPA under evaluation

Grand Total Exploration & Mining Company

The entire coastline and offshore areas of Ilocos Sur

33, 000.00 Magnetite sand

EPA under evaluation

Fortune Allied Philippines, Incorporated

Sta. Cruz 1161.80 Magnetite sand

EPA under evaluation

MGB record as of May 30, 2013

NO PERMIT issued to Wellresource and An Bang Mining – both operating in San Sebastian, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur. Wellresource is the same company in Caoayan and operating in Santa Ana & Aparri, Cagayan, also being protested and blamed by the residents for the massive erosion and flooding.

Chapter IX Section 55 of the Mining Act of 1995 states that no one can engage in mineral processing without first securing an MPP from the MGB.

Wellresource in Caparacadan, Caoayan An Bang Mining in San Sebastian, SV

Courtesy of Defend Ilocos Against Mining Plunder

Area covered by ISAG Permit issued to Jimmy Agudo – Hong Ze Mining

Area covered by ISAG Permit issued to Louis Santos– Wellresource

Actual site of industrial sand extraction for magnetite

Actual area being mined by Wellresource /An Bang/Hong Ze - within 200 meters no-mining zone under RA7942.

Actual area being mined by Wellresource - within 200 meters no-mining zone under RA7942.

Area covered by Temporary ISAG Permit issued to Wellresource (expired)

AREAS CLOSED TO MINING DENR Administrative Order 2007-15:

Section 15.4 Offshore areas within five hundred (500) meters from the mean low tide level and onshore areas within two hundred (200) meters of the mean low tide level.

Wellresource in Caparacadan, Caoayan Hong Ze Mining, Tamorong, Sta. Catalina

Courtesy of SAC-Nueva Segovia

FAILED TO CONDUCT PUBLIC CONSULTATION EMB Memorandum Circular 005-2006 Mineral processing operation that has an annual capacity of 70, 000MT input which falls under a Category A project or Environmentally Critical Projects requires public consultation.

Wellresource in Caparacadan, Caoayan

800 TPD = 292, 000 MT annually

Not only is Wellresource operating illegally, the company also lied to MGB I regarding its operation in San Sebastian, San Vicente.

Excerpts from the confiscation order issued by the MGB

Clearly, Mr. Louis Santos paid an extraction fee in behalf of Wellresource extracted in San Sebastian inDec 2012 and again in Apr 2013.

ILLEGAL ORE TRANSPORT DENR Administrative Order 96-40 as amended

Section 132. Transport of all minerals and mineral products… must be accompanied by an Ore Transport Permit issued by the Regional Director or duly authorized representative

Wellresource in Caparacadan, Caoayan

Courtesy of Bumangon ka Ilocos Sur

In December 2012, three vessels managed by Isla Verde Mining & Development Corporation were stopped by the Phl. Coast Guard for failure to present the necessary papers for their magnetite cargo and extraction of the coast of Caoayan. The crew were only able to produce an ECC issued for the dredging of the Abra River to the provincial government.

Despite the repeated issuance of Cease-and-Desist Order (CDO) and National PNP Directive, NO DECISIVE ACTIONS WERE TAKEN by the MGB, PENRO, local government nor by the PNP to immediately halt the mining operations.

WHAT IS MORE BOTHERING IS THE AUTHORITIES SEEM TO TOLERATE THE ILLEGAL & PLUNDEROUS ACT OF THESE COMPANIES…

CASESIN POINT:

Wellresource were able to put up a facility without public consultation and operate within a no-mine zone despite the absence of an Industrial Sand & Gravel or Mineral Processing Permits in an area 10 minutes away from a PNP Maritime Outpost (Mindoro).

In fact, Wellresource was able to transport a total of 7500 cu. m. of magnetite concentrates in Dec. 18, 2012 and April 2, 2013. This was officially allowed by the provincial government collecting P375, 000.00 as extraction fee.

Wellresource has been ordered to Cease-and-Desist its operation in Jan 28, Mar 26 and May 30 yet the company continue to extract and transport iron ore even in broad daylight and transact with the provincial government.

"Bakit di nila ikwestion yong DENR na mas higit na nakakaalam kung masama o hindi ang pag-alis sa mga black sand sa karagatan; di naman sila (oppositors) experts" Manila Bulletin, 4-30-2013 issue Published online by Yahoo!

LET US LOOK WHAT EXPERTS HAVE TO SAY ON MINING MAGNETITE FROM THE COASTAL AREA…

DIR. LEO JASARENO Mines and Geosciences Bureau Department of Environment and Natural Resources During the March 8, 2013 Dialogue at DENR Main Office, Q.C.

The Ilocos coast is considered to be very prone to erosion making it unsuitable to mining.

Offshore extraction is not allowed since studies are still being undertaken and no clear guidelines.

All magnetite mining operations in Ilocos Sur are illegal since those who hold permits are violating provisions stated in the mining law.

A study conducted by University of the Philippines-National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS). Commissioned by the Province of La Union.

ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIVE MISSION Center for Environmental Concerns

MAGNETITE MINING IN CAGAYAN MINING INCREASES THE VULNERABILITY TO EROSION. 1. Destruction of Sand Dunes. Destroying

only small parts can already have a huge impact on bordering areas, as wind and water using this channel can widen it further.

2. Disruption of coastal sediment budget. Mining of beach sand can worsen the problem of coastal erosion in the area by disrupting the coastal sediment budget. The operations directly remove sand from the system, and/or deprive areas in the downcurrent direction of their sand input.

DR. EMELINA G. REGIS

Director, Institute for Envt’l Conservation & Research, Ateneo de Naga University When magnetite is removed, the stability of the shore is disrupted resulting in the release of soil particles that causes siltation of the river and the sea. Such particles are a mixture of sand, silt and clay and when stirred up silt and clay are suspended in water…. Aside from offshore mining at the seacoast, Cagayan river is also being dredged for magnetite. With various factors at work, i.e. coastal erosion, excavation and removal of sand, and the retreat of coastline, this kind of mining aggravated the situation of the local communities in Cagayan. They have now become vulnerable to typhoons because of the destruction of the natural coastlines.

IMPACTS & DANGERS CITED BY ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS +

DISASTER VULNERABILITY OF ILOCOS SUR – WHAT DO WE HAVE TO GAIN FROM THE MINING OPERATION?

As of May 7, 2013 our Provincial Treasury were able to collect P625, 000.00 from the extracted volume of 12, 500 cu. m. of magnetite concentrates from San Sebastian. Temporary jobs for those working in the mine sites since after extracting all the magnetite the companies will again find another place to plunder. We have about 600 sq. m. of coconut (seedling) covered beach in Caparacadan, Caoayan.

"I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and you made my inheritance detestable." (Jeremiah 2:7)