Magnetite Black Sand Mining Gonzaga Cagayan

DESTRUCTIVE BLACK SAND MINING IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF GONZAGA, ,

PROVINCE OF CAGAYAN

Submitted by:ESPERLITA S. GARCIAPresident, Gonzaga Alliance for Environmental Protection and Preservation (GAEPP)and Concerned Citizen of the Municipality of Gonzaga Cagayan Provinceand Concerned Citizen of the Municipality of Gonzaga , Cagayan ProvinceAuditor and Spokesperson, Federation of Anti-Mining Advocates of Cagayan (FAMAC)Email – [email protected] No. (0927) 704-4739

Gonzaga is a 1st class municipality located at the northeastern tip ofthe northeastern tip of Cagayan, bordered by the Municipality of Sta. Ana to the northeast, the M i i lit f StMunicipality of Sta. Teresita to the west, the Municipality of Lallo to the south. It is about 45 t e sout t s about 5kms from Aparri the nearest commercial center and 125 kms from the provincial capital ofthe provincial capital of Tuguegarao City and 607 kms from Manila.

FACTS: THE MUNICIPALITY OF GONZAGA

• Subdivided into 25 barangays • 11 barangays are located at the coastal areas. • 348 has. of coral reef.• Population of 35,424 population and 6,039 households• Land area of 66,743 hectares majority of which remains

underdeveloped • Primarily an agriculture municipality, more than half of

the work force employed primarily as either farmers or fishersfishers

• Approximately 5,500 has. of agri. Land and currently under production, the majority of which are dedicated to rice farming

Well Resource mining site started 2011started 2011

This way to Amunitan, Sta. Cruz, Baua, San Jose

Started Jan. 2011

12/22/2011 4Gonzaga Cagayan

Started 2006

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No public consultation conducted prior to the favorable endorsement by our Barangay Officials on the operation of Hua xia and Well Resourceour Barangay Officials on the operation of Hua xia and Well Resource Mining Corporation in Barangays Batangan, Calayan, Baua, Amunitan, Sta.Cruz and San Jose

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December 13, 2010 - The Provincial Mining Regulatory Board issued a resolution endorsing the small scale permit (magnetite sand) application of Hua Xia Mining Corporation in Brgy. Calayan, Gonzaga, Cagayan

December 21, 2010 - The provincial governor Alvaro Antonio issued a small scale permit to Hua Xia Mining Corporation to extract black sand at Barangay Calayan, Gonzaga, Cagayan

January 2011 - Start of operation of Hua Xia Mining and Trading Corporation

PHOTO TAKEN ON OCTOBER 26,2011 AT 6:00 AM-7:00 AM AT BRGY. BATANGAN AND CALAYAN

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February 2011 - Esperlita Garcia emailed a letter to President Benigno C. AquinoIII at <[email protected]>, and to DENR Sec. Ramon Paje and DENR Sec.Jesse Robredo, previously letters were posted on the President’s FB pagerequesting for stoppage of the two black sand mining operations.

March 12 and 19, 2011 - The local community members manifest their protestMarch 12 and 19, 2011 The local community members manifest their protestagainst the mining operation of Hua Xia and Lian Xing through a rally calling forthe stoppage of the mining operation

A il 30 2011 A ti i i ll hi d d b th fApril 30, 2011 – An anti-mining rally was hindered by the presence of more orless 50 uniformed and armed PNP officials and personnel with Gonzaga mayorCarlito F.Pentecostes Jr. and his body guards causing some human rightsviolations to Ms. Rochell Garma, David Suetos and other companions ., p

Mrs. Esperlita Garcia was subjected to series of harassment by MayorPentecostes due to her anti-mining advocacy.

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INSPECTION BY DENR AND REPORT CITING VIOLATIONS

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April 29, 2011 - Issuance of Memorandum to MGB and EMB Bureau Directorsby DENR Secretary Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo, Jr.

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PHOTO TAKEN ON OCTOBER 26 2011 AT 6:00 AM 7:00 AM PHOTO TAKEN ON OCTOBER 26,2011 AT 6:00 AM-7:00 AM AT BRGY. BATANGAN AND CALAYAN

EXTRACTING BLACK SAND WITHIN 200 METERS FROM THE MEAN LOW TIDE LEVEL ALONG THE BEACH AND WITHIN THE 100 METERS FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE WORKS AND STRUCTURES IS PROHIBITEDPROHIBITED.


PHOTOS OF BLACK SAND MINING TAKEN ON MAY 2011 AT GONZAGA, CAGAYAN


12/22/2011PHOTO TAKEN ON OCTOBER 26,2011 AT 6:00 AM-7:00 AM AT BRGY. BATANGAN AND CALAYAN

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On September 22, 2011, Roniel Byron Agno, 1 year and 11 months old, son of Ronilo and Lely Agno, fell into the deep open pit near their house in Barangay Batangan, Gonzaga, Cagayan.Batangan, Gonzaga, Cagayan.


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July 27, 2011 - Issuance of a resolution by Gonzaga Alliance for EnvironmentalProtection and Preservation Office (GAEPP) (No.3, Series of 2011) to requestDENR Sec. Ramon Paje for the immediate, full and strict implementation ofdirections provided in DENR Usec Adobo’s Memorandum of 29 April 2011, withcopies furnished to: His Excellency President of the Philippines, The HonorableSenate President The Honorable Chairman of the Senate Committee onSenate President, The Honorable Chairman of the Senate Committee onEnvironment, The Honorable Chairman of the House Committee on Environment,The Honorable Congressman of the First District of Cagayan, The Honorable DILGSecretary, The Honorable Provincial Governor and Vice Governor of Cagayan, TheDENR Region II Director, The Very Reverend Archbishop of Tuguegarao City, TheReverend Parish Priest of St Rock of Gonzaga, The Honorable Mayor and ViceMayor of Gonzaga, Cagayan, I-SAGIP, OUR VOICES.

The Huaxia Mining and TradingCorporation black sand mining site is

ithi id ti l f l d dwithin residential area, farmlands andbeaches of Gonzaga, Cagayan.

The Huaxia Mining and Trading Corporation black sandmining site is within residential area, farmlands andg ,beaches of Gonzaga, Cagayan.


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September 6, 2011 - THE DENR-MGB REGION 2 RECORDS UNITRECEIVED THE HARD COPY OF GAEPP RESOLUTION NO 3 SERIES 2011RECEIVED THE HARD COPY OF GAEPP RESOLUTION NO. 3 SERIES 2011EARNESTLY REQUESTING THE HONORABLE SECRETARY AND HON.USEC FOR FIELD OPERATIONS,DENR FOR THE IMMEDIATEIMPLEMENTATION OF THE DENR USEC FOR FIELD OPERATIONS DATED

SS O C O S GAPRIL 2011 ADDRESS TO THE BUREAU DIRECTORS MGB AND EMBREGION 2 TUGUEGARAO CITY.

September 9, 2011 - 1st endorsement by the office of refering to theSeptember 9, 2011 1st endorsement by the office of refering to theHonorable Ramon J. Paje DENR secretary for appropriate Action on therequest of assistance of Ms. Perlita Garcia regarding theNon-implementation of the memorandum from Atty. Ernesto Adobo Jr.

September 27, 2011 - The MGB issued a recommendation to theProvincial Governor to suspend the operation of Well Resource Miningcompany due to its violationsp y

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October 7, 2011 - A pastoral letter is issued by Archbishop Sergio L. Utleg, DD of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao not to allow or permit mining inDD of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao not to allow or permit mining in Cagayan.

November 20, 2011- Provincial prayer rally was held in Tuguegarao. On thei f Ch i t th Ki f C tioccasion of Christ the King of Creation.

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12/22/2011PHOTO TAKEN ON NOVEMBER 20,2011 PRAYER RALLY ON THE OCCASION OF CHRIST THE KING CELEBRATION IN TUGUEGARAO CAGAYAN 40

Until today, mining is on-going and it is expanding and getting worse…

in these situations, to whom shall we turn to when our rights and government policies were violated?

Education

Magnetite Black Sand Mining Gonzaga Cagayan