14 Sep 3 tons of Black Sand Confiscated by CLENRO in CDO
On September 12, Monday, 3 tons or equivalent to 30,000 kilos of black sand were confiscated by the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO) at a checkpoint close to Barangay Pigsag-an.
The black sand might be delivered in Cagayan de Oro City last week for refinement, CLENRO chief Edwin Dael said.
This is an evidence that mining operations in the hinterlands are still functioning.
Dael stated, “Kining black sand dalhon nila sa processing plant nga naa daw dinhi sa syudad and then make a gold, copper, or even silver out of it. Ang processing plant ato na kining gi-track diri sa city.”
He added, “Sa pag-extract niini, gubaon nila ang bukid, maghimo sila ug initial nga pag-segregate sa yuta ug minerals mao nang lubog kaayo ang suba kay ang yuta paingon man sa atong suba. Three tons is equal to 30,000 kilos, kung ingani kadaghan ilang makuha, ingani sad kadako ang ilang na-cause sa damage sa atong kabukiran.”
They have also noticed the color of the Cagayan River has changed, it became opaque and turbid.
Dael said, “We thought it was just the rain but naka-observe gyud mi nga lahi ang iyang color. And then we found out that ang illegal miners, ilang ga i-timing ang operations basta ulan para dili mi makabantay.”
Dael said that they are speculating on some barangay officials who could possibly be protecting these illegal actions, stating that rather than receiving support from the officials, they were threatened of ‘destroying their livelihood’.
Yet, there are still some lumad residents in the barangays who are concerned and are reporting these illegal activities.
“Ang mga lumad, corrupted na sila, pati atong mga farmers gyud nga tinuod maglisod. Ang mga financers lang ang nangakwartahan ingani na negosyo,” Dael stated.
To reduce the market in selling alloys, Dael said they will pursue illegal gold buyers. As he spoke, “Isunod namo ang mga buyers sa gold kay identified naman sila. Tirahan napud nato nga muhinay ang ilang market niini.”
Dael stated that apart from consulting the issue to the City Council, they are also going to report the condition to Secretary Gina Lopez of Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR).
News Source: Sun.Star
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