DESTRUCTIVE BLACK SAND MINING IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF GONZAGA, PROVINCE OF CAGAYAN Submitted by: ESPERLITA S. GARCIA President, Gonzaga Alliance for Environmental Protection and Preservation (GAEPP) and Concerned Citizen of the Municipality of Gonzaga , Cagayan Province Auditor and Spokesperson, Federation of Anti-Mining Advocates of Cagayan (FAMAC)

1. DESTRUCTIVE BLACK SAND MINING
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF GONZAGA,
,
PROVINCE OF CAGAYAN
Submitted by:
ESPERLITA S. GARCIA
President, Gonzaga Alliance for Environmental Protection and Preservation (GAEPP)
and Concerned Citizen of the Municipality of Gonzaga , Cagayan Province
Auditor and Spokesperson, Federation of Anti-Mining Advocates of Cagayan (FAMAC)
Email – perlinggarcia60@yahoo.com
Mobile No. (0927) 704-4739

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

3. 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
fishers
• Approximately 5,500 has. of agri. Land and currently
under production, the majority of which are dedicated to
rice farming

4. Well Resource
mining site
started 2011
This way to Amunitan, Sta. Started
Cruz, Baua, San Jose
Jan. 2011
Started 2006
Gonzaga Cagayan 12/22/2011 4

5. December 8, 2010 - T B C
W
H M C
December 9, 2010 - T S B
HUA XIA B B C
No public consultation conducted prior to the favorable endorsement by
our Barangay Officials on the operation of Hua xia and Well Resource
Mining Corporation in Barangays Batangan, Calayan, Baua, Amunitan,
Sta.Cruz and San Jose

6. 12/22/2011 6

7. 12/22/2011 7

8. 12/22/2011 8

9. 12/22/2011 9

10. 12/22/2011 10

11. 12/22/2011 11

12. 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

13. 12/22/2011 13

14. 12/22/2011 14

15. 12/22/2011 15

16. 12/22/2011 16

17. 12/22/2011 17

18. February 2011 - Esperlita Garcia emailed a letter to President Benigno C. Aquino
III at <op@president.gov.ph>, and to DENR Sec. Ramon Paje and DENR Sec.
Jesse Robredo, previously letters were posted on the President’s FB page
requesting for stoppage of the two black sand mining operations.
March 12 and 19, 2011 - The local community members manifest their protest
against the mining operation of Hua Xia and Lian Xing through a rally calling for
the stoppage of the mining operation
April 30,
A il 30 2011 – A anti-mining rally was hi d
An ti i i ll hindered b th presence of more or
d by the f
less 50 uniformed and armed PNP officials and personnel with Gonzaga mayor
Carlito F.Pentecostes Jr. and his body guards causing some human rights
violations to Ms. Rochell Garma, David Suetos and other companions .
, p
Mrs. Esperlita Garcia was subjected to series of harassment by Mayor
Pentecostes due to her anti-mining advocacy.

19. INSPECTION BY DENR AND REPORT IING VIOLATINS
CT O
A 5 201 I DENR SECU F O S MGB
EMB R R 02 G
E G
B C G C
April 29, 2011 - Issuance of Memorandum to MGB and EMB Bureau Directors
by DENR Secretary Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo, Jr.

20. 12/22/2011 20

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

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

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

24. PHOTO TAKEN ON OCTOBER 26,2011 AT 6:00
AM-7:00 AM AT BRGY. BATANGAN AND 12/22/2011 24
CALAYAN

25. PHOTO TAKEN ON OCTOBER 26,2011 AT 6:00
AM-7:00 AM AT BRGY. BATANGAN AND 12/22/2011 25
CALAYAN

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

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

28. PHOTO TAKEN ON OCTOBER 26,2011 AT 6:00
AM-7:00 AM AT BRGY. BATANGAN AND 12/22/2011 28
CALAYAN

29. 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.
PHOTO TAKEN ON OCTOBER 26,2011 AT 6:00
AM-7:00 AM AT BRGY. BATANGAN AND 12/22/2011 29
CALAYAN

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

31. The Huaxia Mining and Trading
Corporation black sand mining site is
within residential area, f
ithi id ti l farmlands and
l d d
beaches of Gonzaga, Cagayan.

32. The Huaxia Mining and Trading Corporation black sand
mining site is within residential area, farmlands and
g ,
beaches of Gonzaga, Cagayan.
PHOTO TAKEN ON OCTOBER 26,2011 AT 6:00
AM-7:00 AM AT BRGY. BATANGAN AND 12/22/2011 32
CALAYAN

33. PHOTO TAKEN ON OCTOBER 26,2011 AT 6:00
AM-7:00 AM AT BRGY. BATANGAN AND 12/22/2011 33
CALAYAN

34. PHOTO TAKEN ON OCTOBER 26,2011 AT 6:00
AM-7:00 AM AT BRGY. BATANGAN AND 12/22/2011 34
CALAYAN

35. September 6, 2011 - THE DENR-MGB REGION 2 RECORDS UNIT
RECEIVED THE HARD COPY OF GAEPP RESOLUTION NO 3 SERIES 2011
NO.
EARNESTLY REQUESTING THE HONORABLE SECRETARY AND HON.
USEC FOR FIELD OPERATIONS,DENR FOR THE IMMEDIATE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DENR USEC FOR FIELD OPERATIONS DATED
APRIL 2011 ADDRESS TO THE BUREAU DIRECTORS MGB AND EMB
SS O C O S G
REGION 2 TUGUEGARAO CITY.
September 9, 2011 - 1st endorsement by the office of refering to the
Honorable Ramon J. Paje DENR secretary for appropriate Action on the
request of assistance of Ms. Perlita Garcia regarding the
Non-implementation of the memorandum from Atty. Ernesto Adobo Jr.
September 27, 2011 - The MGB issued a recommendation to the
Provincial Governor to suspend the operation of Well Resource Mining
company due to its violations
p y

36. 12/22/2011 36

37. 12/22/2011 37

38. 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 in
Cagayan.
November 20, 2011- Provincial prayer rally was held in Tuguegarao. On the
occasion of Ch i t th Ki of C
i f Christ the King f Creation.
ti
D 1 201 A 68 B G C
R
50
P I S A C

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

42. 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?