On December 7, 2020, Inquirer released that DENR had green lighted the first large scale off-shore mining in the Philippines. This is set to start in January 2021. Affected towns and communities were not consulted.
Historically, offshore mining scrape and damage the sea floor, the ships will cause removal of sediments, and scraping chunks of the seabed DESTROYING SEA HABITATS AND LOSS OF SPECIES IMPACTING PERMANENT DAMAGE TO AN ALREADY FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM!

Mining will also release toxic chemicals that will inadvertently affect not only sea-life but will impact the water supply of the community!

More importantly, the potential harmful effects of this large operation to the community is immeasurable. Cagayan Valley is already prone to flooding, as evidenced by recent aftermath of typhoons in the province. We saw loss of lives, homes and livelihood. THIS MINING OPERATION WILL FURTHER INCREASE OUR RISKS FOR FLASHFLOODS DUE TO LOSS OF SEABED. SEVERAL COASTAL TOWNS ARE AFFECTED. THE LOSS OF LIVES WILL BE UNIMAGINABLE.

WE AS CAGAYANOS do not want to be the next environmental disaster! Please keep in mind the tragedies of:

Marcopper/Marinduque 1996
Compostela Valley 2016
Itogon, Benguet 2018

Just name a few!

WE AS CAGAYANOS  appeal to the concerned government agencies, the President and the local government officials to be proactive and put a stop to this large scale offshore mining! Again, our lives, livelihood and future of our children are at stake here! WE MUST ACT NOW BEFORE TRAGEDY HITS! 

We are also appealing to environmental groups, our fellow Filipinos and friends. Please support this movement and share! Filipino lives are affected! Our country’s pristine environment is at stake here, let us work together to stop this! 

#cagayanosagainstblacksandmining #notoblacksandmining #DENR