Concern Inabangnons/                Bol-anons

            25 August 2022

 

Honorable Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado            

Provincial Governor                  Province of Bohol                Philippines

PETITION TO STOP RIVER SAND & GRAVEL MINING IN INABANGA RIVER

We the  undersigned residents of Inabanga would like to appeal to your good office to stop the  RIVER SAND & GRAVEL MINING once and for all in the Inabanga River by signing an executive order the principle of climate preservation and stopping the natural and freeding the resources  of the town.

Admittedly the resources of the river should have been enjoyed by the town residents.  But instead thru  collusion with the Barangay Chairmen, who also share in the income of the mining, the town dynasty has been able to preserve itself in power, due of the river.

Breeding  places of fish, mangroves and other aquatic habitats have been destroyed by such the continued mining of the sand and gravel in Barangay Saa, Barangay, Tambook and Barangay Napo respectively.

It also caused the erosion of its river banks and threatens the residents in case of big floods. If this happens again, God forbid, it would cause death to many of the residents in the environs of the river.

According to reports, the illegal operators, have wangled so much amount of money for them to operate the mining with permits from the Bureau of Mining.

INABANGA RIVER is included in  the WATERSHED RESERVATION under Proclamation NO. 468 dated September 26, 1994 and has been considered the LARGEST and  MOST IMPORTANT RIVER not only in Bohol but in the entire REGION 7 due to its high potential as a source of surface water for agricultural, household, commercial, industrial and recreational uses,  according to the DENR regional director, Emma E. Melana, of Region 7.   Therefore,  the ongoing  RIVER SAND and GRAVEL MINING in Inabanga River is not only  illegal but worst of all disastrous.

Clearly, the continued mining of the river destroys  the fishing industry because it destroys the 25 KILOMETER breeding grounds of fish,  farms and houses along river, livelihoods of Inabangnons and the environment of Inabanga in general.

The river can be rehabilitated, its breeding areas could be developed by planting MANGROVE TREES so there could be a potential supply of crabs, shrimps, lobster,  fish, and seashells in the area. Tilapia and bangus can also be integrated into the river. It can also be a sanctuary for different kinds of birds for Ecotourism

Marami ang makapag hanapbuhay kay mahimo nga palaisdaan sa mga pobre natong mga Inabangnon ug possible TOURIST DESTINATION nga makahatag ug daghang sustainable nga trabaho ug daghang pagkaon.

Among gihangyo nga unta undangon na ang nag padayon nga RIVER SAND AND GRAVEL MINING, nga ang nag pahimos lamang ang naa sa gahum.

Sincerely Yours,                              Concern Inabangnons /          Bol-anons                               

 

MAY GOD BLESS INABANGNONS  & ALL BOHOLANOS.