1.2 million tons of magnetite sand to be mined yearly along San Pedro Bay by one mining company

By SAGUPA-SB
June 9, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Negative effects of mining on the society was never part of the discussions by mining companies especially at the affected municipalities along San Pedro Bay, which is from Tacloban til Abuyog, Leyte. For instance, the spokesperson of the Northern Access Mining Inc. (NAMI) declared their target of mining 1.2 million tons of magnetite sand next year.

“Our environment, if damaged, will take decades or even centuries to replace what have been lost, compared to destroying it, will take only several years. Thus, how much more million will it be worth if billions had been lost in effect to the society now and the generations to come?” informed Nestor Lebico, Secretary-General of SAGUPA-SB.

Many mining companies are interested on the whole region, especially in Leyte at the part San Pedro that is rich in magnetite sand and black sand, basic materials for steel.

One of the big mining companies is Pan Asia Mining Limited that was granted with the right to mine approximately 41,093.85 hectares of offshore – from the shore and sea of Basey, Marabut, Samar, Tacloban, Tanauan, Tolosa, Dulag, Mayorga, MacArthur and Abuyog, Leyte.

“These big mining companies are like leeches that suck our richness and like alligators and sharks who want to dominate and eat all that benefits the majority.” added Lebico.