Interview With Mayor Ismael Tumaru

(PIA Press Release, January 6, 2010, Tuguegarao City)  In an effort to further boost the business and tourism industry in this northern tip of Luzon, the municipality of Aparri, Cagayan is firm in its goal to complete the rehabilitation of its seaport until 2015.

In an interview with Mayor Ismael Tumaru over Tipon-Tipan sa PIA program, he said he is optimistic that all the port facilities are already operational by 2015.

Mayor Tumaru said with the rehabilitation of the seaport, more investors and tourists will come to their place, additional businesses will be established, and more jobs will be created. “It’s a big contribution to the economy of our municipality,” he added.

Tumaru said the government will not spend for the rehabilitation because the development of the seaport would be undertaken on a build-operate transfer (BOT) scheme by a Taiwanese – owned company.

An estimated budget of 50 million US dollar is needed to complete the rehabilitation.

The town’s chief said the port’s existing pier which is already being used as basketball court will be dredged.

“There is a need to remove the accumulated sand to maintain adequate depth for safe and efficient vessel operations,” Tumaru stressed.

“The dredged materials will be used in the reclamation of the port and in the construction of other port facilities,” Tumaru added.

Aside from the seaport rehabilitation project, the municipal government of Aparri is also aiming for the completion of their airport rehabilitation by the end of this year.

Tumaru said the existing 600 meter airport will be expanded to 1,000 meters. (TCB/PIA 2)

Aparri Airport in Maura

On May 11, 2009 during the Fiesta of Aparri, the Maura Aparri Airport was re-opened.  Cyclone Airways made the symbolic inaugural flight to our very own airport.

Mayor Denies Aparri As Source Of Magnetite Sand

(PIA Press Release, January 5, 2010, Tuguegarao City)  Mayor Ismael Tumaru of Aparri, Cagayan has explained that the magnetite iron sand loaded in the capsized vessel off the coast of Claveria town did not come from his municipality as being perceived by his constituents and other officials.

Tumaru said the ill-fated MV Namyang 8 was docked only in Aparri port, the nearest port from Catayauan, Lal-lo, Cagayan to where the black sand were extracted.

"May I please clear that the capsized vessel was only anchored in Aparri port and the black sand that caused its sinking did not come from my town, it came from Lal-lo," Tumaru said.

The issue became controversial when the Korean vessel MV Namyang 8 capsized few hours after it left Aparri port before New Year. Based on the police report, the ship capsized due to the weight of the magnetite sand which was mixed with water when the ship had encountered big waves.

Mayor Tumaru also showed the letter sent to him by the corporate secretary of San You Philippines Mining Trade Inc., Florante Paat, asking for the consideration of the mayor for the temporary anchorage of 2 barges being utilized in the loading of the magnetite iron sand from Catayauan, Lal-lo to a newly arrived cargo vessel "Namyang 8".

"This letter proves that the magnetite sand loaded in Namyang 8 came from Lal-lo and not extracted within our coastal zones", Tumaru added.

Tumaru further stated that there is no dredging operation in his area of responsibility.

On the other hand, Lal-lo Mayor Maria Olivia B. Pascual confirmed that the black sand came from her municipality but she cleared that the sand were old stock, extracted before the issuance of cease and disease order (CDO) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

"The sand was old stock and it was being processed here before the issuance of a CDO from DENR… no mining or dredging operation now in Lal-lo", Pascual said.

She further explained that they allowed the transport of the sand because it was being permitted by the Philippine Port Authority (PPA), Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the taxes were already paid to the barangay, municipal and provincial government.

Pascual stated that it was extracted from a dredging activity done before the issuance of a CDO, when the Sangguniang Bayan of Lal-lo approved the conduct of dredging operations to clear the waterways in the Cagayan River as one way to resolve flooding in the area.

She further cleared that 40 percent of the proceeds went to the barangay, 30 percent to the municipality and 30 percent to the province.

The Mayor also appealed to some politicians not to add political color to the issue at hand.(Oliver B./PIA 2)

Nominations for Officers and Directors of Aparri International, Inc.

Dear Fellow Aparrianos,

We would like to remind you of the forthcoming Valentine's affair and elections on February 6, 2010 at Normandie Casino. You are all enjoined to attend and participate in this undertaking in order to ensure a smooth transition of affairs for the new set of officers to be elected , and at the same time enjoy the night with ballroom dancing.

We are also requesting you to fill in the attached nomination form with your favorite candidates to be sent or emailed to Elnora Florendo soonest, preferably before month-end.

Your usual prompt attention and cooperation will be very much appreciated.

Sincerely yours,
Joe B. Tan


Attached letter:
Dear Fellow Aparrianos:

The term of office for the current officers and directors of Aparri International, Inc. is coming to an end. So we will be having an election on February 6th in conjunction with our annual meeting and Valentine’s Day Dance.

This letter is to solicit nominations from you for our next set of officers and board members. Please fill out the below form to make your nominations. You can then return it to the Secretary and Nominations Committee chairpersons. Alternatively, you can print out the form and fill it in by hand and then mail it to the current Secretary at:

Elnora Florendo
1658 W. 153rd Street
Gardena, CA 90247

After your nominations are received, the Nominations Committee will compile them, make further nominations if needed, confirm that your nominees will accept the nomination and serve, and present the final compilation to the Board of Directors who will then charge the Elections Committee with drawing up a slate and conducting the elections. The elections will take place at the general meeting on February 6, 2010. A more detailed notice of elections will be sent out at a later date.

Nominations are for:
President
First Vice President
Second Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Auditor
West Area Representative
East Area Representative
Other Area Representative

Mayoral Candidate for Aparri (May 2010) - Dr. Jessica Romero

(Essey) Hello to all my co-Aparrianos. Hope everyone is well.

I just want to inform every Aparrianos or to anyone who’s not aware yet about Doctor Jessica Romero that she is running for Mayor in our beloved town. It is time for a change and I believed that she’s going to be a very good leader. I urge everyone who’s voting at this time to vote wisely and do not vote for someone who’s buying their vote. “Huwag tayong masilaw sa pera” na ipinamimigay nila and for sure at the end kayo din ang magdusa. Napakatagal na silang nakaupo bilang namumuno sa town natin pero walang pagbabago.

Let’s give Doctor J. Romero our support to become the next Mayor in Aparri, Cagayan. “VOTE FOR HER”!!! For all of us hoping to see changes for their next visit like me, I would love to see a new and progressive APARRI, CAGAYAN. GOD BLESS US ALL!!! I am sorry kung meron man akong nasagasahan.

More Evidence of Black Sand Mining in Cagayan

(Philippine Daily Inquirer, Melvin Gascon, Jan. 5, 2010) This vessel MV Nam Yang 8 ran aground near Barangay Balaoi in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. The 3,400 ton vessel manned by 22 North Korean crewmen carried 2,800 metric ton of magnetite sands claimed to be originating from Cagayan.

Mario Ancheta, Cagayan Valley director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, stood by his earlier statement that the Nam Yang 8 shipment was covered by a valid export permit issued by the provincial government, a claim that was denied by Gov. Alvaro Antonio.

Crew members of MV Nam Yang 8 abandoned ship after it listed off the shores of Claveria, Cagayan, on Jan. 1. They reached the village of Taggat Norte in Claveria aboard a life boat.

“We have gotten reports that an immigration official in Ilocos Norte got a call from this politician from Cagayan to transfer custody of the Koreans to immigration officers in Cagayan, apparently because they have better control of things if they are in Cagayan,” said Fr. Edgar Agcaoili, parish priest of Baggao town.

A report sent by Claveria police officials to Chief Supt. Roberto Damian, Cagayan Valley police director, showed that Paulino Verzosa, acting alien control officer of the Bureau of Immigration in Laoag City, gave up custody of 10 of the 22 North Koreans on the intercession of Eva Antiporda, alien control officer of Aparri in Cagayan.

Damian declined to answer questions on the North Koreans’ status or if the shipment of about 2,800 metric tons of magnetite was covered by documents. Damian said the police have been providing security to the North Koreans, not as a special case, but merely as a routine procedure.

“Those are matters that are the concern of other government agencies. Our concern is mainly security,” Damian said.

For more details, please visit this link on the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

So what are the concerns of other government agencies in Cagayan on magnetite mining? Are these government agencies still issuing export documents to continue mining black sands in Cagayan? Are these government agencies in Cagayan providing preferential treatment to people engaged in black sand mining?