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Monday, November 12, 2012

Black Sand Mining Stops in Cagayan

Philippine Daily Inquirer
11:12 pm | Monday, October 29th, 2012

BUGUEY, Cagayan—Magnetite mining operations in this town and in nearby coastal areas have stopped after agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided a mining site in nearby Aparri town and arrested 14 of its Chinese workers last week, an official of an environmental group said.

Art Alariao, president of the Federation of Environmental Advocates of Cagayan (Feac), said heavy equipment belonging to two Chinese firms had stopped digging along beaches here while trucks had suspended delivery of processed magnetite or black sand to Port Irene in Santa Ana town.

Feac is an alliance of people’s organizations opposing black sand extraction and mining activities in the province’s northern coastal towns.

“We have received information that the Chinese were alarmed by the NBI raid, so they are probably playing it safe for now,” Alariao said.

Before the raid was conducted on Oct. 22, he said, black sand extraction was continuing despite stoppage orders issued by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the provincial government.

Two Chinese firms, San You Philippines Mining Trade Ltd. and Lutra Inc., operate in at least 10 coastal villages here.

“We were given assurance that the NBI will stay here for as long as it takes in order to stop these illegal mining operations. We have been used to the strategy of these mining companies: they resume operations the moment law enforcers leave,” Alariao said.

Residents in Aparri and Gonzaga towns also noticed the absence of mining activities since the arrest of the Chinese workers.

Trucks loaded with magnetite have not been seen plying the Dugo-San Vicente highway, the main road to Port Irene which traverses the towns of Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga and Santa Ana. Before, the residents said, as many as 40 trucks would pass the area daily.

“The transport has stopped but the processing of black sand continued. From a distance, we can see their machines working—separating the magnetite from the sand and disposing of their wastes in ponds,” said Rochelle Garma, president of  Gonzaga Alliance of Environmental Preservation and Protection.

Hector Eduard Geologo, NBI regional director for Cagayan Valley, could not say if there are upcoming operations against black sand mining operators in Aparri and nearby areas. “[The NBI] central office is still evaluating the results of the previous operation,” he said.

He was referring to the arrest of the 14 Chinese in Barangay Dodan in Aparri. The workers, who included five engineers and a geologist, were found to have entered the country illegally and were said to be lacking work permits.

They were charged before the Department of Justice in Tuguegarao City on Wednesday with violation of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. They were released on Thursday after posting bail of P2,500 each.

Gonzaga Mayor Carlito Pentecostes Jr. said he had asked the Chinese companies to check the presence of illegal workers in their roster. “They assured me that their workers have been issued all the necessary papers,” he said. Melvin Gascon, Inquirer Northern Luzon

Aparrianos International, Inc. : November 17, 2012 Meeting

Please be informed of the next monthly meeting on November 17, 2012 Saturday at the residence of Boysie and Zeny Bermejo with address of 3923 Ackerman Drive., Los Angeles, CA 90065 and tel. no. (323) 256-0887.  Ms. Dometila Chua del Valle will be in town for the Thanksgiving holiday and will grace the meeting.

Thanks.

Elnora L. Florendo

Aparri International, Inc. : October 6, 2012 Monthly Meeting

Venue:  Elnora Florendo's residence at 1658 W. 153rd St., Gardena, CA 90247
Time started:  1:30 pm

Attendees:  Daniel Singson
            Boysie Bermejo
            Zeny Bermejo
            Elnora Florendo
            Fe Reyes
            Mercy Tumaru Go

Topics discussed and resolved:

1.  The group had resolved to pay Danny Singson  $120 for the reimbursement of the money used to pay extra for the tickets that had been rejected and re-done and $20 for stamps to be used in distributing invitations and tickets.

2.  Possible venue for the X-mas party:  
  •      Mayflower Restaurant,  Los Angeles, CA - Boysie and Zeny Bermejo to inquire as to availability and price. 
  •       Celebrity Plaza - c/o Jason Sacramento to inquire as to availability and price.
  •        Normandie Casino - Elnora Florendo to inquire as to the availability and price.

3.  The group has to send 2 or 3 people to attend the seminar  c/o  Jason Sacramento to help in an L.A. mission to help feed the poor.

4.  The organization will donate $100 to Aliw Awards c/o Alice Reyes.  Gin Cababa will personally hand the money to Ms. Reyes in the Philippines sometime this month or November.

5.  Mr. Gin Cababa will have a meeting with Aparri International, Inc. Manila Representatives  Mrs. Veronica Lansi Co, Ms. Rowena Azurin, Ms. Sonja Torio and Ms. Chinit Alameda in Manila sometime this month or November.

6.  Mr. Cababa will also talk to Mr. Rabago in Aparri and give him tickets for the Grand Reunion.  Aparrianos can purchase tickets at the Rabago Hotel,  Aparri, Cagayan.

7.  Mr. Cababa to discuss price of tickets for those coming from the Philippines to join the Grand Reunion in Las Vegas on July 13, 2013.

8.  The group will be issuing receipts for any money received, especially cash. We would like to advise members, family and friends to pay in check payable to Aparri International, Inc. and if paying in cash,  pls. ask for a receipt.

9.  Elnora Florendo, Boysie Bermejo and Janette Macatiag will go to the bank to change the bank name of the organization from The Grand Reunion to Aparri International, Inc. and change the signatories to Elnora and Janette and if possible to include Boysie too.    Every meeting,  the bank's financial statement should be presented to the members per Treasurer's report.  Auditor,  Ms. Fe Reyes has to have a copy of the monthly bank statement too.  As of this date,  Janette, Elnora and Boysie will meet on Friday,  October 19,2012 to take care of these problems.

10. Elnora had talked to Mr. Rudy Deseo from New Jersey and expressed her desire to go and meet the Aparrianos in the Eastern part of the US sometime in January or February, 2013.  The Shomi Batch '66 composed of Ms. Estelita Parel, Daisy Baquiran Nobleja,possibly Domingo Barga, Delia Pano and Ethel Calillao will be going to visit Dometila Chua del Valle in Maryland and this will be a good time to meet the members of the Eastern side.  Ms. Fe Reyes will possibly go with the group. 

Special thanks to the presence of Mrs. Mercy Tumaru Go and for her brilliant advice given to the group.

Meeting was adjourned at 4:30 pm.

By:  Elnora L. Florendo
President
Aparri International, Inc.