Residents of the town of Santa, Ilocos Sur called for the immediate cessation of ongoing blacksand mining along the dredging project at the mouth of the Abra River and coastal waters within the town’s territory. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Ilocos expressed support for the residents’ fight.

Last week, large ships hauling blacksand from the coast of Santa that residents captured on videos and photos spread on social media. This activity enraged and alarmed the people of Santa because in previous years they had already opposed the dredging project which has now been exposed as blacksand mining.

Blacksand mining is the process of extracting magnetite, a type of iron ore, from rivers and seas near the coast. Magnetite is an ingredient in making steel, cement, magnets, paint, ink, some types of paper, and more.

According to Bayan-Ilocos, aside from illegal mining, Isla Verde Mining and Development Corporation is revealed as again involved in the project. “This needs a thorough investigation especially since the company was involved in controversies at the height of illegal blacksand mining in the province from 2011-2015,” the group said.

In June 2022, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 1 signed an agreement and gave the company permission to dredge. The project covers part of the West Philippine Sea entering the mouth of the Abra River, which is within the jurisdiction of the towns of Santa, Caoayan, and Vigan City.

In November 2024, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) gave the company a permit to excavate and process sand and gravel. However, this does not cover blacksand mining because their previous permit was revoked back in October 2012.

The mayor of Santa denounced the ongoing mining. In a video by Bombo Radyo Vigan, the mayor told the company to leave the coast. “Please leave, right away. Because people can see, whatever pretext you give, I believe you are mining blacksand there,” he said.

In light of this, Bayan-Ilocos called on the Ilocos Sur local government to immediately stop the mining in Santa and other parts of the province. “The residents continue to suffer the severe effects of illegal blacksand mining in the province especially from 2011-2015 up to now. If blacksand mining operations in the province continue, it will surely only further destroy the environment and the province’s coastline,” it said.

In a statement on March 14, the Ilocos Sur governor and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) denied the allegation that there was blacksand mining in the area after an “investigation”. As an alibi, the photographed ships only had a “technical issue” and were only conducting “logistical operations.”

Bayan-Ilocos urged the people of Santa and the whole of Ilocos Sur to unite and oppose the resumption of blacksand mining operations in the province. They should also reportedly unite to hold accountable those involved in this operation, especially those in power and local authorities.