BLACK SAND MINING IN PUNTA, APARRI, CAGAYANPUNTA, APARRI, CAGAYAN

Aparri is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Luzon, Philippines. It incorporates the Fuga Island of the Babuyan GroupIsland of the Babuyan Group of Islands.

Population: 61,024 (Y2007) Total Land Area: 286 64 km2Total Land Area: 286.64 km2 No. of Barangays: 42

Aparri sits at the mouth of the Cagayan River, the longest river in the Philippines.

Aparri is one of the mostAparri is one of the most famous towns in Cagayan , rivaling that of Tuguegarao, the Capital City, located 55 miles south of Aparri.

Aparri was founded by the Japanese in 1405 as a trading post, developed by theAparri was founded by the Japanese in 1405 as a trading post, developed by the Spanish as a port for the galleon trade, destination of significant in migrations by Chinese traders and Ilocano farmers.

I 2006 k t t d t b ild t ft th ld i d t i t d d t thIn 2006, work was started to build a port, after the old pier deteriorated due to the rising level of water, the common storms, and poor construction (ruins of it are now seen washed up on the beach). Recent ferry and shipping disasters underline how important a port Aparri continues to be servicing the islands to the North of Luzon. p p p g

The valley is one of the largest tobacco-producing sections in the Philippinesproducing sections in the Philippines.

It is famous for its "bulung unas" which is dried baby eels and the "ludong" which is the country’s most expensive fish ranging from 4,000 pesos to 5,000 per piece. It is only caught in the Aparri delta where the Cagayan River meetsdelta where the Cagayan River meets the Babuyan Sea and is only available in the rainy months of November.

The magnetite mining site in Punta does not bear any signage. But the compoundhouses four backhoes working 24/7, several dump trucks filled with black sand, moundsouses ou bac oes o g / , se e a du p t uc s ed t b ac sa d, ou dsand mounds of black sand and “reject” as the people call them.

Separator machines and a drilling machine shake the houses in the vicinitySeparator machines and a drilling machine shake the houses in the vicinity when operating. The people cannot open their doors and windows since the wind will blow the dust inside their homes.

Black sand mining exacerbates flooding from the river and the sea and g gthe fisherfolk report riverbank erosion and reduced fish catch.

SILTATION CAUSED BY BLACK SAND MINING

The dredgers have suction hoses reaching the bottom of the river andspewing the “rejects” through another pipe while the barges that havespewing the rejects through another pipe while the barges that haveearlier been filled continue to load the ships. As soon as the ships arefull, they leave Aparri to ports unknown while the barges stay to fill up.

Please also refer to:http://youtu.be/Jm3MCT9_LJE

CONTACTS:CONTACTS:Mr. Antonio LiquiganPresidentAparrianos Movement for Conservation and Preservation of the Environment (AMCPE)c/o Ms. Rosario Fuerte0905-500-2539