SOME TIME AGO, I WROTE A COLUMN about the mining of black sand from the beaches of Buguey, Cagayan, by Korean nationals. The sand was reportedly being shipped to Korea in a Korean vessel. The beaches of other seaside municipalities have already been stripped of sand, according to reports, so that sea water enter the farms, killing the crops.

Why do they want the black sands of Buguey? Why are the provincial government of Cagayan and the municipal government of Buguey fighting over it?

The sands of Buguey are black because they are heavy with magnetite, a ferrimagnetic mineral with chemical formula Fe304. It is one of several iron oxides and a member of the spinel group. The chemical name is iron (II,III) oxide and the common chemical name is ferrous-ferric oxide.

Magnetite is the most magnetic among all naturally occurring minerals. Because it attracts small pieces of iron, this was how man first discovered magnets.

Black sands are magnetite found in large quantities on the beach, the magnetite carried to the beach by erosion and river flows, forming large quantities on the beach and offshore as the magnetite is concentrated by wave action and currents.

Magnetite is used to make steel, magnets, paint, ink, paper, jewelry, and cosmetics. It is also used as an additive for high strength concrete. Korea, a highly industrialized country, needs plenty of magnetite for its mills and factories. Thus, it is not hard to believe that Korean nationals are mining the beaches of Buguey for the magnetite.

Because of the protests of the people of Buguey and its mayor and municipal council, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO) to the miners who have been issued by the provincial government with a small-scale mining permit (SSMP). An inter-agency validation team was also sent to Buguey to look at the mining activities there, if any. The team was composed of experts from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine National Police (PNP), and National Economic Development Authority (Neda).

Recently, I received a copy of the report of the team and in fairness to everybody concerned, I am summarizing here the report of the team led by MGB Director Mario Ancheta.

The team reported that it went to Pattao, Buguey, Cagayan, and had a short meeting with Mayor Ignacio Taruc and the members of the Alliance of Buguey for Community Development Advocacy (Albucoda). A video footage of the Korean vessel supposedly sucking black sand from the shoreline of Minanga Weste and Villa Leonora was shown.

The team also interviewed a fisherman, Jerry S. Cuaresma, who said that his group, together with other fishermen, witnessed the presence of a vessel in the Minanga area on the morning of Oct. 13, 2009. They said they approached the vessel out of curiosity and were able to count seven crew members. He also narrated that the vessel, with Chinese characters and the number 0037 painted on its side, continuously disposed of water through a tube in its side.

A resident, Elizabeth Villalon, said that she saw a vessel sucking sand on Oct. 11, 12, and 13, 2009, starting at about 10 a.m., for about three to five hours each day within the prohibited zone.

Another resident, Ronnie Arellano, also saw the same vessel on Oct. 13. It appeared to be ?loaded and heavy about noontime,? he said.

While the team was at Minanga Weste, where the video of the vessel was taken, residents began to approach the group. Taking advantage of their presence, the team interviewed some of them. They claimed that they saw a vessel off the shores of Minanga Weste on Oct. 13, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Together with Albucoda members, the team was then transported by boat to Minanga Weste, the site covered by the SSMP. The group saw decaying and torn sandbags scattered in the area, but there was no mining activity.

The group then went to the Bureau of Customs in Aparri, Cagayan. Customs records showed that mv/Min Fu Jian Hou No. 0037, with Chinese crewmen, arrived at the port of Aparri on Sept. 23, 2009.

The BoC showed the team a copy of the shifting permit that the PPA-Aparri issued on Sept. 24, 2009, as requested by John Perez, the vessel agent. The purpose of the shifting of the vessel from Aparri to Buguey was ?to test river sand of Buguey, Cagayan.?

The customs inspector, Oliver Lazo, said he boarded the vessel when it proceeded to Minanga, Buguey, on Oct. 11 and 12, 2009. He confirmed to the team that the vessel indeed extracted sand for sampling.

During its visit, the team saw that the vessel was still docked at the western bank of the Cagayan River.

Now comes the team?s findings and observations:

?1. It was confirmed that the vessel MV/ Min Fu Jian Hou No. 0037 with Chinese crew that docked at the port of Aparri on Sept. 23, 2009 is the same vessel referred to by the Albucoda as having been seen offshore of Buguey on Oct. 11, 12 and 13, 2009.

?2. The vessel extracted sand for sampling purposes in Minanga Weste, Buguey, as supported by the shifting permit and by BoC inspector Oliver Lazo.

?3. At the time of the team?s visit of Oct. 28, 2009, there was no ongoing mining operation in Minanga Weste where a Small-Scale Mining Permit was earlier approved but later stopped by a CDO.?

I hope this satisfies everybody.