AN OFFICIAL of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) said Monday its team has intercepted 3 tons of black sand at a checkpoint near Barangay Pigsag-an.
Clenro chief Edwin Dael said the black sand may have been delivered in Cagayan de Oro City last week for processing.
He said the seized black sand is proof that illegal mining operations in the hinterlands are back to business.
"Kining black sand dalhon nila sa processing plant nga naa daw dinhi sa syudad and then make a gold, copper, or even silver out of it. Ang processing plant ato na kining gi-track diri sa city," he said.
"Sa pag-extract niini, gubaon nila ang bukid, maghimo sila ug initial nga pag-segregate sa yuta ug minerals mao nang lubog kaayo ang suba kay ang yuta paingon man sa atong suba. Three tons is equal to 30,000 kilos, kung ingani kadaghan ilang makuha, ingani sad kadako ang ilang na-cause sa damage sa atong kabukiran," he said.
Dael said for the past few weeks, they have noticed that the Cagayan River have become turbid, compared to its usual color.
"We thought it was just the rain but naka-observe gyud mi nga lahi ang iyang color. And then we found out that ang illegal miners, ilang ga i-timing ang operations basta ulan para dili mi makabantay," he said.
Dael said he has also suspected that some barangay officials are protecting these illegal operations, saying that instead of getting support from the village officials, they have received threats for 'destroying their livelihood'.
He however said that other persons, including some lumad residents in the affected barangays, are concerned and are reporting the illegal activities.
"Ang mga lumad, corrupted na sila, pati atong mga farmers gyud nga tinuod maglisod. Ang mga financers lang ang nangakwartahan ingani na negosyo," he said.
Dael said they are targeting illegal gold buyers next to weaken the market.
"Isunod namo ang mga buyers sa gold kay identified naman sila. Tirahan napud nato nga muhinay ang ilang market niini," he said.
Aside from consulting the problem to the City Council, Dael said he is also working to report the situation to Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez.
