Aspiring vice president Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan has expressed opposition over the black sand mining activities along the Zambales coastline, saying it must be stopped completely.

Pangilinan aired his opposition during an interview with a local radio station in Zambales on Tuesday, April 19.

“We are against the unabated black mining dito po sa ating lalawigan (here in our province). Kinakailangan niyang magkaroon ng maliwanag na proseso. Ito ba ay suportado ng taumbayan ng Zambales o hindi? At kung hindi ay hindi ito dapat isinusulong (There has to be a clear process. Is this supported by the people in Zambales or not? And if not, then this must not continue),” Pangilinan said.

He stressed that “kapag winawasak ang ating kalikasan, apektado ang ating agriculture (if our nature is being destroyed, agriculture will take the hit).”

Residents have been complaining about the continuous large-scale black sand mining in Zambales Province.

They have been calling for the imposition of a ban against exporting black sand ore and its derivatives. Black sand ore is also called magnetite, an ore of iron used in steel production.

As an immediate effect of the incessant black sand mining for years, the Luzon coastlines have been receding, which may lead to further massive flooding and erosion.

The national government has also been urged to come up with a national policy on black sand mining and to strictly monitor black sand mining operations in the country, notably in flood-prone localities.

Pangilinan is running for vice president under Vice President Leni Robredo's ticket. He was in Zambales on Tuesday to resume his campaign activities with Robredo and their senatorial slate.