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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Oriental Mindoro prov'l board halts large-scale black sand dredging

Oriental Mindoro prov'l board halts large-scale black sand dredging

Published Jul 9, 2025 10:24 pm
BOARD Member Manny Buenaventura (right) presides over a committee hearing on large-scale dredging projects in Oriental Mindoro. (Vice Gov. Antonio Perez Jr. FB)
BOARD Member Manny Buenaventura (right) presides over a committee hearing on large-scale dredging projects in Oriental Mindoro. (Vice Gov. Antonio Perez Jr. FB)
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has passed a resolution ordering three engineering companies, including a subsidiary of San Miguel Holdings Inc., to stop their dredging activities in Gloria town and the coastlines of Oriental Mindoro pending an ongoing committee-level investigation of the provincial board.
In a three-page resolution signed by Vice Gov. Antonio S. Perez Jr., the board directed Southern Concrete Industries Inc., China Harbour Engineering, and San Miguel Aero City Inc. to cease and desist from large-scale dredging, excavating, hauling, and transporting to any person or entity black sand, magnetites, and other minerals taken from municipal waters and coastlines of the province.
The SP specifically cited the project covered by Dredging Clearance No. DPWH R4B Ormin DC-2024-001 issued to Southern Concrete Industries Inc. as subject of the order.
The clearance allowed the company to dredge 1.8-million cubic meters of sand in the navigational area of Balete River in Gloria.
The project was covered by Environmental Clearance Certificate R4B-2406-0006 and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Ore Transport Permit (OTP) SCII-078-001-2025.
The resolution was passed on July 1 here when the SP held its inaugural session.
“The large-scale dredging, quarrying, and mining of black sand, magnetite, and other mineral and marines resources is causing and will further cause grave and irreparable injury to the people of Oriental Mindoro, thereby, generating widespread complaints from and suffering of its inhabitants,” the provincial board said.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources records showed that Southern Concrete is operated by China Harbour Engineering Co. with address in Malate, Manila and San Miguel Aerocity Inc. as buyer of the sand.
Indicated in the OTP as destination of the dredged sand is the New International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan.
San Miguel Aerocity is a wholly-owned subsidiary of San Miguel Holdings Corp., the infrastructure arm of San Miguel Corp.
Also passed on that same day was a resolution revoking a resolution dated Oct. 24, 2023 of the previous Sangguniang Panlalawigan expressing support to a river restoration for a flood control project.

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